The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-12-31
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VI
Of Fictitious EntIea--A WomGn in he
PIot-Ftght Of hs Defdulter.
Considerable. talk was created IN Wall
street and banking circles on Saturday,
by the announcement that Chas, White
man. one Of the book-keepers in the Pa
cifc bank No. 40 Broadway, had default
ed in his accounts to the extentof about
$4,000. Application was made to Mr..
Buck, the cashier Of the bank for the de-
tails, and he thereupon made the follow
ing frank statement sl.lf
Charles Whiteman was young man
who had entered the service of the bank
about eleven years ago, and has been
promoted stepby step until he Was APP
pointed b ok-keeper-haying charge Of
the ledger, letters A to X. He had been
in receipt of comfortable salary, lahd
had always, been regarded as one OF the
most faithful men in the bank. Some
Some time ago, however, Mr.. Buck re-
ceiyed information from friend which
led him to suspect that Whiteman was
not as Trustworthy as he appeared
Whiteman was called into the presence
of the President, Jacob Campbell and Mr.
Buck, and interrogated. He admitted
that he had been somewhat extravagant
with his own funds, stated that during
the previous summer, when he took his
two weeks vacation, he had gone to Sa-
vannah and had made, on the boat, the
acquaintance Of woman. This acquaint-
ance he maintainedOn his return, to the
city. He stated that he had called upon
her about a dozen times, and had spent
about seven hundred dollars of his own
money He was asked if he had used
any more money, and he said he had rot,
demanding that a, proof of his ledger
should be taken to demonstrate his in
tegtity. This allayed the apprehension
of the officers, although they lost copf-
dence in him, and determined to allow
him time in which to secure another po-
sition. On the Monday succeeding the
Saturday upon which tn interview was
held, the President received D letter from
Whiteman, dated Philadelphia, in, which
he confessed that he was defaulter to
the amount Of $4,000, and that he was
extremely penitent and very wrttehed.
He further stated that he was going to
Chicago and would go thence 10 Canada,
but if the bank officials wished to have
MIN arrested heA would interpqse no OBJ
jections, but would come TO the city. He
explained that the money was stolen from
the bank under cover of the account of
Elihu Dwight, depositor. In 1870 he
began a series of fictitious entries on his
ledger, and a corresponding series in the
pass book of'Dwight, placing to his cred
il certain sums for which excess he him
self received checks. The statement
that Whiteman makes does not prove
Dwight to observation-disclosures of hisop-
erations. Dwight told the officials in ex-
planAtiSn thatjWBit9mgn had,apuroJch1
ed lfmI and said lhe hal some business
arrangements Whi6hlrendered necessary
the possession of book account, but that
it was contrary TO the rules of the bank
for any clerk to have an account there.
He, therefore, asked Dwight to allow him
to use his account Dwight said that
having known Whiteman several years,
visiting him and having pleasant social
relations with him, acquieseenee WAS nat,
ural. He allowed Whiteman to use his
accounts. Whiteman made, 'aS Dwignt
supposed. frequent deDosits, ahd,wduld
address him as my Dear Elihu, or Dear
DwightN adding, 81 have this day de-
posted TO your raccount$-; please send
me checks for that amount" The checks
were always sent.
The officials do not believe that White
mans acquaintance with the woman re-
ferred to was brief. They think they
had known each other for years, and
that the meeting OH the Savannah steam
er was pEearranged., They had been
hlled into the security by the regular
manner in which he took his vacation,
as they had never known defaulter to
be absent from his post if he could pre-
vent it, The woman would give them
no information, but referred them to her
lawyer. Efforts will be made to arrest
Whitemanand to prosecute him and his
companion, if there is sufficient evidence
against her. A civil suit will be begun
against Dwight, and if The evidence war
rants it, criminal proceedings will be tax
en-. Dwight has S2,200 in bank which
will be retained pending the result Of
the suit.
The total loss Of the bank can not ex-
ceed $1,000, the bonds, cash, &c, Of the
delinquents having reduced the default
to thar amount. This is mere trihe to
the bank, which has a capital Of $780,
600 and a surplus of S3j2, ,O06.94, after al
lowing for the $1,000. Considerable re-
gret is felt that Whiteman should have
wrecked his life in this manner, Sym
pathy is also expressed for hisfather who
is a runner for the bank.-N Y. Tribune.