The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-09-02
SIX YEARS. ron DEBT.
The History Of samuel Oppcnheiuer's TRANS
actions Breaking Down In Jail.

"Talk If our whskey being poor-why
there's a man who's been here nearly six years,
aud he's not dead vet" said Warden Durham.
But guess he will be before they get anything
out OF him." he added.
The man indicated Is Hebrew, with bright.
intelligent ewes and pale face. lie was slow
and rheumatic IN his movements, and seem ed
to be suffering from the effects Of protracted
imprisonment.
six years for debt ?" exclaimed the Sun re-
porter.
Yes, and It seems likely to oe Imprisonment
for HE" answered the Warden.
The reporter, after some scrutiny, recognized
the broken-down prisoner MS Samuel Open
heimer, who was lodged In Ludlow street Jail In
January. 1870. Oupenheimer was then an active
young man, fun II life and Sigor. Now he
seems twenty years older
His history T. curious one. lie was horn IN
1St5, In Hessc Cisscl. where his father was "A
to America. and established the clothilg firm Of
Oppenhei ner & Sons at MIsill n, OhlJ. samuel
WAS he purchasing agent. In leG9 they had
credit with twenty-eight wholesale houses In
thu city, from 40 OF weom they purchased
goods on ninety or sixty DAYS time. As each
note maturcd sam filled out check ON the
Unon National Bank OF Masillon. OHIO. for a
J rger sum than the face OF the note called for.
This he took To the creditor paid the note with
it, ana received the difference IN a check from
the firm. which he Immediately cashed. lie also
borrowed money, giving checks on tue Union
ried from over SllUO obtained froHh Steinnch
& FnedlnAn To $3.50 IRON Sarony a Lndeman.
The account 81 VI. Oppenhcimer A Sons had
also been overdrawn at the Union National Bank
OF Massillon TO the extent Of Sl7,S0:
In December, dishunored cpecks began to
pour IN, and the creditors began TO look for
5 imue But samuel had disappeared, and his
partners In Ohio were busily engaged In selling
the remainder OF their stock by auction. mo
nrm declared bankrupt, and about fll.OQ0
realized from its assets.
Detectives sought Samuel In Philadelphia,
HUDSON aud other places, but he was not To be
found. lilo hiding all the time tn a four
story tenement house. 100 Spring street, from
which he wrote letters to his creditors, Offering
to com promise by refunding small percentage.
These nissives he gave u boys, aud paid the
boys to 70 t. Phi ,deipha and other places aud
post them. In one Of the letters he intimHted
that " his offer should not be accepted by Jan.
4, 1870. he would leave the country.
On Jan. 3, samuel was captured In his room In
Spring street. The claims against him aggre-
ted Sll1UtO. About ten executions were Oh
tanned avniust his person. and he was lodged ln
Ludlow .treet ~. He declined To reveal wuut
he had done with the large sums OF money OBJ
tair ed hy him, and Judge Barnard ordered him
committed for contempt. The United States
Grand jury also Indicted him for fraudulent
bankruptcy. and there is "A detainer In one ~
ment. 80 that even were MS creditors 10 cease
their prosecutions his release would De far dis.
taut.
Imprisonment Ia producing an effect. how
ever. Hls stubbornnrss seems u be turning
into brnudiug melancholy, ana ne rs evidently
broken down Ia body II not IN mind. There IA
no chance IN l. ldluw street III for a pTlsunor
To- diver, ms mind 10y ldoor. ana the corridors
allow uut little room Tor exercise. Day after
daY passes blankly by II Oppenhemer's credl-
dishonest young merchants they have certainly
succeeded.