, 1875-07-04
HEAVY BREACH or TRUST.

! Disra.eh to 4se,s Iprt 1tm<s
! PHILADELPHIA. July 1.-The startling infor
nation WAS made public to-day that the aeconnt
ants who have been investigating tue affairs o.
| Henry G. Morris, who lately failed and made pit
! assignment for the benefit OF his creditors had
! discovered that ono Alexander Erwin, vhon
Mr. Morris had employed as confdantia
financial agent Of his foundry business since
! 1871, has grossly betrayed his trust
and had appropriated tolhis own use eums o1
I money reaching in the aggregate about 81 200,-
! 600. Eryin had the whole busipess Of the place
in his charge. while the ay-rolts for labor and
material purchased were under the care Of q
nephew OF ERIN, but controlled By him So
great Was the confidence reposed in Erwin that
Mr. Morris never investigated his own affairs,
and never took the standing OF his business,
being satisfied With balance sheets which Erwin
would present to him at stated intervals.
It has turned out that these balances were ar
ranged for the occasion. and that large sums Of
money we're continually drawn from the business
BIZ Efyin, without the knowledge OF consent Of
Mr.. Morr1s. In one moa.h-January, 1s73-Er-
vim charged himself with thres rotes Of $4,000
1872, be charged himself with q depoait
OF $4,000, Which lie failed to credit
to Mr. Morris, either in his bank &C
counts OF elsewhere. To coyor up his wrong
doings, Erwin il alleged to have fraudulently
credited himself. on the 3lst Of july, 1878, with
8100 QUO to cover notes Issued TO his order. This
credit VAS pd ely fictitious. and never authorized
BY Ar. Morr16- It was further shown that Erwin,
having full charge Of the notes Of Mr, Morris,
bad negotiated ten, amounting to s6o, ,240, and
appropriated the presents to his Own use. It
was A11. Morris custom for some time previous to
April, 1915, when he assumed his supervision,
tp alloy Erwin to deposit moneys belonging
to the Southwark Foundry, in the Seventh and
Second National Banks, in Lis {Ervin's) name.
When the Assignee of tha estate ATTEMPTED to
banks, the officials refused to give the informa-
ton. It is also alleged that Erwin has invested
heavily in real estate, and that pending the suit
which Mr. Morris has brought against him, has
disposed OF considerable property and made
arrangements for transferring the re-
maiuder. The Assignees Of tho estate have
brought the matter before Judge Pratt, at Com
mon Pleas Court, praying for attachments to be
Issued, and such other 1alief a. il within the
province OF the tribunal. This exposure shows
how Hr. Morris was dragged into bankruptcy,
and is undoubtedly one of the greatest pieces Of
sEindling extant outside of political circles. At
3 recent meeting OF the creditors OF Mr. Morris
it was announced that the aaseta would not bring
80 cents on the dollar. Erwin has brought
counter-Rut against Mr. Norris, in the hope OF
staving the matter off somewhat.
1t is reported that the first eighteen months
Mr.. 1orrss Was in business he cleared II, ,000 600,
but after that ho began to lose steadily. Erwin
was President Of the Seventh National Bank np
to 1878, when he reaigned;*and Was succeeded
by his brother, Mr.. D. B. Erwin, who re-
signed tbe place only few days since,
it is supposed on account Of the complications
which will ensue. The reason assigned by the
bank officers tonight for DOT giving statement
Of Alr. EEyin's accounts, is that they object to
making public their customers' BUSINESS It ia
probable that ERIN will be arrested on crimi-
oa1 charge Tomorrow. He lives in sp1ondor in
= fashionable quarter Of the city, and his posi-
lion gave him unlimited credit among businesa-
men.