The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-09-30
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SAM. 0PPENHEIAER.

'Talk OF our whiskey being poor--why
there's o man who's been here nearly six
years, and he's not dead yet" said War
den Dunham. "I,ut ! guess he will be
before they get anything out Of him,'he
added. Ht HU'. t" '..'' .'''
The man indicated is Hebrew. with
bright, intelligent eyes and pale face.
He was slow and rheumatic in his move
nents, and seemed to be suffering hom
the effects of protracted imprisonment.
"slx years for debt" exclaimed the
Sun reporter. ... .,n "a .
''Yes, and it seems likely to be impris-
onment for life" answered the Warden.
The reporter, after some scrutiny, re-
coGnized the broken-d0Wn prisoner as
Samuel 0ppenheimer, who was lodged
in Ludlow street Jail lln January, 1870.
0ppenheirner was then an active young
man, full of life and vigor. Now he
seems twenty years older. ''f@ -"
His history is a curious one. He was
born in l843, in Hesse Cassel, where his
father was wealthy cattle broker. The
family emigrated TO America, and estab-
lished the clothing firm of f0ppenheimer
4 Sons at Massillon, Ohio, Samuel was
the purchasing agent In 1869 they had
credit with twenty-eight wholesale houses
in this city, from all of whom they had
purchased goods on ninety or sixty days
time. AS each note matured Sam filled
out cheek onthe Union National Bank
of Massillon, Ohio, for a larger sum than
the face of the note called for, This he
took to the creditor, paid the note with
it, and received the difference in a check
from the firm, which he Immediately
cashed. He also borrowed money, CIV
ing checks on the Union National
Bank as security. His operations varied
from over $l1 600 obtained from Stein
rich & Friedman to $l36 from Sarony d
Lindeman.
The account of M. Oppenheimer 4
6ons had also been overdrawn at the
Union National Bank Of Massillon to the
extent of $l7 300.
In December, dishonored checks be-
ran to pour in, and the creditors began
10 look for Samuel But Samuel had dis
appeared, and his partners in Chic were
busily selling the remainder of their
stock by auction. The firm was de-
clared bankrupt and about ST. 900 was
realized from its assets.
Detectives sought Samuel in Philadel-
phia, Hudson and other places, but he
was not to be found. He was hiding all
the time in four-story tenement house,
at 100 Spring street, from which he wrote
letters to his creditors, offering to com
promise by refunding small per cent.
These missives he gave boys, and paid
the boys to 90 to Philadelphia and other
places to post them In one of the let
ters he intimated that if his offer should
not be accepted by January 4, 1870, he
would leave the country
On January 9Th Samuel was captured
in his room in Spring street The claims
against him aggregated $1,000. About |
ten executions were obtained against his |
person, and he was lodged in Ludlow
street Jail. He declined to reveal what |
be had done with the large sum ofmoney
obtained by him, and Judge Barnard or
dered him committed for contempt. The
United States Grand Jury also indicted
him for fraudulent bankruptcy, and there
is detainer in one of Warden Dunham's
pigeon holes on that Indictment. So
that even were his creditors to cease
their prosecutions his release would be
far distant.
Imprisonment is producing an effect,
however His stubbornness seems to be
turning into brooding melancholy, and
be is evidently broken down in body if
not in mind. There is no chance in Lud-
low street Jail for prisoner to divert his
mind by labor and the corridors allow
but little room for exercise. Day after {
day passes by. IfOppenheimer's credit
Ors meant to make him an awful exam
pie to dishonest young merchants, they
have certainly succeeded.-N. Y. Sun.