The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-09
STEALING A BANKS SURPLUS.
THE CRIME OF WHICH A BOOKKEEPER
IN NEW1RK rs ACCUSED.
How Dauiei NJ. Dickerson and his Alleged
Accompiice were Tracked by IA spotter-
$4,000 Lost by the NJ Manufacturers' Bank.

Accompnce were Tracked by "a spOtter-
$4,000 Lost by the Manufacturers Bank.
Daniel NJ. Dickerson, the alleged default
ing bank bookkeeper Of Newark. and Joseph
l.. Wertz. his alleged accomplice. who were ar
rested in Detroit on Saturday. arrived in New
ark Yesterday and were locked up. Dickerson
was bookkeeper In the Manufacturers National
Bank OF Newark He quilted his home in Rose
vile. N j.. on Saturday. May rs. telling his pa
rents that he was going to spend Sunday with
a friend in Bethlehem. Pennsylvania. He
failed to return. and the bank officers
who Ind had implicit confidence In
him. began to examine his books. They
soon discovered that he was defaulter,
and that he had been robbng the bank for
long time. An affidavit was made before United
States Commissioner G.. M. Keasby that Dick
erson had embezzled $4,000. more or less by
means Of false entries and alterations. Joseph
L. Wertz OF IA Roseville avenue. Rosevlle. was
accused Of being an accomplce. He was tho
chum and companion OF young Dickerson.
These facts were carefully kept from the public
by the bank officers. and 1t was given out
that Dickersons accounts were all right. In
the mean time United States Marshal McDaniels
and Detective McNIanus were working up the
case. They engaged a man who had been a
conductor on the Newark and Orange horse
railroad. and who was acquainted with both
DickersOn and Wertz. to assist in tracing the
missing man. Wcrtz, who had remained in
Newark. told the conductor that DickersOn was
Ia Canada. II was arranged that VERT, Dick
erson. and the cx-conductor should, so tho lat
ter said. go on n swindling tour through the
West. and that Dickerson should forge checks
for large amounts, the paper to be used in Chi
cago. st. Louis and other cities. Wertz Quilted
Newark week ago Thursday. and the spotter
lthe ex-conductorl started soon afterward. He
was followed by. Deputy Marshal McDaniels
and Detective McManus.
On Tuesday last. Wertz and tho spotter Joined
Dckerson at Barry. on Lake Smcoc. Canada.
where Dickcrson had spent his time fishing
in the Michigan Central Hotel. Detroit. rs Jo-
seph Stanley and Joseph stivers. They had a
| United States process with them. and they were
IN constant communication with he spotter.
| Dickerson and party started for Missouri to
begin their swindling operations. and on Fiji
day evening they stopped in Windsor. opposite
Detroit. Mich. When they crossed to Detroit,
| the next day. all three were arrested and
| brought to Newark The spotter. who had done
| his work so we'll. was released before his iden-
| tity could he discovered.
Dickerson and Wertz were taken before Com
missioner Keasby yesterday afternoon, and were
committed to the Essex Court Jail in default
OF $4,000 and 5000 bail respectively, Dick
ersOn had only fl1 when arrested. and Wert7
| had only s3j. They have employed Vim. b.
Guild. Jr.. as counsel Dickerson refused 70
make any statement. He is % years OF age Of
slight build. and is remarkably bright and
shrewd. He has hitherto borne an excellent
reputation 'or integrity. He was good
SUNDAY school scholar and attended church
regularly. At home and in the bank he seemed
| a model of proprety He owned two horses
one the fast trotter Jersey Boy, and he attended
| races, won prizes Mt pigeon shooting matches
| and always had plenty OF money in his pock-
| cts. In Newark he was remarkably pious. and
| the bank officers put great trust in him. His
| salary for the past two and one-haf wears was
$500. His family are in moderate circum.
| stances.
Gen Plume. the cashier OF the bank. told a re.
| porter for THE SUN last even ing that Dickersou
was very smart. and that he was rapidly al
| vnnced because OF his ability and excellent de.
| pertinent His desk close Ia the cast
! drawer. and when the tellers back was turned
| he could pick out a 800 bill. slip il into his
pocket. and then make false entry on the books
| He also made money by failing to post exchang,
| checks with the banks. He would send on,
| back as not good. get the money on IT, anC
| cover up the fraud by false posting. y was i'm.
| possible to discover tho fraud without gonG
| over his entire accounts. Even the bank eX.
| aminers." added Cashier Plume. did not nnd
| anything wrong in his books. | always liked
| the boy. and ! advanced him faster than any
| other clerk. | believe his stealngs will be moi
| less than $4,000. and not more than $4,000"
| The exact amount OF the deialcation was given
| last night as tl4.OOO-the actual surplus Of the
| bank. A note from Wertz was found in Dicker-
sons office cont asking for more money.
| Joseph l.. Wertz is ~ years OF age. He has
| sandy hair. and Is Intelligent shrewd. and coo
| headed. He says he advised Dickerson not tC
| gamble. and he believes that Dickerson begar
| playing faro TO win money and pay the bank foi
wentto Canada he visited him twice and tried tC
| prevail on him TO 20 to British Columbia wher,
he would be safe. Wertz denies the story OF tn,
spotter that they meant to make money by
swindlng. and says that the latter proposed
| forgery IN Chicago, or the raising Of money by
hlackmail in Hannibal. No. They told him 10 dc
| II. II he would take the risk, and raise money 4
| get them TO British Columbia.