New-York tribune., 1882-04-08
DISHONESTY IN NEWARK.
EX-TREAsURER WINANs ARRESTED.


CHARGE OF FORGERY BASED UPON THE INvEsTI-
CATIONS OF EXPERT WALDEN, WHO HAS DIS
COVERED MORE FRAUDS AGAINST THE CITY.
William II. Winans, ex-City Treasurer of Newark.
was arrested early last evening at his house, No.
4lO Plane-st., Newark, on a charge of forgery of
city warrants. The charge was based upon q dis
covery made yesterday by Expert Walden, who has
been engaged III an examination of the accounts of
the city since last fall
Yesterday morning Mr.. Walden came across stub
In check-book for which he c uld find no CORE
spending check. Further investigation disclosed a
warrant for an award for damages in Thomas-st.
for $l65 40 which had been raised to So, ,1G5 40.
The warrant dated July 10, 1880. The in
dorsement on it was in the name of Andrew Kirk
patrick, a lawyer, and property-owner of Newark
The paper was shown to Mr.. Kirkpatrick who de-
nounced the Endorsement forgery. A second
warrant was found, dated March 2G. 1879
for damages for the opening of Clinton
ave-. for Sf,040 81. This had been paid
without the signature of either the
Mayor or City Clerk, as required by law. An
attempt had been made to forge the signature of
Andrew Kirkpatrick to this paper as indorser The
first warrant made out in the handwriting of
Treasurer Winans, and the stub showed that the
check was paid to Mr.. kirkpatrick and drawn to his
order, but the check was made out by Winans TO
his own order.
Expert Walden submitted his discovery to Alder
man Thebereth, chairman of the Finance Com
mittce of the Common Council a Republican
official who from the first has taken a prominent
part in the investigation of the frauds upon the
city. Alderman O'Conncr, another member Of the
Finance Committee, who has also been active in the
work of reform, was called in consultation and it
decided to seek County Prosecutor Abeel, who
was engaged in his duties ut the Court House. The
Prosecutor, upon examining the warrants and
stubs, pronounced the case clear forgery on
Winans's part. He Immediately sent messenger
for Police Justice RicOrd who went to the Court
House. and at the dictation of the Prosecutor made
ont n warrant for the arrest of Winans. The war
rant was sworn to by Alderman Thebereth, and it
charged the ex-Treasurer with forgery and aiding
and abetting forgery to dcfraud the city. 1t was
placed in the hands of a city detective.
Winans is engaged rs business agent of The Chica-
90 Shoe and Leather Repier with his Office at No 10
Nas.au-st, this city. He reached Newark yesterday
afternoon at $50 o'clock, and was informed in the
street that warrant had been issued for his arrest.
lie passed the Police Headquarters on his way to
his house and was not detained. He Immediately
sought for n bondsnan and found one in John B.
Dcffenthaler. a Chosen FreehOder at whose house
in Court-st. he taken in custody by the officers,
whom he accompanied 10 Police Hcadquarters.
Here the warrant was read to him by justice Ri
cord, who said he could not accept bail. which, IN
forgery cases, could be only taken by an Oyer and
Terminer Judge. The Justice said that
he xSd did mot not tnon think * ooo the Mr. G3I Danfa1 o%4
thercupOn announced that he was unwilling to go
upon the bond alone. and it became necessary to
look for n second bondsman TO accompany the
prisoner before Judge Dcpue. After hour of
search one was found in Stephen Dickerson, and
shortly. after 7 o'clock the party proceeded to
judge Dcpue's house. Upon hearing the affidavit
read, Judge Depue said that he could only accept
bail in Il case of this character when another Judge
sat with him in the Oyer and Iermlner. The party
then went away, and 1t was understood that
Winans would remain at his house in the custody
of the officers night.
This man was appointed by the Common Council
a. Treasurer in 1876, pnd resigned after beng suS-
pended by Mayor Fielder immed lately after the
disclosures were made of Paimers rObberies last
December. The investigation by the expert has
furnished abundant proof Of his criminal ncgngeuce
of duty and effort was made to lndlct him and
the City Controller Indictments were really found,
but in the aSt session of the Grand jury the friends
of the officials named always succeeded III haVlng
the indictments withdrawn.
Winans said last evening that he was innocent of
the charges against him. and asserted that they had
been cOncocted for his ruin. lie charged Alderman
hebeIath and Expert Walden with having perse-
cuted him. He had already been dlsgraced in
Newark and now the charge of forgery would be
trumpctcd through the country and ruin him III his
Ncw-York business. AT Police Headquarters he
stated his age to be sixtyhree years. lie was born
IN New lOrk STATE, ana mas It eu lhIly Years IN
Newark where he has wife and two daughters lie
has always been interested IN politics. Years ago
he published n daily paper in Newark called Ihe
Mercury, which was finally merged into re Courier.
The latter paper suspended publication four
years ago. Nnanss character has always stood
high i'll Newark. lie has been regarded as
an easy-going, good-natured man, without much
ability, but lie credited with sterling honesty
Some time ago he asserted that he accepted the
Office of Treasurer with the understanding that he
was to have particular responsibility, and wOuld
not he required to know all the business of the
Office which would be in tho hands of the Office
clerks. His arrest caused sensation III Newark
last evening. 1t intimated at the City Hall
that another important arrest would be made
shortly III connection with the frauds upon the city.