The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-08-05
HILGERT'S MANY VICTIMS.
a WARRANT OUT FOR THE FORGER.
several New Creditors Turn Up, Swelling the
Claims 10 $3.50, 30S-Cargoes OF Sugar and
Melasses Attached-Tbe Firms Accounts
In chaotic state.
fph,,adelphia Times, ycsterday.I

Ne0SHIlO0
Giles by the financial crash OF John Hiigerts
Sons- sugar refiners, and the revelations
with reference TO the heavy forgeries COM
mitted by the fugitive Charles NJ. Hilgcrt,
who appears TO have been the only member
of the firm, yesterday continued undated.
The more the affairs Of Hilgert were look
ed into the worse they apparently became.
New creditors sprang up yesterday as II
there were no end TO them. In addition to
the list given in yesterday mornings
Times, aggregating upwards OF S3OO,0oo,
II was discovered that the Provident Lie
and Trust Company held promissory
note against him for s2S, 400. The note,
which was for thirty days, went TO protest on
TUESDAY and on the same day was placed
in the hands Of j. r. Foulke, an officer OF
the Trust Company, for collection. The
messenger repaired to the Office on Front
street and found the place in charge OF
sheriff,s deputy. An officer OF the institu-
ton stated yesterday that they would not
lose anything as the note had been amply
secured by merchandise. Another large
claim against Hiigert Is that OF John Low
Der Welsh, OF the firm OF S. II w. Welsh,
shippers and importers, the amount oil
which, rs shown i'm the sherifi's office,
where Mr.. Welsh fled judgment yester-
day, Is $4,000. In addition to these large
claims there appears TO be an endless num-
Der OF small ones.
MANY NEW CLAIMS.
A barrel manufacturer visited the Office
Yesterday with bill for $4,000, the claim
beng one Of long standing. Adam III.
Warthman, OF the firm Of Adam IL. Warth.
man & Co., pork dealers. at Beach and
Poplar streets, entered in the sherifl's Office
a Judgment against Hilgert for S437 for
goods sold and delivered. Thus far the
total amount OF the claims against him
foots up to 1886, 305. 1t is expected, how
ever, that when all the creditors are heard
from the total amount OF the claims will
be not less than 100000. II has been ut
terly impossible so far for the creditors
to discover how much OF the paper in the
form Of promissory notes and drafts, on
which large amounts OF the money was
raised, has been forged. Equally unsuc-
cessful have they been in their efforts TO
discover what the assets will amout to.
Among the largest of the creditors yester-
day was busy and harassing day. George
&. Carson, the head Of the firm of George
G. Carson Il Co., whose claim is the largest
OF all, amounting to Sl59,956, said that 1t
was beyond the power of any living man
to tell anything about Hilgert's assets or
TO approximate the amount OF his forge
ries at this time. So many businessmen
were absent from the city who figured
in one way or other on his paper that
until they were communicated with
all would remain problematical. One Of
the members OF the firm stated, in eXplana-
ton OF the question as to how Hilgert OBJ
tanned such large sums of money without
exciting suspicion, that he was one Of the
hinh ct.fn na1 na hat
said that about two days before Hilgert dis
appeared he was offered loan OF $4,000
by q brother-member OF the UnionAeague,
who is also a close personal friend OF the
Carsons. "IIe declined the loan," contin-
ued the speaker. "What he wanted was
$4,000 or 100000, to satisfy some OF these
claims and prevent crash. When he
found that he couldn't get it, and that he
was bound to be found out, i suppose he
made up his mind to get out OF the way"
SEEING THE FORGER's PROPERTY.
The Carsons yesterday secured an attach
ment which, under the act of 1869, gave
them the right TO seize property belonging
to person or persons against whom fraud
is alleged wherever found, and armed with
this power representative OF the firm
started to get possession Of cargo Of sugar
which yet remained aboard a vessel down
in the river. When he arrived, however,
he found that representative of the Rem
sen estate was ahead Of him and had taken
possession Of the cargo to secure their
claim Of $4,000 More than this, the mas
tiers Of the brigs Eva, Rachel, Coney, and
Glance, having on board molasses from the
West Indies for ililgerts refinery, attached
their cargoes severally TO secure their freight
charges.
1t has been discovered that Hilgert's Of
fee accounts for months past have been
utterly without any kind Of system. Three
months ago he gave his regular book
keeper leave Of absence to visit Europe
and it is believed to have been about thi,
time that some OF the forged acceptance:
made their appearance. Half dozen diff
ferent kinds Of ink were used in keeping
his accounts, all OF which renders any at
tempt at extracting meaning from his fig
ures i'm the highest degree mystiiying. TIL,
theory is that the forgeries were committee
to avoid a crisis arising from heavy pur
chases Of stock at high figures on credit OF
the verge Of falling market.
Most all the large creditors yesterda,
were closeted for hours with their lawyers
George Junkin, counsel for the Philadel
phia National Bank, said it'would be i'm
possible to tell what assets Hilgert left be
hind until the sheriff took steps in til
matter toward satisfying the judgments O
the creditors. +. Hum Hanson, counse
for George G. Carson & Co., was likewis
at sea in the matter of the assets. as well q
on the score OF the amount OF forge,
paper. There will be a meeting Of th
creditors in few days, at which the tota
amount OF the claims will be ascertained
One OF the creditors said that il it fell shor
OF S425,O00 he would be much surprised.
WHEREABOUTS OF TUE SUPERINTENDENT.
The book-keeper and clerk employed b
Hilgert both visited the Office yesterda
several times, but could say nothing i'm ex
PLANTATION Of the affairs Of their employer
The report that the superintendent of tn
refinery In this city had also disappeared
mistake, originating likely from the fac
that he has been for the pastfew days dow
in New Jersey at the Rio Grande Suga
Refinery, in which, as stated i'm yesterday
Times, Hilgert was interested, on bus
ness trip along with one Of the stockhold
ers, Mr.. Potts. He returned to the cit
yesterday.
Hilgerts New Jersey enterprise has quit
history in itself. Five years ago he. Il
conjunction with others, built an expert
mental sugar mill at Cold Spring, abou
two miles north OF Cape May city. The,
leased three or four farms in the neighbor
hood, and began raising "amber cane" [,
small but quick-growing product, which
aroused much interest among the farm
ers OF that section. The cultivation
OF the cane was stimulated among
the people by the offer OF premiums
OF Sloo, $50, and S25 respectively for
the best acre Of cane, which premiums were
over and above the 80 per ton which they