New-York tribune., 1882-03-10
NEW-YORK, FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 1892

ago. and for the last five weeks has been sick at his
home. He is trustee of the Summeriield Methodist
Church. "There is no doubt" ho said, "that Mr..
Ccrnwell is defaulter. The particulars of the de-
falcation nm not acquainted with. j have known
Cornwell for years Many years ago first heard OF
him as cashier of the South Amboy, Bank.
Afterward he was with George 5. Robins q
Son. one of the heaviest note-brokerage firms OF
New-Ycrk. Somewhere about 1854 he started In
the stock-brokerage business in New-York and was
q member Of the Stock Exchange. So far as know,
he was in business something over year. He failed
in 1865. The cause of the failure was the old story.
He began with doing a strictly commission business
and then drifted into speculation, and the money or
his friends and customers disappeared in it,. call
it clear of stealing Securities were given 10
him which were hypothecated and which he % could
not replace. My own loss was about $4,000. l
tin-box; but had l. never expected
anything from it. ! don't care to talk about how
cones There were many other persons w1o ,so loso
money through him. People came to him and gave
him their money for Investment, so great was their
confidence III hin. There numerous losses III
this city borne on account Of the man."
Was it not singular that, with such record IN
his business failure he gained the confidence OF the
officers OF the Fourth National Bankp asked the
reporter. uo %
winning your confidence. He worked so hard IN
religious matters that he won many friends. Al
though old man in years, his manner was ex-
tremely youthful and sprighty; he was like boy
lie very genial and sOciable and fond OF telling
good stories. Why, If he had bcR sentenced to the
State Prison for lying stealing, Cheating and torg-
cry, If you had known him for year or TWO a1ter.
ward, you would have trusted him with everything
AN ACTIVE CHURCH AND sUNDAY-sCHooL WORKER.
"Mr. Cornwell," continued Mr.. Dollner, "was
made superintendent of the Sunday of cur
church. the Summcriield Methodist Church. soon
after its dedication in 1856. He came up to take
charge of 1t from the Washington Street Church.
After his failure in te stock brokerage business In
1865 he was reelected superintendent of the Sum
day-school, and also trustee and treasurer of the
Board of Trustees, so many friends did he have.
But there were some of the members OF the church
who objected to him. and he thought il best to re-
sign his positions. He then removed 70 Plainteld
and was very active in church and sunday
school work there. He was most highly thought of
in his religious work. being active and energetic
and very popular"
"Yes, indeed" intcrjected Mrs. Dollner, who was
present at the interview he did good work IN the
church" ,,,,.
travagantly 7" asked the reporter.
"Oh, no; not at all. In every way he seemed TO
be a most exemplary man. He was universally
trusted and respected The pastor of his church
gave him money to inyest-his own-and lost 1t ALL
And there other ministers who lost money by
him; but he was so plausible that you could not be
persuaded that anything was wrong about him.
Mr.. COrnwell is married and has several children
He has son in the Navy-Lieutenant Charles o.
CoTnwel-who is a very fine young man. Another
son, Richard, was in business with him when he
failed in 1865. Then he has ANOTHER son who Is a
clerk with Joseph ). Spinney, OF No. 6Ol2 Finest,
New-YOrk."
HOW Mr.. DoLLNER WAS MADE VICTIM.
The Rev. DR.. Kettcl presiding elder of the South
Long Island District of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. said to TRIBUNE reporter in regard to Mr..
Cornwell: al am extremely surprised to hear that
Mr.. Cornwell is an emDezzler. He was member of
the Symmetrical Church, while was its pastor, for
some time, and then left 1t and went to the Wash
ingtOn Street Church. where he was Sunday-school
superintendent. He held no church office In the
Summerileld Church while ! was there, but
was an energetic worker, and as far as heard was
highly respected by. everyone in the church This
is the first that have heard of this unfortunate
affair. and as said, it astounds me. never heard
of auv members of the church losing money through
him."
The reporter theE went to see prominent men,
Der Of the Simpson Methodist Episcopal Church,
who was q member of the Summerfeld Church
when the Rev. DR.. L. S. Weed was its pastor, at
which time GornTel was t Of Of ti the
not seem greatly surprised at the news Of Corn
wells embezzlement, for he said; so Dick, Corn
wells an embezzler, is he! Well that isn't the first
time he has played the same trick"
{" What were the circumstances of his former
pccuationSW
as he was always called-fOr he was always n good
fellow, but suppose the facts have got TO come
out so if you won't use my name | will tell you
the matter. You see, Dick was a clerk
when he first came into the church, but
he was Jealous Christian, c0nln
pray we'll was n hard worker in the Sunday-school,
and everywhere else, in fact and he soon attracted
the attention of Mr.. Doner, who was the malnstay
of the church. They became friends Dick was
extremely atable, could tell any number of good
stories seemed energetic, and was unceasing III his
attentions to Mr.. Dollncr, who finally came to
believe that Dick had great business capacity. Mr..
Dollner is a very generous man, and, thinking that
Dick only needed money to succeed, offered to start
him in the brokerage business. 80, he lndorsed pa
per for Dick who got collateral security for him to
amount
as broker. Their intimacy continued, DICK really
running the church under advice from Mr. Dollncr,
taking all the church work be could get 10
do and being at one time q class leader, trustee
steward and supern of the Sunday-school |
He kent giving collateral security To Mr.. DOlner
from time to time and getting more money Mr. |
Dolncr kept these cOaterals with the first ones in
lis SAFE but one day, when Dick was in his Office |
lie said: Dick an tired of taking care of these
securities. YUu take them and keep them IN yOur |
safe, and when want them will call for them. |
Dick put them in his safe. Things went on |
swimmingy as before for some time, until Mr. |
Dolner one day asked for his securities amounting |
10 nj least $4,000. You know the rest. Dick had |
hypothecated them and got money on them |
fair was kept quiet in the church. Mr. D0llner felt
pretty sore about il, but aft,r talking the matter
over with DR.. Weed the pastor, he decided not 10
have any church trial but 10 be content with nav
ing Dick take back seat, TO speak, In the church
thereafter. SO Dick had to resign all his official
positions but was still pi0us church worker, and
the matter was soon dropped by tho congregation:
Everybody thought he was pretty NEE man ana |
he was popular as ever, but never held any
more Offices"
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