Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-07-08
the end Of Losley's connection with the


canal company.
On July I'd, 1888, Magistrate Lennon
issued warrant for the nrrest of Lesley
on charge similar to that which had
been brought by Mr.. Crawford in 1879.
This time the complainant was Thomas
p. Campbell, Mrs, Crawford's father, and
the chief witness was Mrs Crawford her
self. Lesley was held in 81 900 bAil.
This case never camn to trial, and
II is believed hat IieRley gave Mrs. Oraw-
ford large sum Of money not TO appear
Not long after that the deficiency Of
SIS, 900 was discovered, and old President
Gray's confidence was 30 badly shaken
that criminal proceeding was about to
be instituted. Lesley had wealthy
brother, now dead, living in New Castle.
The brother made good the deficiency,
and the disgraced treasurer left the canal
company's employ. Soon after that Mrs.
Crawford sold the magnificent West Phila-
delphia establishment, and when her hus-
band last heard of her she was living at
Merchantville, N. j.
WHAT THE DETECTIVES THINK OF THE CASE.
Philadelphia Times OF Saturday.
Three of the best experts attainnble are
busy at work on the books OF the Chesh-
deavorlng to find some traee of the crooked
operations OF the defaulting. treasurers.
Nearly One-half OF the bond certificates
have boon brought In and registered, but as
many bond-holders live at great distance
II Will he n long time before the whole issue
can be ascertained.
~ think" said President Gilingham yes
terday, "that Mr.. Wilson stated the amount
Of uverissued bonds correctly. He would
have no object IN making u false statement
aud as II was necessary 10 keep very close
account Of these operations to prevent dis
covery II is probable that the exact amount
was known and properly given. | would
Ike to correct one impression nnd that Is
that we never investigated the affairs OF the
| company properly. Three years ago we
| employed the best experts possible and
gave the books thorough overhaulng.
The accounts were found all right, but the
entries in the books themselves were false
| and there was no possible means by which
| we could have detected their stealings. or
| course, II the bonds had been registered
| with IL trust company It would have been
different, hut this mortgage was originally
| created III 1886, before this custom came
| Into use. The bonds fell due In 1856 and
were extended 30 years more, but they have
been scattered from Maine to Missouri and
| n registry at any time since 1856 would have
| been impossible. As soon rs We get matters
|
tered, so that such another over-issue can
| not occur"
WILL WILSON he PROSECUTED
"lIave you any idea whore either Wilson
or Lesley is ~ WIS asked.
"l have not but detectives are on their
track and will certainly get them.'
"Do You think Wilson will return volun-
tarily2'
~ do not know. His wife thinks that he
will. certainly hope that he will, as he
could be OF material assistance TO us"
"lhen you do not intend TO prosecute
him p
"Ahl Excuse me; but that is n very lead
| Ing question"
Samuel Is. Huey, Wilson'S attorney, snid
thilt he could givethe public no information
| whatever and the published statement that
| he was about TO give any Information con
corning Wilson WAS untrue.
On the Stock Exchange there was no sale
| of the bonds, but the price was qnoted at IS
| per cent bid and 90 asked, a considerable
advance over the previous day. Tho com
| pany still hope TO pull through and extend
| their loan without foreclosure, but nothing
definite can be decided upon until tho
/ oXlst stains OF the companys Affairs IL
known, which will not he for some days
and probably for several weeks.
| II II said that Wilson made tho acquaint.
ance Of a young woman, living with her
I
years ago, and that he became acquainted
| with her through Mrs, Crawford with
| whom Lesley was intimate. The young
| young woman WIS told by Mrs. Crawford
that Wilson WIS robbing the company, and
| she Is said TO have bled Wilson systematl-
cally, inst as Mrs. Crawford preyed upon
/ the financial resources of Lesley. Mrs
| Crawford invariably gave Lesley due bills
for tho money sio rot from him and these
| Lesley charged against Mrs. Crhwford's
| husband. Wilson's wifo was sick In bod
yesterday. She believes that her husband
| will return in few days and give himself
| up, but the detectives arc not OF tho same
| opinion.
| WHAT rItE DETECTIVES THINK.
Chief of Detectives Kelly said yesterday
that besides Detectives Miller anu Tate be-
| ing especially assigned to the case that
| every detective In the department was
working on Il but ms yet not tho slightest in
formation had been gained that wonld lead
| To the detaction of either Lesley or Wilson,
II don't think Wilson or Lesley can re-
main in hiiing long. It's not hard for II
man TO Keep out of the way OF tho police
| If hes gets d stnrt ON them. It's au easy
matter for Il man to Disguise himself. II Is
very likely that Mrs. Crawford is wherever
Lesley Is. She left West Philadelphia very
suddenly and left nothing behind her by
which We could trace hor."
Andrew Gray Of Delaware, who Is one OF
the directors, was at the office during the
dav. lIe said: IA statement may be- forth
coming from the directors ir u very short
time, but difficulties may arise which will
postpone II for weeks. We have nothing to
conceal from tho public. We consider that
this affair concerns not only the many per-
sons Interested In the company, but the
public at large, and no concealment will
made. 1t Is very difficult task to trace
the certificates, and as things stand now ii
may bo impossible. The books of the COM
pnny ara In deplorable condition, but we
hope TO be able TO get order out OF chaos
| soon"
The company officials have very little
hope OF securing anything from Wilson's
personal estate, rs the residence at Forty
flrst and Baltimore avenue Is owned by his
wife, and Is said to have been purchased by
her private funds. Outside of this the
slO,0ilO security, for which the Guarantee
Surety Company of Montreal is responsible,
Is the only reimbursement the stockholders
can look for.
The statement that the United States Gov
arnment Is holder of stock In the Chesl-
peake and Delaware Canal Company is an
error, ms Treasurer Jordan stated yesterday
that the general government does not own
single share of the stock in the company
It does, however, own stock In tho Chosa-
peake and Ohio Canal.