The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-02-07
WEALTHY MAN S DOWNFALL

n "
,5a,,rv C. Pedder, Form erly Owner Of
the Manhattan Magazine and Arm
IA 81 Constable's Confidential Clerk,
Tow in Poverty and Disgrace in
London
NEW YORK, Feb. 4.--lnterest in Henry
r Pedder. who in 1884 robbed the house of
srnold a. Constable of a great sum of
money, and was permitted to leave the
country never to return, is revived in Brook
l,n by his recent appeals to friends here for
toIn Pedder is in London, where he can
vet no employment, and is cons eqUently
SSomnelled to ask aid of his old familiars in
tbis city. Until he bought his magnificent
residence in Llewellyn Park, at Orange,
New Jersey, which cost him upwards of
s2O0 600 he resides. in Brooklyn, and was
esteemed as a studious, gentlemanly man,
nbosa tastes were all of literary turn.
When the public were startled with the
announcements of his defalcation Pedder
was in Paris with his family. He had gone
abroad for a short rest never before hav-
inc taken a vacation in all of his business
career. he was in the habit of saying. He
had written to a number of literary people
Who we're to meet him to plan for articles
for the Manhattan. On his arrival he was
arrested charged with robbing the firm of
a sum yariously estimated at from 5000. 600
IN 100000. during the preceding six years
Hemade some arrangement with the firm
vhereby he was allowed to escape a trial
and his elegant place on Orange mountain
was transferred to MeSsrs Arnold q Con-
stable, who sold it recently to Thomas A.
Edison. Mr.. Pedder had lived for many
wears at the rate of $4,000 year, and he
spent money lavishly on his magazine. He
logan his publishing business on a grand
scale and paid writers muniticent prices; he
made friends for the new magazine, and in
a wears time the Manhattan was looked
upon as permanent success.
Mr.. Constable was warm friend of his
confidential clerk, and bis influence was SO
great with the firm that there was scarcely
a nan in their employ who was willing to
openly express a doubt as to his honesty.
He had no sooner gone on his vacation
than dishonest clerk in the packing de-
partment was detected stealing, and the
disclosures that followed led to the painful
discovery that the cashier-AImstrong-
and the confidential clerk of the house
Pedder-were stealing from the firm.
Armstrong made clean breast of it and
Pedder was recalled from Paris Beyond
the general facts of the case the public
learned nothing. No one was prosecuted.
Pedder had gone out of the country and
was bSUaDilSi6u ut btlG lSld1lu u o. A1I,
where with his family he resided for year
or two. He sold his homo in Brooklyn at
forced sale for about So 900 and this sum is
all that he took with him. 1t was under
stood that one of the conditions of the firms
leniency was that he should not correspond
with any one in this country or make any
sign of his existence to any of
bis former acquaintance and friends.
The Manhattan languished and was per
mitted to die, though it was promising
piece of property, and if it had been taken
in hand and pushed vigorously would have
been to-day among the leading periodicals
Of the day. Mr.. Pedder's money, or rather
that of Arnold, Constable 81 Co., had sup
ported it, and the utter dismay of those con-
nected with it, at finding Mr.. Pedder dis
honest paralyzed their efforts. After an
issue or two it suspended, and recently it
was sold out for the sum of $50. 1t was
said at the time of the sale at the Real
Estate Exchange, in New York, that Mr..
Pedder had spent So, 900 upon it.
Mr. Pedder, previous to his appearance
before the public in the role of publisher,
had written several books, one of them,
Religion and Progress" being a very
thoughtful and interesting study. Another
of his books was entitled "Jesus of the Age
or, Consequences Involved in Modern
Thought He wrote another book, which
he styled Man and w oman IN Their Rela-
lions to Each Other and the World" This
was his first published work. 1t was thought
by those who knew the ability Of Mr.. Ped
der, that he would support himself and fam
lily with his pen, but the place Of his exile
was not exactly suited to literary man,
and there was no avenue he could reach
whereby his pen work could be made re-
munerative
The family consists of himself, his wife
aud two nieces of his wife, who have always
shared his home and are dependent upon
him.
Poverty has now driven Mr.. Pedder to
make known his condition. He is walking
the streets OF London seeking unavailingly
for work. He is heart-broken, it is said,
and his urgent letters asking for help for
those dearer to him than his own life are
pitiable in the extreme. He protests that
he is not the guilty man the press of this
country have made him out to be, and that
he has to bear burdens not his. At all events
MS present. position is certainly unenviable.
INuruTsr uD