The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-02-15
AwEALTHY MANS DOWNFALL

Henry c. Psdder, Confidential Clerk, Now
IN Poverty aud Disgrace in London.
Special Correspondence Of the Glob.- Democrat
NEW York, February 8, 1SSS - Interest
In Henry G. Pecder, who IN 1884,
robbed TIE house OF Arnold d Constable OF
great sun of money. and was permitted
10 leave the country never to return, is re-
vive6 in Brooklyn oy his recent appeals to
friends here for help. Pedder Is IN London,
where be can get no employment, and is
consequently compelled TO ask aid Of his
old fsmiliars in this city. Until he bought
his magnificent residence in LleTellyn
Park, at Orange, n. j., which cosF him uD-
wards of 800 COO, he resided in Brooklyn,
and was esteemed as a studious gentleman
ly man, whose tastes were all of a literary
turn.
Wien the public were startled with the
announcement Of his defalcstion Pedder
was n Paris with his family. He had
gone abroad for q short rest, never before
having taken Q vacation ia all OF mis- busi-
ness career" he was in the habit OF saying.
Re bad written to number Of literary
people who we're to meet him to plan for
articles for the Manhattan. Ga his arrival
be was arrested, charged With robbing the
firm of sum variously estimated at from
$500, 600 to $500 600, during the preceding
six years. He made some arrangement
with the firm whereby he was allowed to
escape trial and his elegant place on
Orange Mountain was transferred to Messrs.
Arnold & Constable, who sold it recently
10 Thomas A. Edison. Mr.. Peddsr had
lived for many years at the rate of $50. 600
year, and be spent money lavishly 90 his
magazine. He began his publishing bust
ness on grand scale and paid writers mu.
nifcent prices; he made friends for the
new magazine, and in years time the
Manhattan was looked upon as q psrma'
nent success.
Mr.. Constable was a warm friend of mis-
confidential clerk, and his influence was
so great with the firm that there was
scarcely a man in their employ who was
willing to openly express doubt of his
honesty.
He had no sooner gone on his vacation
than a dishonest clerk in the packing de
partment was detected stealing. and the
disclosures that followed led to the painful
discovery that the cashier-Armstroug-
and the confidential clerk of the house
Pedder-were stealing from the firm.
Armstrong made clean breast of il and
Feeder 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
established at the island of st. Kit, where
with his family he resided for year or
two. he sold his home in Brooklyn at
forced sale for about $1,000, 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 cor
respond 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 a promising
piece OF property, and If ii had been taken
in hand and pushed vigorously would
have been to-dsy among the leading peri
odicals Of the day. Mr.. Pedders money,
or rather that of Arnold, Constable q Co.,
had supported it, and the utter dismay Of
those connected with it, at finding Mr..
Pedder dishonest, parslyz9d their efforts.
After an issue or two 1t suspended, and
recently il 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, tina.
Mr.. Pedder had spent SO 600 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 very
thoughtful and interesting study. Ano.
ther of his books was entitled "Jesus o {
the Age, or Consequences Involved in
Modem Thought" He wrote another
book, which he styled MAN and Woman
in Their Relation to Each Other and the
World" This was his first published
work. Il was thought by those who knew
the ability of Mr.. Pedder that he would
support himself and his family with his
pen, but the place OF his exile was not ex-
actly suited to a literary man. and there
was no avenue he could reach whereby his
pen work could be made remunerative.
His family consists of himself, his wife
and two Dieces of his wife, who have al
ways shared his home and are dependent
upon him.
Poverty has now driven Mr. Pedder to
make Known his condition. He is walk
ing the streets OF London seeking uuavail-
ingly 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 be has TO bear burdens not his. AZ
all events his present position is certainly
unenviaole.