St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-07-07
WILL MAKE A SENSATION.
Members Of the Shotwell, Clerihew &
Lothman Firm Arrested.
RELEASED ON $4,000 BAIL.
The NiGollet National Bank Prefers a
Charge of Obtaining Money Under
False Pretenses.

At 4:30 O'Clock yesterday morning In
spectors Howard and Doyle walked into
the Office of Shotwell, Clerihew & 10th
man, the wholesale dry goods firm, and
were met by Mr.. Lothman. What is
your busiDess?" inquired he.
Are all the members of the firm IMP"
They were all in and were called in
to the private office, where the business
of the visiting officials was again de-
manded. For answer, Inspector Howard
produced a warrant from his pocket and
read it. In the name of the state of
Minnesota it commanded the officers to
arrest Theodore Shotwell, Alexander
M. Clerihew and William Lothman on
a charge OF obtaining money under
false pretenSes. An uneasy silence
followed the reading. Mr.. Clerihew
was the first to break it by asking what
was desired of them at the time.
"They are waiting for you at the mu
nicipal court, and we must take you
there" responded the officer. The
members of the firm donned their coats
and hats and with very solemn faces
and agitated hearts, followed the officers
to the municipal court. 1t was all done
so quietly, no one was the wiser, and
last night, beyond those interested, not
dozen people in the city were aware
of the arrests.
THE BANK SHOWS ITS HAND.
Yesterday morning the directors of
the NicOllet National bank held asecret
meeting. When they emerged, it was
announced there was absolutely moth
ing to give out, but the directors talked
i'll subdued voices, and the brow of
President DeLaittre wore an omi-
nous frown. When they reassembled
after dinner, Judge j. NJ. Shaw,
attorney for the bank, was closeted
with them, and after brief session
Assistant County Attorney Jamison
Joined them. He reappeared in few
moments and returned to the duties of
the court house. About o'clock Clerk
Dunn, of the municipal court, issued a
warrant by direction of Mr.. Jamson, and
upon affidavit by j. +. r. FosS, cashier
OF the bank, charging Theodore Shot
well, A. M. Clerihew and William 10th
man with having fraudulently obtained
$4,000 from the Nicollet bank upon
false pretenseS. The warrant was given
Inspectors Howard and Doyle for serv-
ice, and the prisoners were brought into
court.
HELD TO ANSWER.
Judge Mahoney was Oh the bench,
and in the court room were several Off
GERS of the bank, the assistant attorney
and only a few spectators. The accused
desired to have Wilson & Lawrence
summoned to defend them, but the
messenger returned with the informa-
ton that they were absent. j. N.
BearneS was secured and the case was
called. Judge Mahoney set it for a
hearing next Friday and fixed the bond
at $4,000 in each case. Messengers
were again sent out and J. B. Janney,
f. B. Semple, G. B. Heffelfnger and
several other gentlemen were brought
and become sureties on the bond. The
accused were then set at liberty. They
were evidently, both surprised and
deeply mortified over the proceedings
and there was very little conversation
on any hand.
THE HISTORY OF THE CASE
is quite familiar to the business fra
ternity at least. The dry goods
firm had done business with the bank.
and had run up an Indebtedness of over
$4,000 last year. A rupture took
place, and the bank demanded
settlement. The firm withdrew
its bushes and proceeded to
gradually reduced the amount until it
reached $4,000. The bank officers state
that they were told by the firm, at
March settlement, that its liabilities
were SAIL 900, while in reality they were
over double that. Mr.. Shotwell went
East to make arrangement for
money, and during his absence the
bookkeeper came to the bank with
lot of drafts drawn through the
National Bank of Commerce, Provi-
dence, r. l. He had a note from Mr..
Clerihew, saying he had a telegram
from Mr.. Shotwell and the drafts would
be promptly honored. On this the bank
cashed them and they were returned
bank. The amount charged in the COM
plant is $4,000, but it was generally
supposed it was much larger.