New-York tribune., 1889-12-23
BAD MIN BROUGHT TO BAY.
THE STORY OF H. s wICKs's LAND AND coLoN1-
ZATION COMPANY.

THE STORY OF II. s. wICKS's LAND AND COLoN1-
ZATIoN COMPANY.
The story NJ Hamilton :. Wicls's American Land
and Colonization Company, developed in the Grim
inal case against him. makes interesting reading
Wcks is at present vice president and treasurer Of
"The Kansas CITY Commercial is visiting NewYor
and is at liberty under 800 bail TO anpear for trial
today. The plaintiff is Dcrng Fosdick, young
man in the employ Of the Long Distance Telephone
Company. The allegations made against Wlcks' as
given by John O. Mott, attorney for Fosdck, are as
follows:
In l7s6 Wicks came here from Kansas City and
made hi, headomrtcrs at the Office Of The Theatre
in Twenty third ST. where FOsdick then employed
as clerk lie said that he had organized a company
for promoting immigration to some Western lands
which he mad secured, and nsinuated that Fosdick
could be made secretary OF the company If he could
secure 81 900, for which he would receive stock.
The clerk wrote to his father, clerk in the War De
partment and prevailed upon hhn to pay the 81 900.
As soon as Wicks was sure Of the money he informed
his brotherin.law DR.. George c. jeffrey and Henry
Prentss, of Brooklyn, of the scheme, and secured
their assistance in forming c0mpahy. On october
20. 1856 the company was formed under the laws of
NewJesey at Taylor's Hotel Jersey City, by Wics,
Jeffrey and Prentss. The capital was 100000,
of which, it was alleged in the articles, 81 900 had
been paid in. Wicks put himself down for ninety
shares Of $40 each, and jeffrey and PrenSs each for
hve shares, making up the $1,000.
On November l. the elder FOsdck sent his son a
draft for II 600 which promptly handed over TO
Wicks in exchange for eight certificates. 100 shares
each, in the company. The money was deposited
with L. ;. Lawrence 4 Co., and was the only money
ever placed TO the company's credit. An Office was
opened in the Borecl Building and Fosdck became
secretary at salary Of SO a week, which was paid
him out of his own money. This lasted for a few
weeks when, suddenly, Wlcks discharged Fosdic and
disappeared Fo,dick told his story to Inspector
Bymes and al the same time, began a civil suit
against Wic.s. but the latter had vanished.
About year ago, through remarkable coincidence.
Alexander Campbell, FosdicRs counsel. and Fosdick
were walking in Broadway, when the ex-secretary
saw Wicks. Campbell gave chase, caught him and
served the summons In the sun. bel9Ic an OHcef
could be called however, the bird again had flown.
Nothing more wa heard Of the defendant until week
ago, when FOsdick again saw Nlthn Oh tic street lie
followed him and teephOned TO Inspector Byrnes.
detective came down aud arrested Nicks the hearing
reported In Wednesday, Tribune Deihg the result:
While Mcks WAS on the siand III Jlc Jefferson Mar
ket Police Court he acknOw lodged 10 the lawyer j. o.
Mott who was questioning him. tat IN October of this
ear, In his capacity vice pi9iucut oi Ihe Kansas
City Commercial he went To the agents Of the lnman
Line and secured from them a hIstclass passage to
Europe and return on the representation that Com
InercalH correspondent was 10 cross the ocean ana
write elaborate and haterng accounts OF the trip ana
OF his treatment by the steamship 0mcers As soon as
ne had his tickets and berl checks Wlcks went 0lt
IN broadway and offered the whole outfit for sale.
lie tried however, 20 sell the tickets to an employe G.
lhe line who promptly coniscHed them and had them
cancelled forthwith.