Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-30
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPArcH.l

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPArcH.1
PHILADELPHIA, June 29.-George W.
Wright, the defaulting Supreme Treasurer
of the Order of Tonti, who was arrested on.
his return from Atlantic City by the special
officer of the City Trust, Safe Deposit and
Surety Company, was committed by Magis-
trate Lennon to Moyamensing prison
in default of $4,000 bail this morning..
When the case was called, Lawyers Lincoln
L. Eyre and Francis s. Brown, represent.
ing the City Trust, Safe Deposit and
Surety Company, applied for post
ponement of the hearing until
Monday at 12 O'Clock. Mr.. wright's
counsel, j. A. Smith, agreed, and the de-
fendant was returned to Moyamensing
prison. An effort was made by Lawyer.
Smith to have the bail reduced from $40, 900
to S14, 900, but Magistrate Lennon would not
reduce the amount.
George W. Wright eight years ago was
employed by an Arch street tailor to carry
clothes to customers tor the compensation Of
S. week. In 1882 he was taken into part
nership BY William II. Flattau and
George D. Cook. The three men started
a storage warehouse, at the corner of Seven
teenth and Poplar streets, under the name Of
the Northwest Storage and Trust Com
pany. Mr.. Wright conducted the business
and the
OTHER PARTNERS FURNISHED MONEY,
The business became prosperous and Mr..
Flattau bought out theater. In a short
time he lost largely. Wright advanced
him a small sum, for which he received
Flattau's interest in the storage business.
1t was not long time before
L IL .
Cooks interests. When the Order of Tonti
was organized in 1885 Wright was elected
Treasurer. For his work he received 81 900
year and Is cents for each new member.
Some years he received as much as So, 500. In
1886 Wright added new features to his.
storage business. He opened an office in
the building and hung out sign which in
formed the public that George W. Wright
was a stock broker and insurance agent;
also that money was loaned on bond and
mortgage.
When the members of the Order of Tonti
heard of Wright's new enterprise several Of
them remarked that he had too many irons
in the fire, and that another man
should be made treasurer. Wright
succeeded in quieting the talk, and it
was soon forgotten. Wright, together with.
man named James V. Lafferty, started
what they called the International Etching
and Publishing Company, with an Office at
1917 Chestnut street. The enterprise proved
very unsuccessful, and after
SIX MONTHS OF PRoFITLEss BUSINESS
the Chestnut street Office was closed and
the firm removed to New York. When the
members of the Order of Tonti heard of
Wright's unsuccessful business enterprise
some of them made second effort to elect
another treasurer. but despite their
efforts, Wright succeeded in retaining the
position by voting for himself. At that
time Wright was under $40, 900 bonds. The
amount of money he handled monthly
greatly exceeded that amount. Wright
often Dragged of this fact, and one
night last January, while attending
a meeting of lodge. he told
Colonel Joseph R. G. Ward how much
money he handled, and that his bonds would
not cover it if he were to run away. Ward
is a member of the Order of Tonti, and he
Immediately went to President Wheeler, and
the security was raised to 0,000.
The business of the International Etching
and Publishing Company became worse,
and it was necessary to spend a large
amount of money to pay debts and run the
business. Wright, it is charged, helped
himself to the funds of the Order of Tonti,
hoping that business would revive and he
could put it back before the deficiency was
discovered.