The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-08-04
An EXILE'S RETURN.
For Five Years He Has Boon q
Fugitive from Justice.
BERErT OF REASON AND RICHES

James Hunter, Whose Forgeries Ag-
Rregate Oyer Hundred Thousand
Dollars, Returns from South Amer
ica TO Stand Trial-His Faithful
Wife Died I'm Montevideo.
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 4.-James Hun
ter, who left the country in 1887 upon
the advice of friends to whom he told
the financial standing Of the firm Of
John and James Hunter, and over whose
head two charges Of forgery have been
hanging ever since. has returned to his
home, and is now under bail to appear
at court.
The story of the mans flight and wan
derings, coupled with the death of his
wife and, as it appears, the loss Of his
mind, is one which can seldom be told
of human being. He arrived in New
York on the steamer Lequaanco, from
Monteyideo, on Sunday, in company
with his son, James Hunter, Jr., and
Immediately came to Philadelphia, be-
ing taken to the residence of William
ID. Hunter, at Park station.
David X. Furman, a son-in-law, and
Leedom Sharp, lifelong friend, who
were consulted about the matter on the
same day, advised Mr.. j. Hunter, Jr.,
to lay the facts before District Attorney
Graham. Subsequently DIR. William
E. Hughes examined Mr.. Hunter, Sr.,
and certified that he was suffering from
dementia, was unable to talk intelli-
gently. or transact any business, and
that his condition was permanent and
likely to increase in intensity.
Admitted to Bail I'm $4,000.
A meeting was arranged for at Mr..
Graham's Office, where Mr.. Sharp en-
tered bail in the sum of $4,000 for Mr..
Hunters appearance at court. Mr..
Hunter is said to be complete mental
wreck, not even remembering where he
once lived in the city.
James Hunters misfortune became
public March 22, 1877. when Messrs.
Keen, Bodine 81 Co., Third street
brokers, sued out attachments against
him and his brother, John, then receiver
of taxes, to secure payment of $50, 900
they claimed to be due them. Next day
there were similar processes issued at the
instance of the Third, Fourth, Mechanics
and West Philadelphia National banks.
The notes to recover the amounts Of
which these suits were begun were al
legged to be forgeries. Their aggregate
now reached $l06,200, and the COM
munity was startled by the apparent
crime of an heretofore honored citizen.
The sheriff seized the firm property at
the mill, Fifty-fifth and Market streets,
and the personal effects Of the brothers
at their residences.
Mr.. Hunters Flight.
Before the sheriff had executed the
writs directed to him an assignment for
the benefit of creditors had been made
to John Field, now postmaster. All this
while James Hunter was out of the city,
and inquirers were informed he was in
New York on business. The next step
was the issusing of a warrant BY Magis-
trate Pole, charging the absent man
with forgery, upon the oath of the
cashier Of the Mechanics National bank.
All efforts to apprehend the fugitive
failed. The only clew of the mans
whereabouts ever furnished was by
General Louis Wagner. who saw him
on New York ferryboat on March 90.
The assigned cause of the trouble was
land speculations in the south and west
that proved Improbable, and gradually
dissipated the working capital of the
firm. The New York, Norristown and
New Jersey assets of this firm were
from time to time seized for creditors,
and by degrees the full Indebtedness Of
the firm became known, and has almost
been discharged.
The story of MIR. Hunters flight and
wanderings, briefly told, is as follows:
In March, 1887, when it was found that
there were things that could no longer
be covered up he consulted with John
G. Lucas and other friends at Clover
Hill farm, Lucas residence, who ad-
vised that he leave the country. He had
no money, and Lucas gave him $500,
with which he started in exile. With
his son, James Hunter, Jr., he went to
New York, where ticket was purchased
for San Frsncisco: but the fugitive de-
termined to see Mexico, and he went to
the City of Mexico instead of California.
After two weeks he went to Ell Paso,
Tex, in search of man to whom he
his ticket to sell, and there he accident
ally met his son, Thomas q. Hunter,
who was on his way to Mexico to look
after his father.
How He Escaped the Detectives.
They went to Mexico and sailed
from Vera Cruz, missing the boat they
intended to take, however, and board.
ing another. This was fortunate for
them, as detectives were on board the
first boat searching for the missing man.
At Rio Janeiro they were Joined by
Mrs. Hunter and James, Jr., Thomas
Hunter having returned home. The
family went to Buenos Ayres, where
they lived under the name of Dhyine,
bnt later moved to Montevideo where
they lived under their own names. In
December, 1890, Mrs. Farman went to
South America in response to cable
gram announcing the illness of her
mother, Mrs. Hunter. Several times the
unfortunate woman rallied, but on May
20, 1891, she died of black small pox and
was buried in Montevideo, where, un-
der the laws, bsr body must remain for
ten years.
james Hunter, Jr., married in the
following month, but on March ], this
year, his wife died, leaving an infant
son, and her body was embalmed and
,hipped to this city. where it was re-
ceiyed about four weeks ago. After the
death of Mrs. Hunter, Jr., the mental
condition of the elder MIR. Hunter,
which had shown signs of weakness, be-
came SO that the son could not take care
of him. He would wander off like q
child, and SOM times remained away
twenty-four hours. Acting upon the
advice of physicians at Montevideo Mr..
Hunter, Jr., decided to bring his father
home, and the family was notified.