The morning call., 1894-02-22
IN THE TOMBS.
EraStuS Winan as
Prisoner.
CHARGE OF FORGERY.
r. q. Dun s. Co. Are the
Prosecutors.
BUSINESS MEN SHOCKED.
Seeking a Reason for the Late
Arrest.
ALLEGED CRIMES ONE YEAR OLD
is 1t in Revenge for Circular Ex-
posing the Methods of Mer-
camille Agencies

NEW YORK, Feb. 21.-The news that
Erastus WimaD had been arrested on
serious charge fell like a thunderbolt on
the ears Of the multitude of people who
heard the story tonight, and no one was
more surprised than Wiman himself.
Since severing his connection with the Il.
G. Dun Agency Wiman has occupied
pleasantly furnished Office in the Field
building, l Broadway. He was engaged at
his desk this afternoon when Detective
Sergeants Phil Reilly and Won Gerichten
walked in. They had bench warrant for
his arrest, already prepared when the
Grand Jury an hour earlier had found two
indictments against the ex-king of Staten
Island for forgery.
Detective Reilly approached Wiman's
desk aud said: ''Yo ou are under arrest"
Wiman scarcely even glanced up, but he
turned very pale. and motioned the detec-
tives not 10 alarm the clerks. This was
Rt about O'Clock. Wiman was asked to
accompany the detectives to the District
Attorneys office. and he put on his coat
without a word and went with them. No
sooner were they beyond the ears of the
clerks than Wiman anxously inquired as
to the specifications of the charges against
him, and the nature of the punishment at
tached to each.
Don't let this be made public" he said,
and What is the penalty for forgery?"
He was put In cell in one of the regu-
lar sections of the prison, and later pos j.
lively refused TO see newspaper men.
General Tracy, his counsel, called at the
T0mbs al about o'clock and was in con-
sultation with his client for nearly an
h0ur. Later in the evening General
Cfracy, when seen at his residence, said
Il haven't much to say about Wiman's
arrest l do not even know definitely the
complaint against him, and have decided
not 10 begin an investigation until to-
morrow. L want to see these charges that
they say are so numerous"
When asked about the possibility of
Wiman's securing bail Tracy replied ::
He will have to stay in the Tombs until
Friday. Tomorrow is a holiday, and I
don't think we can get bail until the next
day. We will have il on Friday, though,
and Wiman will be released. That is ALL"
One of the charges against Wiman is
forgery of the Endorsement OF T. w. Bull
linger to a cheek for 5000 drawn 10 Bull
linger's order by r. G. Dun & Co. The
other charge is of forging the Endorsement
of Ogden Brewer TO check also drawn by
r. G. Dun & Co. for $3.50 These checks
were forged on January 20 and February
e, 1898, respectively.
Wiman was arrested by detectives from
the District Attorneys office, the war
rants being executed at Wiman'S Office
He was perfectly cool and collected when
the detectives placed him under arrest.
and at once proceeded with them to the
District Attorneys office. From there he
was taken before Judge MARITIME in the
Chamber of General Sessions. He was
accom- panied by bis son-in-law, Norman S.
Walker.
The first intimatioD Of any charges
against Wiman was in the form of letter
received at the District Attorneys Office
on the 14th inst. This letter is said 20
have come from Dun's attorney, supposed
10 be eX-District Attorney Delaney Nchol.
The witnesses who went before the Grand
Jury to-day were Il. ID. Douglas, E. w.
Bullinger. Ogden Brewer and the cashier
Of Il. g. Dun 81 Co. The counts in the
indictments relate to forgery ana the ut
terinG of the forged checks drawn Oh the
Second National Bank. where Winan had
no account. The offense is punishable
with not more than ten years for each of
the indictments.
The action of District Attorney Fellows
IN bringing the matter before the Grand
Jury was prompted by the letter ad-
dressed to Colonel Fellows and supposed
to have been written by ex-District Attor-
ney Delaney Nichol. The letter states
that Wiman was connected with +. G. Dun
& Co. during the period covering the acts
complained Of. and for many years prior
be had business relations with Dun. but
was not partner in the usual sense. The
letter continues: And yet by various acts
Of emhezzement. through misreDresenta-
ton, concealments, breaches OF agreement.
misuse of powers eonfided to him and
gross Misrepresentation of power with
which he was not trusted, he succeeded,
1rem 1888 up to February. 1893. in stealing
from Dim the enormous sum of $229,
o1S90"
The letter then details the cases selected
Tor prosecution, as follows: "In February,
1873, *. y. Dun q Co. owed upward of
SlO.OOO 10 Il. w. Bullinger for material
purchased on the 9th. In February, 1898.
Wiman being In urgent straits for money
directed Dun's cashier TO make out check
TO BulilngerS order, and instead of trans
hitting 1t to him in settlement of the ac-
count deliberately forged Bullinger's name
on the back of ;he check and deposited it
10 his own credit l need hardly say that
the acts OF Wiman were wholly without
the knowledge OF Dun or his associates.
and since then they have paid TO Bullinger
the sum which Wiman by means of forgery
appropriated to his own USE"
''The second case cited occurred on Janu-
ary 20. Dun 6 Co. owed the Camp
bell .Printing-pre5s and Manufacturing
Company $3.50 for printing presses.
Wiman procured from Dun's cashier a
check to the order of Ogden Brewer. treas.