Middletown transcript., 1894-02-24
ERASTUs wIMAN ARRESTED.
Committed to the Tombs in Default OF
Rail.

|
: Committed to the Tombs in Default Of
Bail.
Erastus Wiman, formerly manager for
R. G. Dun & Co.. mercantile agency, bull
der of the Staten Island Rapid Transit rail-
, road, and prominent advocate of the an
nexation of Canada to the United States
was arrested Wed, charged with forgeries
amounting to 1929 .OOO
He was arraigned before Judge MARITIME,
in chambers, in the general sessions, and
committed to the Tombs in default of
$685. 900 bail. The arrest was made In the
afternoon at the office of Mr.. Wiman's
son-in-law, Norman s. Willer, in the Wash
ington Building, No. 1 Broadway, on a
bench warrant issued soon after the grand
jury had handed down two indictments
charging Wiman with forgery in the second
degree.
| STORY OF THE ALLEGED CRIMES.
Assistant District Attorney Lindsey
gave out a copy of the formal comp laint
under which Mr.. Wiman was indicted.
The document, which is unsigned, bears
these names as witnesses: R. d. Douglas,
E. w. Bullinger, Ogden Brewer, treasurer
Campbell Printing Press Company and
cashier r. g. Dun & Co. The document is
addressed to the district attorney and recites
that "by various acts of embezzlement,
through misrepresentation, concealments
breaches of agreement, misuse of the powers
confided to him and gross usurpation of
powers with which he was not trusted, he
succeeded during the years 1888, 1890, 1891,
1892, and up to February 1893, in stealing
| from Mr.. Dun the enormous sum of $229,-
| O18 90"
It is stated that on January 2Uth, 1888,
Wiman procured from R. G. Dun G. Co.'s
cashier check for $780, with which he
said he proposed to pay the Campbell
Printing Press Company bill, got the
| company to accept two of his personal
notes for the debt, forged the name of Mr..
Brewer, the printing companys treasurer,
and appropriated the money to his own
use.
In February of the same year, it is alleged,
Wiman got check for $4,000 from R. G.
Dun & Co.'s cashier for the pretended pur-
pose of paying E. w. Bullinger his bill Of
$4,000, forged Brower's name and himself
used the money.
THE CRIMES KNOWN YEAR.
B Mr.. Dun says he first learned of any of
Wiman's crimes in the latter part of Febru-
ary, 1898. Neither he nor his associates in
R. G. Dun & Co.'S had any suspicion of the
extent of them, or of the amount embezzled
by him. That could only be ascertained by
a critical examination of the books, which
has recently been completed. But on dis
covering some of them, Mr.. Dun immedi-
ately, on the 10th of February, 1893, termi-
mated his contract with Wiman, dismissed
him from his employ and has never seen
him since.
On learning that his crimes had been de-
tected, Wiman offered to transfer to Mr..
Dun certain real estate interests on Staten
Island of doubtful value, but Mr.. Dun,
learning that Wiman was insolvent, refused
to occept them or to receive any preference
over his other creditors.
WHY SILENCE WAS KEPT.
Mr.. Dun says he did not submit the proof
of Wiman's crimes to the authorities on
first discovering them for several reasons.
In the first place he was moved by con-
sideration of sympathy tor Wiman's family,
with whom he mad been on terms of friend
ship for many years, and the piteous ap-
peals for mercy which Wiman made to
him in letter.
Tn, tbo eaoopd r1ono ha ho6
probation of the extent of Wiman's embez-
Element nor of the length of time during
which he had systematically abused his
confidence and betrayed the trust reposed
in him.
WHAT wIMAN TOLD HIS SON.
Harry Dun Wiman, son of Erastus Wi.
man, was seen this evening. He said that
upon hearing of his fathers arrest he went
Immediately to the Tombs, but was after
the hour of locking up the prison he was
permitted to send him note. He said: II
received message in reply in which my
father stated that he was getting along all
right. He said that all was serene, that he
was conscious of no guilt, and had commit
ted no crime: If he has blundered he is
willing to stand the consequences. He said
that several of his friends wanted to obtain
bailfor him but he declined to allow them
to do so.
ONCE A MILLIONAIRE.
Erastus Wiman has long been known as
one of New York's most prominentcitizens.
He was promoter of numerous projects of
great financial importance and a prominent
member of the New York chamber of Com
merse and the Board of Trade.
He was until his assignment in April
1868, considered to be millionaire. He
did much to further the interest of Staten
Island and lives in magnificent home at
Erastina His name has hitherto been syn
onymous with all that was upright and
honorable. Mr.. Wiman was born near
Toronto So years ago and rose from from
poor farmers boy to wealth and Importance
by his own exertions. His latest enter
prise was the plan to tunnel New York bay
between Brooklyn and Staten Island, and
thereby carry the New Jersey trunk lines
into Brooklyn. Mr.. Wiman was known
among his friends as lavish entertainer.
WELL KNOWN IN WILMINGTON.
Erastus Wiman was we'll known in Will
mington. Several years ago he had joint
debate with General James II. Wilson, in
Institute Hall, on the Canadian Annexa-
.ion," which attracted general interest.
He had accepted an invitation to attend
he annual dinner of the Wilmington
Board of Trade, March 29fh, and to speak
lpon the question "What is the Matter
With the Times?"
Polly McNatt.
The name "Polly McNatt" is hardest
hat one politician in lower Delaware can
all another. Polly McNatt was the wife of