Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-02-22
The : Railroad Magnate
Accused of FOrgeries.
MADE BY R. G. DUN & CO.
They Had Originally Intended to Let
the Matter Remain a Secret.

NEW YORK, Feb 22-Erastus Wiman,
formerly manager for r. G. Dun & Co.,
mercantile agency, lui der of tho Staten
Island Rapid Transit railroad, and
prominent advocate of the annexation of
Canada to the United States, was arrested
yesterday charged with embezzlements
and forgeriss amounting to s229, 900. He
was arraigned before Judge MARITIME, in
chambers, in the general sessions, and
committed to the Tombs in default Of
t25.0
One Of the charges against Wiman is
forging an endorsement of r. w. Bull
niger to a check for 5000. which was
drawn to Bullinger's order by X. G. Dun
g. Co. The other charge is for forging
the endorsement of Ogden Brewer to
check also draw by X. G. Dun g. Co for
$3.50. The checks were forged. respect
lively, on Jan. 20, 1893, and Feb. 8, 1893
Wiman was arrested by detectives from
the district attorneys Office. The war
rants were executed at Wiman's office on
Broadway. He was perfectly cool and
collected when the detectives placed him
under arrest, and at once proceeded with
them to the district attorneys Office.
An Interesting Letter.
The letter to the district attorney set
ting forth the nature of the compli~lt in
detail Is dated Feb. 10, and says: II beg
to submit to you for your attention this
complaint Of the firm of X. G. Dun & Co.
against Erastus Wiman for the crime of
forgery and ask that you send the same
to the present grand Jury.
IL have been at great pains to investi-
gate these charges for the purpose Of sat
isfying myself whether any explanation
or defense of them could be made, and
trust you will agree with me that clearer
cases, more easily proved by reputable
witnesses, have rarely, IL ever, been sub
mitted to the authorities."
The letter then details Wiman's rela-
tions with X. q. Dun g. Co. He could
not use the firm name, except in proper
business connected with the mercantile
agency, and had the right to sign firm
checks for firm purposes only. r. G. Dun
was the sole owner of the business, and
Wiman was merely salsried manager.
yet" the letter continues, "Wiman,
by various acts Of embezzlement through
Misrepresentation, concealments, breaches
of his agreement, misuse Of the powers
confided to him and gross usurpation of
powers with which he was not trusted,
succeeded during the years 1888. 1890, 1891,
1892 and up to February, 1893, In conceal
ing from Mr.. Dun the enormous sum of
e229, ,0ls90. That sum he owes Mr.. Dun
today. That, in view Of his relation to the
property of Mr.. Dun, which Wiman
helped to manage under the name OF r.
G. Dun g. Co.. he is guilty Of the crime of
having embezzled the whole or greater
part Of this sum, have little doubt.
"He has committed so many crimes that
selection for prosecution Is difficult. Out
of the long list Of his offenses / have
selected for presentation to you two
forgeries and two or more larcenies so
perfectly clear, so easily established, so
indefensible, that they will serve the pur-
pose OF prosecution without reference also
to others"
was Held Back.
On discovery of two forgeries Dun e.
Co. paid the bills, amounting to thou
sands, Feb. 80, 1893. discharging Wi
man, whom Mr.. Dun has not seen since.
A careful examination of the firms books
was commenced and has only been re-
Gently considered. When informed that
his crimes were detected Wiman offered
TO transfer certain real estate on Staten
Island, but Mr.. Dun learned Wiman was
insolvent and refused to aonept them or
receive any preference over his other cred
itors. Wiman thersupon made formal
assignment.
Mr.. Dun refrained from taking action
at first on account Of friendship for WI
mans family, because Of piteous appeals
for mercy made In q letter by Wiman,
which accompanies the statement of
charges, and for the reason that he did
not then know the extent Of Wiman's
embezxlement, also because OF Gag
gerstsd statements Of Wiman expecting to
realize from his property to pay his cred
itorsL
The letter concludes BY stating that
Wiman sought no longer be allowed to
masquerade a. an honest man in this
community, or a. an adviser and ex-
horter Of youth" out Of q sense Of obliga-
ton TO the mercantile world, with which
be u 20 closely identified. Mr.. Dun has
decided that his duties require him to ex-
pose wimant conduct and hand him
over TO the authorities.
This letter IL witnessed by II. d. Doug
lass. r. W. Bullinger and Ogden Brewer
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smoke the LeFavor. lOc.
smoke the. .Upton..cc.