The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-19
BREWERS PONTIAC BANK.
n LOOKS TERr PRETTY, BUr THERE
IsS,f any MONEY HERE.

Safes, Furniturr, aud Floor Cloths Put tn
on Credit-Two Clerks and "a Typewriter
Ready for Husiness-Brewer's Alias OF
ne Au-tin DId Not Hold Out Long
Euopgh-Us Has Been Banking Before.
People in the neighborhood OF Amsterdam
avenue and Ninety first street have been talk
ing for the last two weeks about handsome
new bank which was being fitted up in Julius
Lipman's block on the northeast corner OF
those streets. The name Of the institu-
ton was to DO the Pontiac Bank. and
the man who was starting 1t gave his name as
John G. De Austin OF Brooklyn. He was youth
full looking for SO responsible post. but he
carried himself confidently and showed dis
position to patronize the local industries
with large orders
tombstone 4 Cadien put in partitions. c. II.
Pepper furnished tho covering for the floor.
The Empire Furniture Company sent around
half dozen oak deskb. a dozen oak chairs with
cushions and several settees. and the Reming-
ton Typewriter Compan furnished one OF their
machines in an oak desk. all on credit. Two
big bank safes were secured. Charles L. Ken
nedy. q sign painter, Of Cos Amsterdam avenue.
covered the windows and doors with gilt Lett
terlng setting forth that the Pontiac Bank was
prepared to furnish drafts for all points in
Great Britain between the hours OF 10
A. NJ and 1 =. NJ. pretty girl to
run the typewriter was hired. and
couple OF clerks were on hand to do
business when the bank should open It's doors.
Louis " Simpson. lawyer at 20 Wall street.
who lives in the Peerless apartment house on
104th street. was engaged as the banks attor-
ney TO secure charter in Albany, and all this
was done without the expenditure OF any
money. The only expenditure was when the
store was leased by q man from Morrisania
named Rapp.
bank and was informed that IL was proposed
to get capital Of 100000 by subscriptions.
He said that when they had secured their sub
tend to the matter Of the charter. That was
the last he cav OF the bank people and the en-
a man calling himself Ebenezer F. Selleck
called on Charles NJ. pennison Of Dennison &
o
and all the stssT heads Sr sd
Mr.. Dennison says he was not impressed
with tho personal appearance Of Mr.. Sell
ieek: who looked IKE porter; He asked e, Tor
Finally he named Mr. DE austin and
could find neither name in the city directory,
and seleek, would give no others, tho order
On Tueseay there was a quarrel behind the
doors OF the bank. and one 81 the employees.s
the nsirhbSTs by was sheutfnS at the tor OF lis
voice that the bank was fraud and that De
Apstin.s real name was Thomas {. Brewer:
were already getting nervous about their be:
lated payment and an Investigation was set
.a%e, va. ' %sse5tsa Si that updsS
hired a store at 5S3 Amsterdam avenue and
had the name OF Thomas J. Brewer builder
said he was hiring 1t iori his father. The rent
had not been paid on this store and 1t was
man. who knew Thomas C. Brewer soon
appeared n the person 81 Thomas !; 0'RourGs.
him Tom Brewer. De Austin answered to the
name; URourke said he had got acquainted
EiGhty-seoond street was then interviewed:
and member OF the brotherhood of St. An
drew on Thirtieth street for nine years lie
group. and the little crowd Of invests Gators
promptly picked out Brewer ms De Austin.
Of sS isa fd en Vest
street. His uncle Ebenozer f Selleck was q
truck driver Brewer grew ambitious ,P Ti,. and
Building at Union square. Here he got into
trouble spd Was arrested on charge OF re-
Mr.. Spencer accompanied tho creditors to
the house Of a friend OF his, stationer in Am;
known Brewer longer than Mr. Spencer. and
he was able e give more OF his interesting his
arrested in Vermont
:. He had gone up there and founded the
Quoted In Connection with a concern he called
the American Investment Company. now no
more He seemed to have got out OF the scrape
Among the stockholders in the proposed
bank was to be Charles l. Grissmeyer real
told Sun man that he had paid in no money.
but bad subscribed for a few shares as he
sO%m ns% Il he VA. stSSiSodes lie said
s BE saS n4 The Plan F Wa. rail- S
sSubscEjptben96 Of which half Was to be paid in
6Ss he nsa ssS ne Mr.
who had leased the property for the use Of the
Mr. sn s sns Sss for or
teed. He knew nothing Of De A1stin's other
At Gli5 broadway the ianItor said that wards |
fore Christmas. and that Mr. WArde had gone
West. Mr. Simpson, who was called the at |
attorney for the Investors Guarantee Com |
pany. q which ., l. Geer is President and I.
The sign painter Kennedy. said that Mr..
Rapp lived in Morrsania, and that the elderly |
man Who made the row IN tsGnt OF the bank az On
Rapp's tenants and represented Mr.. happ's In |
teIests In the bank.
a reporter and told story abou. his mother |
owning property in Rrooklyn and being win. |
suitably started. He said he had hrst -class |
financial backing apart from this, but he did |
not care to give names yet.
He said the business OF the bank mad been |
delayed by reason Of the fact that they had not |
yet secured the right man for President lie |
sured by his attorney Mr.. simpson. that a day |
or two would be all that would be needed to |
get the charter II q man went to Albany.
Neither under the name OF De Austin or |
Brewer could the young banker be found In |
any OF his usual hAunts yesterday. He has a |
slight stOop. Is slender and pale-fAced. has a |
long nose and dark hair, and smells OF eigA- |
rettss. His creditors were laying for him |
ali thA hank building YeafardaH but didn't get |