The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-02-22
4 THEFT Of s229,O0O
Charged Against Erastus
Wiman Of Mercantile Fame.
r. G. DUN & co. THE VICTIMS
1fisdeeds Committed as Far Back as
1854 Revelation That Astonishcs
and Grieves the Entire Country
His Arrest.


NEW YORK. Feb 1s -Erastus Wiman,
ehe well.known capitalist and railroad
maguate, was arrested on bench war
rant yesterday afternoon on two charges
Of forgery. He was brought into the ju-
liciary cham bers in the general sessions
building at 5 o'clock, and in default OF
t25, 200 bail was committed to the Tombs
BY Judge MARITIME.
Two indictments were found against
Wiman by the grand jury yesterday.
They are for forging and uttering checks.
Each indictment contained two counts-
The total amount involved In Mr.. Wi
mans alleged forgeries is $229, 900. The
complainant against him Is X. G. Dun.
president of the Mercantile Agency asso-
citation Of 8l4 Broadway. M ~
One Of the charges against Wiman Is
forging an endorsement of t. w. Bull
niger to a check for $4,000. which was
drawn to Bullinger's order by X. q. Dun
q Co. The other charge is for forging
the endorsement of Ogden BrowerAo
check also drawn by Il. G. Dun & Co. for
$3.50 The checks, were forged, respect
lively, on Jan. 20. fs93, and Feb. Q, 1893
Wiman was arrested by detectives from
She 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.
The Complaint.
The letter to the district attorney set
eing forth the naturepof the complaint In
detail is dated Feb. Is, and says: II beg
20 submit to you for your attention this
complaint of the firm Of X. g. Dun g. Co.
against Erastus Wiman for the crime of
forgery and ask that you send the same
70 the present grand jury.
81 have been at great pains to investi-
gate these charges for the purpose of sat
fsfying myself whether any explanation
or defense of them could be made. and
trust you will agree with me that clearer
eases, more easily proved by reputable
witnesses, have rarely, II ever, been sub
mitted to the authorities" 49,
The letter then details Wiman's rela-
tions with r. G.. Dun 81 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. K G. Dun
was the sole owner OF the business, and
Wiman was merely a salaried manager.
by various acts of embezzlement through
Misrepresentation, conceal ments, breaches
of his agreement. misuse Of the powers
confided 20 him and gross usurpation Of
powers with which he was not trusted.
succeeded during the years 1883, 1890, 1891.
1892 and up a. February, 1898. in conceal.
ing from Mr. Dun the enormous sum OF
$229, ,0is90 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 a. 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 I 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
70 others"
Dun Took Pity.
On discovery of two forgeries Dun &
Co paid sthe bills. amounting to thou
sands, Feb. go 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
20 transfer certain real estate on Staten
Island, but NpDu learned Wiman was
insolvent and refused to accept them or
receive any preference over his other cred
itors Wiman thereupon made d 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 letter by Wiman.
which accompanies the statement of
charges. and for the reason that he did
not then know. the extent of Wiman's
embezzlement, also because of exag-
eerated statements of Wiman expecting to
realize from his property to pay his cred
itors
The letter concludes by stating that
Wiman ought no longer be allowed to
masquerade as an honest man in this
community, or as an adviser and ex-
horter of youth" out OF sense Of obliga-
ton to the mercantile world with which
ne is so closely identified. Mr.. Dun has
decided that his duties require him to ex-
pose wiman's conduct and hand him
over 10 the authorities.
This letter is witnessed by r. d. Doug
lass, Il. w. Bullinger and Ogden Browsr
n r-I y.x ntsI.