The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1894-02-22
A MILLIONAIRE F0RGER
EfaS.uS Wlmln Arrested On a Very
Serious ChlFga
FELL LIKE A THUNDERBOLT
The News OF the Arrest Made a
Great STIR In Financial and
Social Circles In New
York City.
FELL LIKE A THUNDERBOLT 7

NEW YORK, Feb. G.-The news that
Erastus Wiman had been arrested ON a
serious charge fell like ,hundcrholt on
the ears Of the multitude of people who
heard the story tonight, and no one vas
more surprised than Wiman himself.
Since seyering his connection with the II.
G. Dun agency, Wiman has occupied a
| pleasantly furnished Office in the Field
building, No. Broadway. He was occu.
| pying his desk this afternoon, when De-
.ectlve Sergeants Phil Reilly and Won
Gerichten walked in. They had a bench
warrant for his arrest, already prepared
| wheh the grand jury an hour earlier had
iound Two indictments against the ex-king
OF Staten Island TO? forgery. Detective
Reilly approached Wiman's desk and
SAID: You are under arrest"
Nlman scarcely even glanced up, turned
very pale and motioned the detectives not
TO alarm his clerks. This was about 3
O'Clock. Wiman was asked 10 accompany
the detectives TO tho district attorneys
oihoe. He put on his coat without a word
aud went win them. No sooner were
! they beyond the ears Of the clerks than
Niman anxiously inquired the speciiica-
tons against him and the nature Of the
punishment attached 10 each. Don't let
this be made public" he said. "What is
the penalty for forgery?"
He was put in a cell in one Of the regu-
lar sections of the prison and later posi-
lively refused to see newspaper men.
General Tracy, his counsel, was
called at the tombs about o'clock
| and ion ii
nearly an hour. Later in the c, eniI-
General Tracy, when seen at his resi-
dence, sad: II have not much to say
about Wiman's arrest. | do not even
know definitely the complaint against
hlm and have decided not 10 begin inves-
LEGATIONS until Tomorrow. l want TO see
these charges that they say are 90 numer.
ous.m
When asked about the possibility of WI
mars securing ba /, Tracy replied: HE
VIII nave 10 stay in the tombs until FRI
day. Tomorrow is holiday and l don't
lhink We can get bail until the next day.
We Will have il Friday. though. and WI
man will be released. That is all.'
One charge against Wiman Is the for
gerry OF an endorsement of l.. w. Bullin.
ger TO check for 5000 drawn to Bullin.
gers order by X. G. Dun q Co. The Of her
charge is forging the endorsement OF
Ogden Brewer TO check also drawn by
X. G. Dunn & Co. for S. $50. The cheeks
were forged Jan. 20 and Feb. 6, 1898.
Wimau was arrested by detectives from
the district attorneys office. Tho war
rr.nts we're 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 thence he
was taken before Judge MARITIME in the
chamber of general sessions. lie
was accompanied by his son.
in.law, Norman S. Walker. Wman said
that Gen b. Z. Tracy was his counsel
and that he had been in consultation witt
him nearly all day. He was not prepared
to give bail at once and in default was
taken to the tombs.
The first iBtimation OF any charge,
against Wiman was in the form Of let,
ter received at the district attorney.
Office on Feb. IA. This letter is said (,
have come from Dun's attorney, supposed
to be cx-District Att orney Delaney Mich
oil. Tie witnesses who went before III,
grand jury to-day were: II. ID. Douglas
L. w. Bullingcr, Ogden Brewer and III,
cashier of Il. G. Dun & Co. The counts il
the indictment relate TO the forgery and
the uttering of forged checks drawn or
the Second National bank whero Wimar
had no account and the oifense is punish
able with not more than 10 years for eacl
of the indictments.
The action OF District Attorney Fellow
in bringing the matter before the gran,
| jury was prompted by letter addressed
| TO Colonel Fellows and supposed TO hav
| been written by oN-Dsrict Attorney DE
Lancy Nicholl. The letter says Wimal
l was connected with X. G.. Dun q Go. dur
| ing the period covering the acts CON
| planned of aud for many years prior ha,
| business relations with Dan but was not
partner in the usual sense. The lettc
L says: "And yet by various acts of enbca
/ element through Misrepresentation. coa
/ cealmcnIs, brceches OF agreement, misus
of powers conflded TO him, and gros
/ usurpation of powers with which Ii
was not trusted, lie succeeds
from 1883 up TO February. 1893. II
1 stealing from Dun the enormous sum q
$2cg, ,090.r The letter then details III
II ClSts sc tCAch I'psfthhiblis III
ruary. ls93, Il. Il. Dun q Co. owed "
wards of $1,000 10 Z. W. Bullinrcr fo
material purchased Feb. 6, 1895. Wilma
being in urgent straits for money. d
rected Dun's cashier TO make out chec
10 Bullinger's order, and instead of tran,
mi,ting il TO him in settlement OF the q,
count, deliberately forged Bulinger'
name on the back OF the check and dt
posted II TO his own credit. need hartll
say the acts Of Wiman we're wholly will
out the knowledge of Dun or his assoc
ates, and since then they have paid I
Dulllnger the sum which Wiman b
means of forgery appropriated I
his own use. The second cas-
cited occurred January -. lS9
Dun & Co., owed the Campbell Printin
Press and Manufacturing company S5.jS
for printing presses. Wiman procure
from Dun's cashier a check TO the order,
| Ogden Brewer, treasurer OF the Campbe
company. on the preteXt that he desired
l pay the account. Thereupon no went
| the Campbell company and telling theI
/ that Dun e. Co. were short Of funds. aske
| il they would like notes for account il
stead Of cash. On Brewers acquiescencl
4 ,,,arls, typ, f,n.ag In Iis nu-r. man,