Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-03-01

OF canada to the United states, was ar
rested to-day, charged with forgeries
amounting to $220,000.
He was arraigned before Judge Mar
tine, in chambers. in the general ses-
sions, and committed to the rombs in
default of $4,000 bail. The arrest was
made in the afternoon at the office OF
Mr. Wiman's son-in-law. Norman S.
Willer, in the Washington Building,
No. Broadway, on bench warrant,
issued soon after the grand jury had
handed down two indictments charging
Wiman with forgery in the second de-
gree. ...
STORY OF THE ALLEGED CRIMES.
Assistant District Attorney Lindsey
gave out copy Of the formal complaint
under which Mr.. Wiman was indicted.
The document, which is unsigned, bears
these names as witnesses: Il. ID. Doug
las, D. w. Bullinger, Ogden Brewer,
treasurer Campbell Printing Press Com.
pany and cashier II. G. Dun & Co. The
document is addressed to the district
attorney and reGites that "by various
acts OF embezzlement, through msrep-
RESERVATIONS, concealments, breaches Of
| agreement, misuse of the powers CON
tided to him and gross usurpation of
| powers with which he was no, trusted,
he succeeded during the years 1888, 1890,
1891, 1892 and up to February, 1898, in
stealing from Mr.. Dun the enormous
sum of $229,0lS.90"
1t is stated that on January Goth, 1893,
Wiman procured from r. G. Dun &
Co.'S cashier a check for $5,5S0, with
which lie said he proposed to pay the
Campbell Printing Press Company Il
nlll, got the company TO accept two of
his personal notes for the debt, forged
the name of Mr.. Brewer, the printing
company's treasurer, and appropriated
the money to his own use.
In February of the same year, il il
alleged, Wiman got check for $4,000
from r. G. Dun u Co.'S cashier for the
pretended purpose of paying L. W.
Bullinger his bill of $4,000, forged
Brewers name and himself used the
money.
THE CRIMES KNOWN A YEAR.
Mr.. Dun says he first learned of any
of Wiman's crimes in the latter part of
February, 1893. Neither he nor his asso.
ciates IN X. q. Dun u 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 their books, which has
recently been completed. But on dis
covering some of them, Mr.. Dun imme-
diately, on the goth of February. 1893,
terminated his contract with Wiman,
dismissed him from his employ and has
never seen him since.
On learning that his crimes had been
detected, Winan offered to transfer to
Mr.. Dun certain real estate interests on
Staten Island of doubtful value, but Mr..
Dun, learning that Wiman was insolyent,
refused to accept 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 authori-
ties on first discovering them for several
reasons.
In the first place he was moved by
consideration OF sympathy for Wiman's
family, with whom he had been ON
terms of friendship for many years, and
the piteous appeals for mercy which
Wiman made to him in letter.
In the second place he had then no
appreciation Of the extent of Wiman's
ENLIGHTENMENT 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
Wiman, was seen this evening. lie said
that upon hearing of his fathers arrest
he went Immediately to the Tombs, but
it was after the hour of locking up the
prison ne was only 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
committed no crime. If he has blum
dered, he is willing to stand the conse-
quences. He said that several friends
wanted to obtain bail for him, but he
declined TO allow them to do 81"
ONCE A MILLIONAIRE.
Eraslus Wiman has long been known
as one Of New 1ork's most prominent
citizens. He was promoter OF numer.
GUS projects of great financial import.
ance and u prominent member of the
New York Chamber of Commerce and
the Board of Trade.
He was until his assignment in April,
1898, considered 10 be a millionaire. He
did much to further the interest of
Staten Island and lives in magnificent
home at Erastina. His name has hitherto
been Synonymous with all that was up
right and honorable Mr.. Wiman was
born near Toronto SO years ago aud rose
from poor farmers boy to wealth and
i'm hU HE GUN
latest enterprise 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.
PASADENA. CAL. Feb. PAR. G. Dun,
president Of the Mercantile Agency Asso.
citation, arrived in Pasadena about q week
ago and is quartered at Rose Cottage, Ray
mond Hotel, with his wife When ques-
TONED yesterday with regard TO the arrest
OF Erastus Wiman he stated that the report
sent out from New York was so entirely
correct that it left him nothing to say. az
he did not deem it necessary to enter into
further particulars.
The report referred to was verified in
every particular. Wiman's peculations
were known, Mr.. Dun said, but before his
connection with the mercantile agency
was severed and we're the cause of such
action on the part Of the agency officials.
This was III February, 1893.
When questioned as to why action in
the case had been SO long delayed. Mr..
Dun said it was largely on account of
Wiman's wife and relatives. With refer
ence to the circular published and indus
trionsly circulated about month ago by
some person unknown. in which were re-
vealed many hitherto very dimly under
stood facts in regard to mercantile agencies
and their methods of doing business. Mr..
Dun said he did not attribute its author
ship to Wiman, nor, did it have the slight