The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-03-01
EMBEZZLEMENT.
ON THIS CHARGE is e. p. WHEEL
Err ARRESTED.
Wheeler Believed to be Innocent, and
the Trouble Due to Misunderstand=
ing-He Gives His Version of the
Matter-Secretary and Treasurer
of the Central Publishing Company.

e. p. Wheeler was arrested Thurs
day at the request of Chief of Police
Smith, of Minneapolis, and spent the
night in the city lookup. Wheeler's
home is in Minneapolis, where he has
a small family, and he arrived in Man
kato two days ago to do some work
here for few weeks. He was board
ing at The Saulpaugh, and is nice
appearing young man, and not one
who would be thought to be under so
serious charge as that upon which
he was rrested-embezzle The
Minneapolis officers were notified last
night to come after their man.
The arrest was Immediately due to
the arrival of Fred III. Andrus, OF
Minneapolis, on the evening train.
The story which leads up to the arrest
is tangled one, but it does not appear
that Mr.. Wheeler is believed to be
guilty of the crime charged against
him. He is secretary-treasurer of the
Central Publishing Co.. which is the
successor of the Swinbourne Printing
Co., which made an assignment Jan.
Sth. He was bookkeeper of the Swim
bourne company for three years previ-
Gus to it's failure, and Mr.. Andrus is
one of the stockholders of the defunct
concern, and also son-in-law of one of
the heaviest stockholders. AndrUs
and Wheeler both profess to be friends.
Wheeler states that James G.
Masterman, the president OF the
Central Publishing Co., and former
manager of the Swinbourne concern
is under arrest.
1t is believed that Wheeler is held
more as witness than anything else.
Mr.. Wheeler was seen by FREE
PRESS reporter at the city hall this
and was willing to tell what
he knew concerning his arrest, which
was very little. He expressed great
surprise at his arrest, and seemed con-
fident that he would make satisfac-
tory explanation. He said;
81 have heard a rumor that l was to
be arrested, and remained in Mime
apolis for six weeks in order to give
them chance to get me. l thought
that the matter had passed over, and
came to Mankato, taking no pains to
conceal where | went, and my at
torney said that he did not think that
they would come to Mankato for me.
If a dynamite bomb were exploded
under me l would not be more sur
prised than am at the present move.
81 did not embeZzle any money or
take what did not belong to me, and
of course deny the charge. Instead
Of my owing the Swinbourne company,
it owes me 800 for wages, as l have
not drawn anything since the last Sat-
Qrday in December. do not court
such notoriety as the present, and
shall soon be out of the trouble and at
work again. Everything can be eX-
planned. There is discrepancy, but
do not believe that anyone stole any
thing. l understand that 1 am
charged with being accessory to some
one else"
We are unable to ascertain the
amount alleged to have been embez-
lied. The warrant was sworn out by
Mr.. Andrus, who acted as manager of
the Swinbourne company from the
time of the assignment until the as
;ignee qualified. The Central Pub
fishing company was organized to buy
out the Swinbourne company before
5he latter failed, expecting to pay up
its debts and continue the business.
Masterman was arrested Thursday
and was released on 81, 900 bail.