The herald., 1897-11-14
FORGED CHECK
Serious Charge Against
Charles L. Wilde
TWO OFFENSES ALLEGED
HE CLAIMS TO BE ABLE TO
EXPLAIN THE MATTER
Trustees of the American Fraternal
League Take Action-Released
on Bonds-His Statement

1t was with a shock of surprise that
the news of the arrest of Charles Wilde
on a charge of forgery was received by
the few friends and acquaintances who
gained knowledge of the fact late yes
terday afternoon.
Wilde has been we'll and favorably
known in the city as an expert book
keeper and steady going fellow. and
there are those who refuse to believe
that the charges preferred can be in any
way substantiated. Wilde has occupied
several responsible positions, not very
long ago holding the position of deputy
city clerk and lately being retained by
the Merchants and Manufacturers as
sociation, and was selected as one of it's
experts by the grand jury. Almost on
the stroke of 5 o'clock yesterday Wilde
was arrested on a complaint sworn to
by Capt. +. j. Cressey charging him
with forgery.
The specific charge made is that on
April 90 Wilde defrauded the National
Council of the American Fraternal
league, the Broadway bank and Warren
Gillelen by altering and raising check
worded as follows:
LOS ANGELES, Cal, April 23, 1897.
To Warren Gilelen. Treasurer:
Pay to the order of Charles l.. Wilde
$125........ 25-100 Dollars
For petty cash and charge same to expense
fund.
Payable at Broadway Bank. Los Angeles.
+. ]. CRESSEY National President.
NJ. p. SNYDER, National Auditor
tNHAS I. WILDE National Secretarv
1t is claimed that this check was raised
to $s1.25 and the wording made to read
for petty cash and April salary" 1t
was then endorsed by Wilde and cashed
at the Broadway bank.
That in brief is the charge upon which
Wilde was arrested and arraigned be-
fore Justice Young. His bail was set
at $1,000 and the date for examination
will be set tomorrow. Last evening an
other complaint was sworn to charging
Wilde with a similar offense in having
raised a check on the Broadway bank
from $J.65 to $155.65 on June 49, and it
was stated that the sum total of Wilde's
offenses in this direction will aggregate
$500 at least.
When Wilde had been arrested and
the charge was explained to him he was
surprised and indignant. ut is bit of
mean, petty spite upon the part of
Cressey," said he. Anyone that cares
to can swear to a complaint against a
man, but it is a different matter to prove
it,"
Il have been under no necessity to do
any such thing as this he continued,
'and have had good backing in the city,
and have had lots of friends. The only
gratifying phase about this thing is that
the investigation that will now take
place will show the animus of the prose-
cution. l was employed by the Mer-
chants and Manufacturers association
when Cressey came to me and begged
me to join him and help in setting the
organization going. He finally per-
suaded me to join him but when the
strongest men in the new league left
it and for cause, knew l had in justice
to myself to get out too. Mayor Snyder,
Sheriff Burr, DR.. Trueworthy and War
rem Gillelen were the backbone of the
organizations, and when they quit the
league was in very limp condition.
When I quit three months ago wanted
an accounting. but from that day to this
could not get it. Cressey postponed the
matter and carried it over, simply prom
ising that when the directors met he
would notify me. This morning there
was meeting of this new board, and
went down and spent as much time as
could possibly spare in trying to see
Cressey but failed
When l quit l notified the five or six
lodges that had been organized in the
outside districts Of the fact, and since
then have received from thirty to forty
letters asking me as a man about the
status of the league, and whether it is
solvent or not
In response to direct question as to
the charge of raising the checks, Wilde
said:
If there has been any changing of the
writing or the figures on any of the
checks it has been done since l resigned
as secretary. always issued the checks,
took them to Mr.. Cressey and then to
Mayor Snyder for their signatures, ana
never altered word or figure on any of
them. was not arrested, but as soon as
heard that q warrant had been issued
went to the justice court and surren-
dered myself. Then, accompanied by
an officer, went out and secured bonds
men,
Mayor Snyder, who, according to
Wilde's statement. had Withdrawn from
condition, was communicated with by
telephone last night and asked as to
the truth of the latter's statement. H.,
said: Il am no longer a trustee of the
American Fraternal league, having re-