New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-05
F0RGER AND DEFAULTER.
Edison, Murderer and Suicide,
Robbed Church of $4,000.

Henry T. Edison. who on last Wednesday shot
and killed Mrs Fannie Pulen. his wife's friend
and then committed suicide al his home. NO
292 West Ninety second-st.. was a defaulter in
the sum of many thousand dollars. Soon after
the ira gedy it became known that he was short
I'm his accounts to st. Michaers Church. at
thu northwest corner Of Undergraduates. and
Amsterdam-ave. Of which the Rev. Or. John P
Peters is rector. \ statement to that effect
made by Mr.. Pullen husband Of the murdered
woman was printed in The Tribune the day
after the murder and suicide. Not until yes
terday however, vas it possible to say with
any degree of certainty Just how great was
the sum stolen by Edison and how long he had
been using for his own purposes part of the
funds Of the church.
He was not only a defaulter, but torseT'
and if some of his populations had not been
discovered last week il would not have been
long before he woulG have been found out.
The largest sum he obtained at one time by
forgery was $4,000 which he got by Stimulating
the signatures of William r. Peters. the treas
urer of the church and a brother of the rector
and Gilbert D. Case. clerk of the church cor
poration. It has been reported that Edison was
clerk of the corporation. but Mr.. Case told a
Tribune reporter last night that he was the
clerk and that Edison was only the book
keeper.
The forged paper for $4,000 was a promlssory
note and was discounted by the Hudson River
branch of the Corn Exchange Bank. at seventy
second-st. and Columbus-ave Mr.. Peters, the
treasurer, went to the bank week ago last
Wednesday. and while he was there the note
was shown to him. He at once sent telegram
to Edson, who was spending a vacation in
Maine. asking him to come at once to this city
When Edison was asked about the note, ne con-
fessed that he a forger.
An examination Of the bankbooks Of the church
was then begun and it was quickly learned that
Edison had at various times in less than a year
obtained money from the church funds in the
bank by forged checks. He also failed TO de-
post in the bank the full amount OF the sun
day collections. His total peculatlons u II
thought. according to one of the vestrymen OF
the church last night. will not be more thah
$4,000 and part of this sum is likely TO he re-
covered from the sale of some or MS eTtectS-
Edson's home was well furnished: ana aIli i!
other things he owned automobile. Tor Whlcn
he is said to have paid 5000. He TOOK churcH
money to operate in stocks. and IL is IhousHt
that he may have been carrying some stoChs
at the time Of his death. II IS also thouSI' 'ia'
his life was insured
That Edison died uenniless is generally pre-
summed TO be fact because a short time before
his death he had contracted to sell part of his
household furniture to raise money. MS ldIileI
and brothers are said to have told some OF tne
vestrymen of the church that they would ike
10 make good the sum he stole from the church
but that they will not be able 10 90 so II the
pecula tons amount to SoO.oOO.
Although Edison was only a booklSeerer. with
a salary of $1,000 a year. his yearly personal
expenses were about $4,000. The rent Of his
apartments alone was 81. POO a year. He gave
MANY of the church people with whom he came
in contact the impression that he did not nave
depend on his salary from the church TO sup
port himself. but that his wife was in comfort
able circumstances. Mr.. Bromley, secretary TO
William R Peters said 10 a Tribune reporter
yesterday that the church would not be fnan-
cially ruined even if the total sum Of the thefts
shcaid be 100000. nor would ii have to call on
its parshioners TO help carry on its work. II
owns real estate in the lower part of the city.
and the income from this property, in large
measure helps TO maintain the church.
The total sum received from all sources each
year for the support Of the church is said to be
about $4,000 The church owns St. Michaels
Cemetery. in Astoria. and the sales OF plots
there amount TO about 81 COO month Edison
the superintendent of the cemetery. y
vestryman said last night that he thought Ed
son began to steal last October.
Unprotected rulers. BY Ex-Attacbe. In to-