Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-03-16
A London Promoter Accused of
Gigantic Frauds Arrested
In New York
FRIEND OF KING OF ENGLAND
Eleven Companies Floated by Wright,
Went to the Wall in 1900, and Many
of the Aristocrats in England Were
Caught in the crash-American
Were Also Heavy Losers.

Wright, the London promoter, who Is
accused OF being concerned in colossal
frauds in connection with the organ!za-
ton OF various financial corporations
was arrested Sunday on the arrival OF
the French line steamer La Lorraine
from Havre. The arrest was made by
two central office detectives at the re-
quest of the London police.
Wright was taken to police head
quarters and later to tho Tombs police
court, where he was arraigned before a
magistrate and turned over to the
United States authorities, He was then
taken to the Ludlow street Jail.
With Wright on the steamship was
8 tall, good looking young woman who
said she was the niece of the prisoner
Her name was on the passenger list
as Miss +. Browne. Wright when told
that he was under arrest showed no
evidence Of excitement and said that he
was friend Of King Edward. His
principal concern was to avoid publici-
ty, and he asked that his arrest be kept
from the newspapers. Wright and his
companion were entered on the original
passenger list as NJ. Andreoni and Mile
Andreoni. The day after leaving Havre
Wright told the purser that a mistake
had been made in making the tickets
out in the name of Andreoni. His mama
accordingly was changed and appeared
on the additional list as Mr.. j. w
Wright, and that of the woman was
Miss f. Browne. Wright and the young
woman occupied one of the finest deck
suites on the steamship. Wright was
sitting at desk in his cabin when
found by the detectives. When adj
dressed by name he at once admitted
his identity and on being told that he
London police said: THAT was q bust
ress transaction. understood that the
matter was all settled IN parliament
This is surprise to me. ! am willing
to go with you. All I want is to get
away from here with as little noise as
possible. Don't let the newspapers
know anything about this
Had Woman Companion.
They went on deck and the woman,
Miss Browne, was told quietly by
Wright of his arrest. With an officer on
each side OF him, ha was escorted down
tho gangway.
Miss Browne, who was left on the
pier. remained looking after the bag
gage. She is rather tall. slender per-
son. dressed in dark blue and wearing
q rather broad brim. low crowned hat,
draped with a flimsy light blue veil.
Che 1nn1ired RI ooly0 nv, cfa
beyond that she had come over to visi,
friends. After her baggage had been
examined she lsft in cab, instructing
the driver to go to an UP town hotel.
The financial crash Of the companies
foated by Whitaker Wright came in
December, 1900. There were eleven of
these, including the parent company,
entitled the London and Glove Finance
Corporation, with total capitalization
OF s60.675,000. Wright was the man.
aging director.
Few millionaires lived in the same
rrincely style as Whitaker Wright. In
Park Lane, London, he had Il miniture
palace. which cost many thousands OF
pounds. AT Godalming he owned a
country seat, in identifying which 900
workmen We're engaged. 1t contains
costly fountains and a statuary brought
from Italy. Wright's stables alone cost
a small fortune. They have upholster-
ed oak and leather SeteeS and polished
pun metal fittings, while valuable
paintings and has reliefs adorn the
stalls. His private yacht was fitted up
with similar luXuriousness, and at one
time he was credited with the inten-
ton of constructing a yacht tot race
Sir Thomas Lipton's Shamrock.
One of the victims of the crash was
the late Marquis of Dufferin and Ava
formerly governor general OF Canada,
and British Ambassador at Paris. He
consented to be chairman of the Lon
don and Globe and had $4,000 shares in
the different companies.
With Lord Dufferin on the board of
directors were Lieutenant General
Cough Calthorp, who was colonel of
the Fifth Dragon guards, and Lord
Edward William Pelham Clinton, mas
ter of the late queens household, and
son of the fifth duke of Newcastle.
When the crash came Lord Dutferin
was severely censured for his connec-
ton with the Wright companies, but
in a frank speech to the stockholders
of the London and Globe corporation,
he declared his position and won the
sympathy of the country. His wealth,
at one time large, was believed to have
been swallowed up in these compan-
les.
Americans Lose Heavily.
Much American money was lost In the
failure of the Wright companies. There
was for some time past a great out
cry against the attitude of the author
tiles in not prosecuting Whitaker
Wright and his fellow directors of the
London and Globe and In January last
a petition was circulated on the London
Exchange signed by many influential
men demanding the prosecution OF Mr..
Wright as 1T was considered that the
credit of the city and of the London
stock exchange demanded thorough
investigation. A fund of $4,000 was
raised to initiate the prosecution of
Wright. Arnold White. the author. at
a meeting, said the reason the prosecu-
ton was not undertaken by the govern
ment was that the directors of the Lon
don and Globe were sheltering them
selves behind members of the royal
family. He added that he understood
a royal duke had invested his money
in the concern and that he believed
that certain hangers on at the court
We're using the name of the king and
Others for the purpose of hiding their
own nefarious deeds. Others speaking
at this meeting declared that the stock
holders of the London and Globe We're
victims of one of the most terrible,