The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-05
WARRANT FOR BELCHER NOW.
nut PATERSON'S MAYOR HAS A
100 HOUR START.
Investigation Brings Out Still More Evil
dcncs Of Hts Crimes-StOle At Least
500 900, Including the Estate OF
lis Friend Congressman stewart.


500 900, Including the Estate OF
Ills Friend Congressman stewart.
The authorities of the city OF Paterson
and the county OF Passaic have decided TO
bring William H. Belcher, the renegade
reform Mayor. to the bar of Justice. The
decision was not reached hastily. but only
after delberation for several days and
long conference in the Offices Of County
Prosecutor Finley yesterday morning. Late
In the afternoon, hundred hours after
Bclcher's disappearance, warrant was
placed in the hands Of Acting Police Cap
tain McCirr. II Is believed that general
alarm will be sent out 10 the police OF the
country and reward offered within few
| days.
The warrant charges embezzlement. The
complainant IL John c. Roe OF Haledon
treasurer Of the Manchester Building and
Loan Association and a co-indorser with
Secretary Alice Of Belcher $500 note.
| Roe bases the accusation upon the appro-
priation by Belcher of 81 800 paid to him for
the loan association by Mrs. Cecilia Merini
on Feb. 20, 1905. The payment, as reported
In The Sun yesterday. was in discharge OF
mortgage indebtedness to the association.
After Mr.. Roe had submitted his formal
complaint to Isaac Noonberg, the Recorder,
that official drew up the warrant, took it to
the office Of the police and read it with due
solemnity.
There are many skeptical persons in
| Paterson who say that the language OF tie
warrant Ia the only thing solemn about it.
They point to the fact that Belcher con-
fessed forgery to an examiner OF the State
Commissioner OF Banking and Insurance
on Monday, and inquire rather pointedly
| why steps were not taken at that time or
on the day following II the authorities
| were wholly imbued with desire for his
| arrest.
| Soon after the warrant was issued
Paterson newspaper man reported to
! Prosecutor Emley that Belcher had left
his home in Midvale disguised by the lack
Of his mustache, and was on train ar
irving in Jersey City at 6:07 o'clock. Mr..
Emley excitedly telephoned q description
to Chief Murphy Of Jersey City. The
chief met the train, but failed to find the
Mayor. He had personal acquaintance
with the Mayor and was absolutely certain
he was not among the passengers.
The extent Of public knowledge OF the
MhyOI . pcCulotaOuo OioodcAOu uuA hie eA0
| day. It was learned, for instance, that Of
the late Congressman James A. Stewards
| estate, Of which Beloher was executor, not
only was there not penny left, but that
Balcher has left the Congressman's widow
and daughter six months in arrears for the
rent OF the house In, which they live. He
also left unpaid the Congressman's funeral
expenses and the price Of the lot in which
| his remains were laid at rest, In Cedar Lawn
Cemetery. The Congressman trusted the
Mayor to such an extent that In drawing
UP his will he expressly stipulated that
the Mayor should not be required to fur
nish the customary executors bond.
Another and perhaps the largest theft
| OF all was reported from Florida. 1t was
Of the property Of Joseph Meisterman,
who conducted q ribbon block factory in
Paterson until four years ago. when he sold
1t out and moved to Orlando. He left
securities valued at $4,000 in Belcher's
hands, but two years later wrote him to
realize on half Of them and forward the
money. Belcher realized. but kept the
money, and there was a demand made
that he settle or be prosecuted.
| The demand came while Belcher was
| enRa eed in the political campaign In which
he, the reform candidate, was denouncing
the standing OF Democratic Candidate
johnson. Belcher raised what money he
could, made a flying trip to Florida and
managed both to appease Meisterman
and to convince him Of his integrity. Meis-
.terman accepted Beloher's note in part
payment and left the remainder Of the
securities in Belcher's possession. Mr..
Meisterman is now on his way North to
find out how he stands. Some payments
have been made on Belcher's note to him
| hut at any rate he is q loser Of several
thousand dollars.
The extent of the petty larceny thievery
the appropriation OF small amounts paid
to Belcher as president of the loan associa-
ton, will not be computed for several days.
Early yesterday morning the officers notified
every one of tho s24 members OF the asso-
citation to send In his passbook for COM
parison with the books in the main Office.
| Until these returns are all in the number Of
the 81, 81, IS and SO thefts will not be known.
Altogether, as profits OF the fake pass
| book game, Endorsements OF notes, appro-
priation OF trust funds. exchange OF bad
checks for good ones. personal loans, bogus
mortgages and petty larceny the Mayor
realized something over 100000. This
computation does not take into considera-
ton many notes which, it is believed. have
been Endorsed by persons who are keeping
quiet. T.: -,
Bank Examiner Conklin devoted all
of his time yesterday to inspection Of the
affairs Of the Manchester Building and
Loan Association. His research revealed
many mortgages upon the Mayors real
estate and many other mortgages taken
by the association through Belcher as inter-
mediary. Mr.. Conklin would not reveal
the result Of the inquiry-whether he con-
sidered the security ample in all cases to
cover the indebtedness or whether mort
cages held by the association were good.
No movement has been begun to Dust
the Mayor from Office, nor has such move
ment been suggested. II he returns to-day.
Is arrested and released on bail, he will
have full power to act as Mayor. No one
believes, however, that he will return.
There is a general feeling that he is thous-
ands OF miles away in some place carefully
l. IL. =