Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-27
THOS. {. WAGGAMAN
VICTIM OF CANCER
Death Occurred at Country
Home Near Annapolis, Md.
AFTER PROLONGED ILLNESS
Sketch of His Career In Business
Circles of Washington.
HIS FAMILY CONNECTIONS
Was Prominent as Real Estate Dealsr
For Years Treasurer Of
Catholic University.
HIS FAMILY CONNECTIONS
Special Dispstch to The Star

ANNAPOLIS. Nd. June 27-Thomas r
"assaman, formerly ofWashington, died
at IL o CLOCK this morning after a prolonged
Illness or facial cancer. Death took place
at the farmhouse which had been occupied
py MI. Waggainan and his family at South
river. seven miles from Annapolis.
Prominent in Business.
Mr. Waggaman was prominent in the real
estate business and in Catholic circles His
knowledge of real estate values was ex-
ceiied by few brokers. His faith in the fI-
ture of local real estate, especially in the
northwest suburbs, led to his purchase OF
the large tract known as Woodley. To tha
enhancement In value OF this tract he Look
ed. 1t is said, to stem the tide of financial
disaster which finally overwhelmed him.
Had the increase in values arrived a few
years sooner. II is believed the chapter of
financial failure would never have been
written In the history of Thomas E. Wag-
gaman.
The position attained by Mr. Wageaman
among the Catholic clergy of washington
mas never been reached by any other man
mere. rms prevalent opinion not only Sc
cure eured Tor MI. Waggaman the office of the
htsl treasurer of the Catholic University
out also was the means of bringing to him
LOT investment church moneys held Ly many
OF the local Catholic pastors
when asked by parshoners to name a
safe investment for little savings and iiIo
money almost invariably advised that Mr..
funds
Mr.. Waggamans charity while not OF
the ostentatious variety was of an exteu-
sive character. Many instances are related
oy his friends when he carried a poor FAM
ny rent Tree over severe winter. Nearly
every charitable cause il Is stated found
MIN ready subscriber. Not only was his
money subject to calls for charity, but he
gave freely of his time.
For many years he held the Office of
president OF the st. Vincent de Paul's So
ciety, Catholic organization. which, with
no recompense or hope of reward puts
forth every effort to alleviate the suffering
or the poor of the District without regard
to creed or color
Mr.. Waggaman in July. 1904. was holding
an enviable position in the community.
Considered to be man of large wealth
there were few II any business men who
would not have taken his note for any
reasonable amount or cashed his check
without question. AS proof of this his note
for $1,000 was cashed by a local bank only
four days before bankruptcy proceedings
were instituted against him
Almost as a thunderbolt out of the clear
sky was the announcement that steps had
been taken to have him declared a bank
rupt. Rumors had been circulated for sew
eral months prior, interest payments had. 1t
is said. been passed over and there were in
the possession OF two three local at
torneys claims against Waggaman, which
they had been asked to adjust But OF
this OF course the general public was un-
aware and the news. when first announced,
seemed to be incredible Only month or
two before. when asked by the authorities
of the Catholic University, who had be-
come solicitous to the security of the
vast sums in his hands belonging to the
university. Mr.. Waggaman had declared
that In his opinion he was worth a million
over and above his liabilities.
Ut,,, G,,rprIca
The adjudication in bankruptcy. accord
ing to the opinion of many. came as a sur
prise to Mr. waggaman himself. He OPP
posed the proceedings until 1t became ap-
parent that opposition was useless. No
preparation for such contingency had. IT
Is claimed been made by him. No funds
apparently had been sequestered with
which a life of comfort might be main
tanned but Mr.. Wagganman gave up all his
property and with his wife retired to an
humble home on a farm near Annapolis.
where he died.
The bankruptcy proceedings were precipi-
tated by the filing of a trust for nearly SSOo.-
0o0 to secure the Catholic University that
amount being the total of the funds held
by Mr. Waggaman as treasurer. The Pc
tttions were filed before adjudication was
decreed by the court. Technical objections
arose to the first two petitions. one of
which was filed by secured creditors, who
held some collateral for the Indebtedness
to them, and the second being signed by
some secured and some unsecured creditors.
A third petition on behalf CT unsecured
creditors only acted on by the court
and Mr.. Waggaman was declared a bank
rupt.
After a meeting of creditors Mr.. H. Ro-
bankrupt's affairs. and 1t was only after
he had examined the securities that the
extent Of the failure was realized.
Claims were filed before Referee Andrew
u Afoxr 10 xxykn fka xx-oc ufe nxad
by the court, amounting to about s5,OO0.0o0.
The value of the assets of the estate is
still problematic. Strong effort has been
made to set aside the trust OF 100000 TO
the Catholic University as a preference. and
the case fs still pending. no decision having
yet been secured.
waggaman was his collection of pictures
and curios, on which he set valuation Of
800 600 A bill Of sale conveying this coll
lection to the Catholic University had been
possession OF the collection had not been
surrendered by Mr.. Wageaman. the collec-
tion being housed In an addition to his
home at $500 street.
The counsel for the university made claim
to the collection under the bill Of sale. but
the collection was ordered sold by the
court and the lien. whatever Il n may Y De, OF
the university was transferred TO the pro-
ceeds OF the sale
Sale Of the Art Collection.
Trustee Duiany took the collection to New
York. and in January. 1908. 1t was sold for
s279, ,S55. which sum il now held by him.
EARLY this spring suit was filed to set
assde the bin Of sale Of the collection from
Mr. WaggAman to the university, ana 70
apply the proceeds to the payment OF eeR-
eral creditors. The suit II now pending.
never having reached hearing
In August 1905 the grand jury returned
an indictment against Mr.. Waggaman,
charging him with the embexzlcment OF
MOO belouetuG to the estate of Adele b.
Harry, Of which he had been trustee,