The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-08-02
ABSCOND|NG BANKER
ARRESTED BY POLICE
ERWIN WIDER WHO STOLE $780,
COO IN BONDS AND STOCKS
WILL PLEAD GUILTY.

New York. July 3l.-,A frail little
man with gray hair and hollow eyes,
in whose manner and presence there
was nothing 10 suggest that single
handed he had coolly lifted $500, 900
i'll bonds and stocks from the strong
box of bank, was arrested Friday
in a downtown restaurant, not five
minuates walk from the bank he
had robbed. He was Erwin Wilder,
the missing cashier of the Russo
Chinese bank. In the court of gen.
eral sessions his lawyer, Leon Gins
perg, said that he would plead guilty
and he was committed to the Tombs
in default OF $4,000 bail.
Ginsberg pleaded vainly with
Warden Foster for a lower amount
saying; None of this money is in
my clients possession. 1t vas all
swallowed up in Wall Street specu-
lation.'
Almost as Wider was arrested the
grand jury handed up an indictment
against him, charging specifically
that he stole three certificates. one
OF fifty shares and two others OF
twenty-five shares each on Balti.
more a OHIO stock, and that he dis
POSED of them through the broker
age house of Dick Brothers, May %
last. These particulars indicate that
the process of theft had been going
Oh for weeks and possibly for
months before it was discovered
The arrest today was due to the
persistence with which detectives
traced Wider's wife. She was in
consultation with Mrs. Ginsberg,
whose husband. besides being Wild
er's lawyer was also his neighbor.
And then sne was traced today to
the restaurant where her own hus.
band was arrested. Wider himself
was pitifully broken. His lawyer
said he was sick man. and he
looked 1t.
When he was led into the Tombs
he collapsed
Ginsberg's statement today that
AL the sum stolen had been eaten
up III speculation would seem to in
dicate that the bank will never re.
cover a dollar. 1t has been said
heretofore that suits would be filed !
against the brokers with whom Wild. /
er dealt, but no such suits have .
yet been instituted.
Wider will be arraigned for mead. |
ing next Monday.
In his cell in the Tombs. Wide~
made tonight the following state.
ment to The newspaper men:
i never thought of the probable
consequence of my act. / never
thought of anything except that
mad an opportunity in Wall Street
20 make money and it seemed safe
-oo
My pay at the bank was so
small could not live and keen nv
amiIy in The way I saw my friends
leep theirs"
Wider's pay is said to have been
1000 year.
l kept thinking about the way
y which money was made in the
lock market heard how easy it
vas and that anyone could ge- in
here and speculate. The risk. |
'as told was nothing
i talked the situation over care
uIly with men who told me tbev
new all about stocks and snecu.
alton. Then l decided to take 4
hance
But | never had a chance. II was
ways, always messages from the
roEers for more margins. more
Ia gins. They seemed Unsuitable
Not however, until was in 50
eep mat | could not see the way
1t did set reckless. At least
ID not think ! was reckless at the
'sIhhing' but l realize it now.
Ihen when | had got in prac.
caiiy up to my neck, went the
MT 1t could not be much worse
thought and any day it might turn
my FAVOR. And here / am"