New-York tribune., 1910-07-26
HALF A MILLION
CASH|ER'SLAST HAUL
Wider Probably Hoped to Force
Russo-Chlnese Bank to Grant
Immunity for Theft.
CONFESSED A WEEK AGO
Though Officials Said Discovery
Was Made on Thursday, They
Conferred with Client Last
Monday, His Lawyer Says.


Monday, His Lawyer Says.
The promised statements yesterday as
TO the robbery OF the local agency O
the Russo Chinese Bank revealed three
facts that put the situation in oiner-
ent light First it appeared that Erwin
Wider. the missing cashier, named DE
counsel for the bank and BY his own
LAWYERS as the thief. had taken s6no.OD
in securities. instead OF bonds valled Al
$4,000. as first reported
Then il came out. in statement by
Leon 3. Ginsberg. vider's lawyer that
the amount of the theft was known
many DAYS ago. and that Wider. under
a promise of ar least temporary m
ununity. had been in conference last
Monday with the officers Of the local
agency. with counsel for the bank here,
and with z. De Markowsd. the trav-
elling auditor. whose arrival resulted
in the discovery Of the tne1t AI
that meeting a week ago yesterday, q
tentative arrangement was made 10
hush I'D the whole matter. Wider having
confessed. according to Mr. Ginsoers
But for some reason that plan 1eI
through. and on Saturday the agency
made public the theft of the bonds On
that dav it's counsel said that the loss
Of the bonds had been discovered on
Thursday. whereas. according 10 MI
Ginsberg. the fact of the theft and even
it's extent. had been known before me
conference of Monday
Warning Two Years Ago
The other Illuminating. or seemingly
Illuminating discovery made Yesterday
was that a brokerage house had sent q
representative to the local agency OF
the hank two years ago 10 warn the
officials against Wider. the cashier me
firm said that Wider had proposed open
ing with it a speculative account oe-
positing as backing therefor neSouaoie
securities TO the value of Sooosn me
firm investigated. found that WIDER ;
salary was $500 year. and that ne
came from a poor family II pronptly
declined the account, and sent man ID
warn the officials Of the bank or us
suspicious regarding the cashier me
-anresentatfve of the firm said that the
officials shrugged their shoulders
What he called their apathy disgusted
him. and he did not trouble 70 repeat
the warning, he said yesterday
The bank. through Mr. de MarkowsN'
called the police into the case yesterday
The travelling auditor asked Inspector
RusseII to send out general alarm Tor
Wider. That step put an official aspect
on the case for the first time. Mr. Gins
berg said he could easily reacn MS
client and that the latter would sur
render himself If a warrant for his ar
rest were issued or an indictment were
found against him. But the bank did
nothing Yesterday TO indicate that IL
wanted either warran or an indictment
Wall Street Keeniy Interested
wall street watched the case yesterday
--i+r keen interest Mr.. Goldberg had
ssid that two brokerage firms had ac-
,s,+ad Wider as a client and taken the
hanks securities as margin Mr. Gins
berg had said that more than tWe' N
fact probably a dozen houses, were m
roIved. Both lawyers refused 70 narne
he houses involved. though threatening
20 do so later. and for the Stock Ex-
,banee II was said that no investigation
,ad been begun as yet But there IS 2
-rIe of the exchange forbidding its mem
,ers to have speculative marginal ac-
counts with employees OF banks. and K
hat rule is proved TO have been v1o-
ated the present Indifferent attitude OF
he exchange will be dropped with start
ing suddenness, it is said
In the Street memories went back 70
.vo famous bank robberies or the past
md men tried 20 determine which had
served as the model for Wider's opera
ions some said he had prodted by and
upon both
The basis Of these theories was the
act that Wider had apparently confined
,is thefts TO comparatively small sums
II first. using the money 10 make II pos
,JhIe ~ specuIate. with the idea OF re-
urning it all after making a big haul N
he stock market and had then. WIN
discovery imminent and no means at
,and 10 make restitution Of his first
hefts. taken everything IN the way OF
negotiable securities he could lay his
,ands upon in one final raid In that
,uDareut process lies the similarity OF
he present robbery 70 the looting OF the
first National Bank by Cornelius L Al
-ord. ir.. in 1901. when he took s690.oeo.
md the robbery Of the Trust Company
4 America in 1907 by William o. Doug
ass. which mounted up to s450.0OO. bonds
,etng taken
w. o. OougIass's Scheme.
William o. Douglass. who was an as
istant loan clerk in the Trust Company
II America in April. 1907. stole IN vary
ng but never extraordinarily large
amounts until a few DAYS before his
light. and then. when discovery was
taring him in the face. he approprI-
red some S45O.O0O worth OF securities.
hoping TO be able TO negotiate for i'm
nunity by reason or having such large
AMOUNT of the banks property IN his
possession
In the case of Cornelius L. Aivord- jr-.
Who had been note clerk OF the Flrsr
Bank il appeared that his
herr of 100000 had been in great part
aid aside against the day OF his re-
-