New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-08-02
DID WIDER RISK ALL?
Only s24O, 900 in Stolen Secur''
ties Accounted For.
MAY HAVE "SALTED" SOME
Say Former Cashier Laid Plans
Carefully-Trial Postponed
Until morrow.

The belief that Erwin j. Wioei' els.
while cashier of the Russo-Chlnese Balm
agency, used comparatively sinai
amount of the $3.50, 900 of securities. Whlch
he confessed he took from the agency
safe for margins In Wall street specuia
ton was strengthened yesterday pS tn'
attitude of the District Attorney onlce
toward the case. and also by lnrornatioii
obtained in financial circles. The 1aiiuIe 81
far 20 account for more than s2o"" OF 'he
stolen securities as actually handled oS
brokerage firms on Wider's account dp-
pears TO support the suggestion mace III
The Tribune last Wednesday that the h'-
tie cashier may have taken a large amount
of the money for his own use anu hoI
risked it in market transactions.
It was learned yesterday that In all prop
ability Wider's speculations did not extend
beyond the three firms of Dick Brothers q
Co. ]. S. Bache & Co. and Josephthal.
Louchheim e. Co. He is said to nave iose
about 100000 In cotton speculation through
Dick Brothers, and a total OF s4o"o "ith
the other two firms Wider may have
planned to do as some other bank en-
ployes who have stolen and hypothetical
a large amount of securities, taken their
medicine in a prison sentence of few
their "salted" wealth afterWard.
A man who makes Ii business to keep
posted on such cases, and who may be
called upon to conduct a private inVesu-
CATION In the present instance, said yes
terdav that with a little well-directed per-
severance and diplomacy he was convinced
the facts would show that Wider had put
by large amount of the money realized
on the stolen securities for future use. IT
appears more than likely" he said. that
large amount of the securities taken from
the Russo-C Chinese Bank was hypothecated
and sold outright through some one out
side Of the brokers who have been men
toned in the case Wider was a dapper
little fellow and probably became imbued
with dislike for work, seeing, as he DID,
so much high life around him: and aimed
to get something ahead He. perhaps, hg-
ured that he could plead guilty to larceny
and get comparatively short sentence OF
five or six years, which would be COM
muted for good behavior, and on this as
sumption stored away much OF the treas
ure for future convenience"
When Wider came up for pleading In
General Sessions yesterday his counsel
Leon B. Ginsberg, asked for an adjourn
ment He said that he had conferred with
Frank Moss, acting District Attorney. and
MI Moss had agreed to allow the pleading
10 go over for two or three days. Judge
OSuLivan granted an adjournment until
Tomorrow Ginsberg had previously an
nounced that his client would plead guilty
to-day.
It was said that the District Attorneys
Office had declined to stipulate to Wlder's
counsel that there would be no further In
dictments sought against the cashier IN the
event of his pleading guilty to the one al
ready found, and that the adjournment
was asked to allow Mr.. Ginsberg TO fur
Their consider the nature of his plea
Wider was a picture Of good health when
he appeared in court. He had lost the
frightened look and paleness which were
apparent Friday when he was arrested
He was neatly dressed in a light gray suit
and twirled his straw hat on his finger
tndfferently as he waited in the line OF
prisoners for his turn at the bar.
Mr.. Moss said yesterday that it was like
" other indictments might be found against
Wider.
THAT depends on the nature of the proof
we are able to get" said Mr.. Moss. 1T is
not reasonable to suppose that Wider's
various transactions could be grouped I'M
der one Indictment There may be evil
dence of several distinct crimes. Our
business is to investigate any crime in
sight and that is what we have done SO
far in this case. The matter is Still under
investigation by our office"
Mr.. Moss said that he was not familiar
with all the phases OF the Wider case yet.
as It was only turned over to him yester-
dav by Mr.. Mott the former acting Dis
trict Attorney. who had left his vaca-
ton. 1t was said in the District Attorneys
office. however, that an investigation was
under Way to determine if Wider had
sailed any of the securities the pro-
cee6s he may have realized from their
sale
George s. Graham, counsel for Dick
Brothers & Co.. was in conference yester-
day afternoon with Julius Goldman, coun-
sci for the Russo Chinese Bank. 1t was
said afterward that the conference was in
regard to civil actions which the bank in
tended TO bring against the brokers for the
recovery of some of the stolen securities.
Mr. Graham said he did not expect that
any civil action would be instituted against
his clients until the criminal end of Widers
case was disposed Of.
STATE WILL HOLD CHARLTON