Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-01
SUSPECT A HOLD-0UT
New York Authorities Doubt
Wider's Confession.
BROKERS' BOOKS EXAMINED
Cannot Find Trace of More Than
100000 of $6S0,000 Taken
From Russo Chinese Bank.
BROKERS' BOOKS EXAMINED

NEW YORK. August 1.-After having
made thorough examination of the
books of all. the brokerage firms with
Which Erwin Wider, cashier of the local
branch of the Russo-Chinese Bank. did
business in disposing of S6SO.00o of the
banks assets in specializing in wall
street, the authorities say they have
failed to find any. record of the alleged
transa ctions. The conclusion has been
forced upon them, it was said yesterday,
that Wider has perhaps half million
dollars of the banks funds secreted some
where and that he will keep the securi-
ties hidden in the hope of receiving an
offer of immunity for the return Oh part
of the money to the bank
This hope probably was weakened AFTER
the self-confessed thief found himself
i'm prison. but it was argued by those
familiar with the case YESTERDAY Ina,
now, even if there is no chance of
compromise in consideration of the resto-
ration to the bank of part of the FUNDS,
Wider will retain the money when IN
some quarters he is credited with having,
take his medicine and find himself IN
prosperous circumstances upon reSafnmg
his liberty.
Going Through Brokers Books.
Ever since Wider named the concerns
with which he had been doing business In
his Wall street transaction attaches OF
the district attorneys office have been go
ing over the books of these firms, and 1t
is reported that while stock purchases
have been charged up against Wider the
total found does not amount to more than
S2GO,CCO.
Wider is credited with saying that he
has not vet named all of the firms with
r; h,,Ci in
assets in the effort to accumulate per-
sOnal fortune but there are those who be-
lieve he has named them all, and that ne
will not be able to furnish any further
satisfactory explanation OF how ne dls-
posed of the money.
May Be in Safe Deposit Vault.
Among other theories advanced is one
to the effect that Wider has taken the
money out of the state and has placed II
somewhere in a safe deposit vault. where
he will permit it to remain pending de-
velonments in his case. 1t has been sug-
sested that this was done a week ago yes
terday when he dashed out of town IN an
automobile.
The district attorneys. Office will renew
search for the missing money and securi-
tics but it is understood there is little
none entertained of finding any OF them,
at least in quarters where securities are
accented as collateral in brokerage trans
actions.
Wider in Good Health.
At the Tombs prison a reporter was
informed yesterday that the talk of Wider
being either mental or physical wreck
was nonsense
..There is nothing in this story about
Wi1er's health being in a serious state, y
said John Hanley, the head keeper.
1.-The meals that he disposed of today
are enough TO prove that he rs in as good
health as he ever was from physical
viewpoint. Apart from the natural men
tai perturbation that most men feel when
thew get behind the bars here he is not
suffering mentally. His conversation is
natural and normal, and the only thing
of reporters. He becomes extremely
angry when told that a reporter would
like to talk to him and seems to regard
them with more terror than he would the
police He will not be interviewed"
Reads Reports of His Case.
When Wider arose yesterday he ate a
substantial breakfast and glanced over
his newspapers. devouring every line he
found relating to his case. but he made
no comment on what he read. He de-
clined the invitation Of the chaplain to
attend religious service, and later got
into bad graces of the other prisoners
by refusing to speak to them. He paced
up and down the corridor outside his
cell. on the main tier. apparently alb
sorbed in deep thought When dinner
time came he again displayed healthy
appetite and disposed of large meal.
Sees Wife and Lawyer.
~