New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-23
Couldn't Find United Wireless
Books in the Tombs, and
So Looked Elsewhere.
VISITED WIFE AND OTHERS
Denies Having 100000 and
Is Ready to Give Stock to
Creditors-U. S. Officials
Attend Hearing.

Colonel Christopher Columbus Wilson
Of wireless fame seemed quite shocked
Yesterday at those Exaggerated &C
counts that he, nominally prisoner OF
the federal penitentiary at Atlanta, had
been amusing himself in this metropolis
under the shield OF a writ OF habeas cor
pus that brought him here to testify in
bankruptcy proceedings against himself
Now, the colonel did not amuse himself
by any means. At least that Is what be
intimated quite emphaticaly yesterday
when lie was examined by counsel for
his creditors before Alexander Gilchrist,
United States Commissioner. He simply
has been obeying orders CT the court AMI
trying hard to find the books OF the United
Wireless Telegraph Company, OF which he
was first president and then wrecker, and
those OF several other enterprises.
Did anybody ever think that such books
could be found in the Tombs? What an
idea. And would the Tombs, that Official
hostelry for federal prisoners who are on
business In this city. be an Appropriate
place for man OF Colonel Wilson's ca
reer. wealth and former standing in the
community? Danish the thought!
So Mr.. Wilson convinced his keeper,
Deputy Warden Shea, OF Atlanta, that
cool house in TIE Bronx would be bet
te- place TO live IN than the Tonbs, and
the humane warden approved No. 1850
Poplar street as a place TO his liking.
That search for the books seemed to
have been q strenuous one. from what
Mr. Wilson said on the witness stand. II
took him to Spring Valley. Long Island.
where his young wife is now living. She
was once his stenographer; wasn't It rea-
sonable that he should talk things over
with her?
And then quite near TO his wlfe's home
there lives at Hampstead. Long Island,
lis married daughter Should the warden
have prevented him from seeing his
child?
And So the round OF visit. went. on
Sunday, July :. he said. he made a
friendly ,is!t 70 Francis X Butler. for
merry counsel for the United Wireless.
who was sent 10 jail AT the same time
that the colonel got his sentence. lie
spent only fifteen minutes there. Mr..
Wilson said. apparently searching less
strenuously for the books. because IL was
Sunday.
His memory as 10 his various doinSs
in this city since he Was brought here
from Atlanta, was even more haZy than
his reeollections OF what he had done
with hts stock in the United wireless
and the vast amount OF money which
he got out OF the promotion OF that
company.
what persons have you met since you
came here OF July -" he was asked.
IT have been to see my attorneys. and
others" no replied.
What persons have you met sol
Myers persisted.
y don't remember was the answer
lie VAS asked 10 give an account OF
his doinss day by day. but he insisted
that he could not recall them. Finally
he said he had called Saturday on Arthur
VI. King, his attorney In the present
action. and at the offices OF John Il.
stanchfield. who defended him AZ tho
trial last year.
As 70 his stock In the United Wireless.
he al last remembered that his brother.
+. T. wilson. held Il. ana that he was
ready 10 turn II over TO the creditors
upon demand. lie denied that he ever
sent a check Tor $500 abroad. The
story that he had 100000 In May, 1910,
was declared by Wilson a. absolutely
untrue. lie said tina, he might have re-
coiyed $4,000 TO $4,000 from sales Of
Wireless stock. bat nc did not know the
exact amount.
Assistant United States Attorney steph-
enson and agents OF tho Department OF
Justice were present at the hearing, to
find out where Wilson had been all the
timo no vas supposed to have spent In
tho TombE.