Evening journal., 1916-01-06
wilson Tells OF
LOOTINC CANAL CO.
Says He and Cousin Took
Upwards of 100000
Twenty YeorS Ago
PART OF MONEY
WAS GOVERNMENTS

A story Of wrongdoing which con-
tributed to depriving the government
OF SOL 600 in dividends Of the Chesa-
peake and Delaware Canal Company
was Yesterday afternoons feature OF
the governments suit against the
canal company.
James A. /. Wilson, 81 years old,
told IN detail how more than 20 years
ago he had manipulated various pa
pers. and. in collusion with a cousin,
II. v. Leslie. both being officers of
the canal company had gotten be-
tween 100000 and Sl,000,000 from
the company. His memory was Keen,
and he appeared anxious that the en-
tire story should be known
Wilson also told of having plead
guilty 10 the charge of conspiracy and
10 having served five years ~ the
Eastern pcniientiary for the crime
At the time Of his offense Wilson
was connected with the canal company
lie was a witness for the government
Yesterday in its action TO recover divi-
dends from the canal company.
Tie said that in 1873 he found
after the dividend had been declared
that there was not sufficient funds Of
the company In bank 10 pay the divi-
dcnds and interest that would soon
be due. and that the government was
not notified on this occasion OF the
declaration of the dividend
"Why did not the company have
funds at that time TO pay this divi-
dendg Mr.. Nields. the district attor-
ney. asked
"The. money had been used by Mr.
Leslie and myself, but without the
knowledge Of the company was the
reply Of the witness.
Mr.. Wilson then told in detail how
The money he had invested for another
person was lost whereupon he hegar
taking money belonging TO the cana
company to make up the money tha'
rad been invested and lost.
Il was in the year 1873, the witness
said. that he had msappropriate'
about $4,000 OF the funds of the cana
company. He said that later he wen
10 his cousin and confessed what III
had done. asking that he be givel
time. to make up the shortage by get
ing rid Of his property. In going owe
the books. he said, he found that Les
lies accounts we're in worse condl
ton than his own. larger amount
having been appropriated by Leslie
The witness said he suggested
Leslie that they prepare some voucf
ers to be kept in the office in case an
member Of the board OF director
should call and ask questions
He told OF fictitious names q
papers and in books that he had wri
ten himself to cover up the shorlas
vouchers had been fixed up by hin
self Leslie and Weimer Bedford,
said TO keep in the Office in case the
were called for by the directors.
When asked who Bedford was an
what connection he had with the ma
ter the witness said that Bedford WI
his personal friend.
III was done by Bedford in the hol
Aha, would be able to refund Il
amonnt," said the witness.
"He did Il 10 save me from G.
posure' he added.
Mr.. Wilson said to his knowled
nc government did not get the mon
foN the dividends declared 10y q
com5any in the years 1878, 1875 al
1S7Cl He said that false vouchers we
fxed up also to cover the failure
send the dividends in 1875 and lol
District Attorney Nields here ask
the witness il he had ever been co
victed OF conspiracy to defraud |
e canal company, and he said he h'
II He said that he was sentenced to n
wears in the Eastern Penitentiary a
/ had served his term.
During the cross-eNamination |
witness admitted that during his tll
Of service with the company he h
+ taken over 100000 from II. He v
snre that the amount did not reach
million dollars. He added that
left the country and went to cana
+ leaving a confession stating
n amount he had taken. Leslie. he 50
n was also convicted and served
years
The witness admitted that ne II
started taking money from the ca
1 company in 1859 or 1870. lie
planned the system he used in mis-
priating the funds Of the company.
When asked how many persons
$500. 900 was distributed among,
said only bis nephew shared
amount. While he could not expl
where all themoney went. he decla
that he only received about $4,000
$4,000.
The witness declared that noh
connected with the government
any part in the transaction or sha
in the money. He admitted that
continued to misappropriate fund:
the company up until 1886. when
left for Canada.
The witness said that AsS.s
Treasurer George Eyster. OF Phila
phia had no knowledge OF the mi
propriation of the funds.
VI. X. FORD DEAD.
Special TO THE EVENING JOUR
DOVER. Del. Jan. 6.--Moses
Ford. son OF George Ford, aget