The New York herald., 1922-05-27
Served Less Than 5 Years of
Previous 18 Year Sing
Sing Sentence.
WARDEN RECEIVED $1,000
Held Confidence of Silk Firm
After Release Until Books
Were Inspected.


by the world when he was sentenced
in February, 1911, to serve eighteen
years in Sing Sing for stealing $780,
900 from the New York agency Of the
night by Detective John Cunniff of the
District Attorneys office on a bench
warrant issued after the Grand Jury
had returned five indictments against
him.
Wider was locked up in the Tombs
for the night. He will be arraigned
to-day on TIE indictments. Three Of
them charge forgery and the other
two charge grand larceny. John F.
O'Neil, Assistant District Attorney.
who presented the evidence to the
Grand Jury. said that Wider lad ad-
mitted to defalcations amounting to
more than $4,000.
When Wider got out of Sing Sing
after serving less than five years of
his term he lived by whatever small
jobs he could find. chiefly clerical
work in the establishments of friends
or in places where his record was not
Known. He tried to build up as quietly
and unobtrusively as possible the
reputation he had lost. A year ago
he got job with L. Erstein & Bro,
Inc, silk merchants, of 345 Fourth
avenue.
He came 10 them with excellent
| recommendation. They made him
cashier--the same job he had with the
Russo Chinese Bank in 1910, exce,jt that
he earned only s23 a week in those
days Before many weeks his wo;k was
so satisfactory that the silk firm turned
over TO him virtually all the finances o.
the business.
Returns "to Face the Music"
From that moment. according tc /
Edwin Goldwasser. manager of tie silh
company, who made the complaint 20 the
District Attorneys office. Wider began 3
series of false entries I'm the bocSs ami
began to withdraw substantial sums.
He went to Florida. ifr. Goldwasser.
\ finding many things In the books that
he did not understand complained to the
District Attorney. Wider, hearing tina.
he was wanted. camc back TO New Yorl.
and announced that he would fkht the
charges against him. ana. as he said in
1910, face the music
Mr.. Goldwasser, who lives at sos West
End avenue would not discuss the case
last night II Is known. however, that
he was surprised to find the Irregular
ties in Wider's books and more surprised
than ever TO learn of what had hap
pened between Wider and the Russo
Chinese Bank.
When Detective Cunniff got the bench
warrants late yesterday he went to
3065 Decatur avenue, where Wider lives
with his wife and ten-year-old daughter
II was for this wife and daughter-then
a baby few weeks old--that Wider
said he stole in 1910. He said he
wanted to make money in Wall Street
so they could live in luxury. but the
market went down and he was caught.
Wider's wife sent Detective Cunniff to
the office OF Earl De Remer. lawyer. at
60 Wall street. There he found Wider.
who went along with him TO the Tonlbs.
Assistant District Attorney O'Neil said
he understood that the irregular entries
In the books OF l.. Erstein 4 Brother had
been going on for some time. but that
Mr.. Goldwasser and the ot:er officials
of the company never susp ,cted any
thing until Wider went TO Florida and
there was occasion to check Up.
THE Indictments" said Mr.. ONeiI.
were returned on evidence showing that
amounts of a few hundred dollars each
were made away with at various times
through false entries. I understand.
however. that the shortage will run up
to more than $4,000. possibly $50. 900.
Three of the indictments charge
forgery In the second desiee. and two
charge grand larceny in the second de-
gree. The evidence showing that money
was diverted through fraudulent entriss
appears 20 be convincing"
You know, don't you." Mr.. O'Neil
Continued on Page Five.