Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-03-04

reIIer--Great Terror among the Finan-
ciers--Rejoicing among the Honest Men
and Pretty Women.
Yesterday, about the hour Of meridian, when the
glorious American was pouring down his
soft spring beams, like rays of holiness from
Heaven, upon the awful rogues of Wall street, and
the adorable women of Broadway, with their pretty
little feet and beautiful swelling busts-yesterday,
say, about the hour thus indicated, piece of as
founding intelligen leaked out from the Manhattan
Bank, which again reopened the whole of that
curious concern, its moras-its fnance-its wit
its roguery-ts science and the purity of its water
What is itl-what is it! Be quiet, and listen
Ii absolutely leaked out that CoLIS q. NEwcoMB,
ESQ the first teller of the Manhattan Bank, TO
which the immacu ate Robert White is cashier, had
absconded bag and baggage, scrip and scrippage,"
and might be found, for aught we know, on his way
to Texas to be Secretary of the Treasury of that or
some other fresh virgin republic.
The following is the official announcement, as
contained in the Big Brokers Wall street organ,
called the New York American:
We understand that whilst the Committee of In
vestigston was in session at the Manhattan Bank,
Yesterday afternoon, the accounts of the first teller,
Colin G.. Newcomb, being under examination, the
amount of cash counted fell short of the balance
as rendered by him. He was Immediately called up
to account for the deficiency; but instead of doing
So he left the bank and has not since either returned
or been found. As his guilt thus seems clear, it is
fortunate that the loss to the bank by the dishonesty
of of their most trusted officers, Will not exceed
fifty thousand dollars.
Fifty thousand dollars" We trust and hope
that Mr.. Newcomb has away with one hundred
and ffty thousand dollars, and much more as he
can. Why should he not! He has only borrowed,
as many of the other highly respectable debtors Of
the bank has oas time, payable somewhere near
the day of Judgment.
On Monday afternoon, when the discovery was
made by the Investigating Committee, IL was kept as
close as of the secrets of the lnqusiton. Yes
terday morning, Campbell p. White and Jonathan
Thompson, two of the directors were busy counting
the specie and the bills, and at two o'clock il had
not been decided whether the deficiency $780,
OOO or $50 O00-or whether il had been in specie, or
in bills.
On this fresh discovery being made all the Whites
turned up the whites of their eyes and talked very
much about dishonesty, defalcation, and running
away The other directors also talked in the same
miraculous strain Now all this is sheer hypocrisy
and moons hine. When Mr.. New comb every
officer Of the bank putting in his long fingers into
the vaults, and borrowing, some S5oO,OO, some
$500 OO0 some S2oO, 1000, and even seine $4,000 as
the Rev. Barabbas Bates did, Kentucky stock,
why should not clever fnancer, ike Colin, put in
his hand Also and borrow little too! IT'S easy
as lying There is little doubt but the teller
secure it, also by mortgage his immense real
estate at Coney Island, which he purchased short
time since from Governor Gil Davis, the famous
wine mere liant, corner Of Pine and William streets
John c. Costar, day after the fair, secured his
endorsements for 900, 20 the bank, by mortga-
cling his property in this city-and why in the name
of Mephistop holes, should not Colin {. Newcomb
he permitted to give bond and mortgage on his
nv valuable Coney Island property, Including all the
remaining specie deposites of Gibbs, the Pirate'
These are glorious times for fnanciers |! Sam
Swarwout and Bill Price have not carried away all
the glory in Wall street. when they carried away
all the spare funds from the Custom House. Shin
ing light after shining light is breaking forth IN that
avenue OF piety, finance ana roguery MIR. New
comb has been, for several years, the First Teller
OF the Bank. lie was promoted to that honorable
Office, for his moaesy his integrity and especially
for his financial talents. The debut Of Mr.. New
comb, in Wall street, was in the shape OF dirty
ragged, shrewd, intelligent, smart, cabable, rsscsy
little Irish boy behind the counter Of Lynch &
Clark, where he served out a-mornings the glass
of soda water. sixpence each, to the dry mouthed,
paIe-faced bank clerks and bank cashiers
In this capacity Robert White discovered his
talents and capacity he turned off his glass Of So
da water to steady his hand before dealing out the
loans Of the day Colin attracted Roberts attention.
One day the porter wanted assistant to count
the specie. Mr. White gave the place to Co
hn Once within the walls Of bank, the genius Of
Colin expanded a. the bank loans expanded under
the orders Of the Secretary Of the Treasury. He
was promoted from post TO another very rapid
". One day he requested to copy a letter.
This introduced him to higher duty, and thus he
sprusg from post to post till he became the First
Teller Of the Manhattan Bank and the particular
friend Of Robert White. At this high point Colin
began 10 loom large in New York. lie cut all his
old acquaintances-set up for a man Of fashion-pat
ronised the modsb tsors, jewellers and horse jock
eys about town lie purchased a horse or two
drove out to Harlem, and frcquented the society o
all the most beautiful women he could find Wher
he came down TO the bank in the morning, he used
to place before him beautiful bouquet Of flowers
presented to him by some fair lady on the preyiou,
evening In finance he was the fayoritc pupil o.
Robert White and Campbell p. Whte-snd richly
has Prohted by their prime pies and their example
Some few short years ago, Campbell p. White, al
ssplend,d dinner party, gave as a toast" Banks
nonopoiiss created BY ts rotss Of ne .aary for N,
bsnsft Of the fer" Mr.. Newcomb believed in thi,
doctrine-cons idered himself enrolled among tn,
Sfew"-one Of the very elect thereor-and aecor
dinghy helped himself to all the money he wanted, Il
dash forth in fashionable life According Go IN,