The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-02-25

THE ATLANTIC BANK DEFALCATlON.
Additional and Interesting Particplars-
S55, 600 Embez zzled and Squan6ered at the
Gaming Tnble-Habits and Associations OF
the Fugitive TeIlcr-Fast Men, Fast WO-
men and Fast H0rses-Pol<er Playing and
Its Results-stupidity OF Bank Onicers-
The Defaulter's Flight and Probable fcs-
cape-P0iice Arrangements for His Arrest
The Family Of the Accused, &c., SC.
The recent Developments relative TO the defacaton in
the Atlantic Bank Of Brooklyn have caused deep
ton among neghbors the other side OF the Cast
rver and reports Of the most exaggerated description
rife the amount Of the fraud and the which
led TO it's commission. In South Brooklyn especially,
where the deiaulter well known the
unusual degree 0 excitement and 10 the social well
the business circle will be the chief topic conversation
for many days. An investigation Of Mr. Fields affairs at
the bank shows that the of fifty five thousand dollars
has been abstraced As paying te Ter Field had
opportunity Of helping himself to what he pleased
without fear of detection. How he took advantage OF the
position he thus held the sequel will show.
SKETCH OF THE DEFAULTER.
Oscar s. Field is about thirty four years Of age and
native Of New Jersey He resided for the last nine ten
years South Brooklyn and for many years past
family consists of wife and two children; the eldest
child girl of about years He entered the Atlantic
Bank . clerk eight years ago, promoted
TO the situation Of head bo0kkeeper and finally by his
punctuaty and attention to the business Of the nsu-
ton, received the appointment of hrs paying teller
This latter position he occupied for the years,
during which time he always managed TO secuGe the
esteem and confidence OF his employers. II was only
within the last days that the president and directors
Of the bank dreamt Of the dishonesty Of Mr. Field
although they might long since have discovered The
Ind mt haan
prejudicsd in hts favor. That Field was . noto.
rious gambler, II is well known, and that he was
a certain public house in Boerum street, was no
secret In this saloon Field spent his earnings gam
squsndered his money not BY hundreds, but by thou
sands Then there certain fast female whom Mr.
Field was attached and she too helped TO hurry mat
The pencbant for pecuatpg and aided bringing shame
and disgrace to the door Of the exemplary teller
FAST MEN, FAST WOMEN AND FAST HORSES
Proved the utter ruin Of poor Field and sent him
abroad upon the earth fugitive wanderer During the
six years his life has been of gambling and de-
bauch and bank drectors-astute men-never sus
pected that there anything wrong Occasionally Field
paid visit to fashionable gambling saoors New York.
and on such occasions drew heavily upon the bank
"Fgbtipg the tiger" in the metropolis expensive
piece OF amusement, and hence II INDUCED in only
when he was well supplied with cash. He invariably
lost, and often very heavily During the past winter
pecaly Fields losses amounted 10 ten fifteen thou
sand dollars
THE GAME OF POKER
Was the only patronzed by the defaulter when his
gambling ideas uppermost Occasionally he induged
in cribbage and whist but that only for amusement.
When 1t came to gambling, poker the game and at
that be considered himself jaa He would bet large
seldom, he managed TO do by dnt of "blufngn as IL
isn Termed ana not sy any luck IN the cards Field
eSs1 or asss pnc S1ss sco on 50 %
During the holidays be played every night, less
losing large amounts At single sitting he is sad to
have lost 81 co., which affected him that his haggard
appearance the next day the subject of general
mark among his friends. Field was naturally q ane
looking robust man, but debauchery wrought wonder.
full change in his appearance To his friends who were
in the secret the change caused SURPRISE those
who not aware Of his vicious habits associa
toDs 1t was subject OF much speculation. Field was
not what might be termed crack poker player but ina
gred himself such, and the hsrpes who surrounded hun
t .v s ao1 every s him
they might more easily rob their victim Of his gotten
wealth.
ON THE ROAD.
On fine afternoons il was Fields especial de-
light to hire a pair of fast horses and take
a drive 10 Coney Island, Sleeps Head Bay,
John snedikers and other fashionable resorts, where
his free and had made him hosts Of
friends and acquaintances. Fond Of show, he always
secured the best specimens Of borseesh that could
command. lie owned horses but bis livery bills from
year 10 year would have suficed purchase quite
spectacle establishment had he inclined TO invest
bis money that way We suppose, however, that for
prudence cake he TO hire bis horses whenever he
wanted TO cut dash upon the road II he bought team,
the fact should come 70 the OF the directors
the bank, their faith in his honesty might been
shaken he deemed safer to nre his horses
than TO purchase them His afternoons upon the road
his evenings at The gaming table must necessarily
have involved expense quadruplc that OF his salary:
yet This bad been gong for years. the directors
OF the bank-astute men, We repeat agan-had no
the dishonesty OF gentleman in their
employment Even when the Of the defSlcatop was
made public they prosed 10 be ignorant of tho Causes
Win, led - the commission Of the crime; and IL WAS not
until the facts out in the newspapers tnai their eyes
appeared 20 be opened to the true etats of aft ara me
hsRgd look bloodsbot eyes, and expression
Of The d, bauone passed unnotced defsuer sas
allowed 10 eculate at his leisure. To those knew
fast hvinethe Of the defacation was rot matter
Of very great surprise. The thing had been looked upon
as 10, vtaoe by his companions those who were
cosnizant Of the defaulters habits and associations.
THE DISCOVERY OF THE FRAUD
Only took place when the teller, becoming alarmed the
extent Of his pecuatons sought safety 10 flight His
making his appearance a the bank as usual on Tuesday
MOI ming created suspicion In the minds OF the officers
On inquiry was found that he left his house ia Sacke
street At The customary hour that morning. for the pur
Of going 10 business and that bis family had not sceu
m since. hasty examination Of the books and safe
showed that there deficiency Of ten or fifteen thou
oi the bank exhibited defacaon OF over fifty thosand
dollars message from the teliers wife, asking If he
was nj the bank and stating that he had not been home
All nRht confirmed the worst sMpcobs OF the directors
On searching be nearly all the specie and bids be-
longing 10 ofher banks bad disappeared The bank
officers desous Of suppressng the real facts in the
stating that the loss trivial and would be covered
by the defaater's security.
FLIGHT OF THE DEFAuLTBR.
Field supposed 10 have led from Brooklyn On Non.