Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-03-27
JAMES HARPER, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
A HAMBURG BANK TRAGEDY.

a0er OF the mouse WaS OdulSn Bonlle
man named Christian Haroldson, and
he deserved his first name, If any man
did. He was steady church goer,
good liver, and an honest man. His
clerks and dependents said there never
was a better master. The merchants
of the town would have taken his word
reader than most peoples bond; and
all who knew him agreed that Harold
son had but one fault or folly, and that
could scarcely be blamed, for it was the
thinking too much Of his son Frederick.
He was the only boy out of seven chill.
dren. The good mans wife had died
when they were young, and he had
brought up his six daughters, with the
help of his old nurse, to be good wo'
men and careful housekeepers, in our
Danish fashion, had laid by decent
portion for each of them, had married
The three eldest to honest men of his
own standing in the town, and said he
would be satisfied with husbands Of the
same quality for the three remaining;
but he set his heart upon raising Fred
erick above banks and business. He
was proud Of the boy from a notion
that he was really talented fellow
Nobody could or would undeceive him,
though school masters, friends and
neighbors knew that Frederick Harold
son had little capacity, less spirit, and
was likely to turn out sort OF scape-
grace; but in a hidden, underhand
way, for he had great deal more cum
ming than courage. The father sent
him to the best schools in Hamburg,
spared no expense on books or clothes,
never let him into the bank except to
see it, which the boy did to every cre-
vice and corner, for he was curious and
his father was manager; and when be
was just eighteen, sent him to the uni
versity OF Copenhagen, to study Dan
ish law, that he might come to be a
Counselor Of State one day by his tai
ents.
1t is perhaps necessary to state here,
in explanation of the events which oc-
Cured afterwards that the banking
house Of Haroldson d Co. was an old
monastery building, remodeled for
banking purposes, and that Frederick
Haroldson, during the few times he
visited the place, explored every quaint
nook and corner thereof, and was very
curious in inquiries relative to the sub
terranean apartments, which, of course,
were numerous.
Well, Frederick went to the college
at Copenhagen under an excellent tu-
tor, and he progressed well. He still
remained there, and his father was re-
ceiving encouraging letters from him
constantly, when the following events
took place:
There was clerk in the bank named
Edward Grundler, and from. the fact
that be associated intimately with one
Delapres, Frenchman of not very
good repute in the town, he was an OBJ
feet of distrust to Christian Haroldson.
One day there was presented for pay
ment $500 note, which proved to be
forgery. The presenter, senator OF
the town, had got it from a Russian
merchant; the Russian had got it from
his correspondent in London; and at
length the cashier of ar English bank
ing house, then in high repute in Ham,
burg, declared that be had received it
among other notes directly from the
Danish bank, in exchange for some is.
sued BY his firm. On closer investigs.
ton, Christian Haroldson recollected
that, on the day mentioned by the
cashier, he exchanged notes with the
English house by the hand of Edward
Grundler. The prudent banker, as hi'
custom was, had registered the numbei
sent, not only in the bank books, bu
also in private ledger of his own, ant
the forged one was not among them
Moreover, the English cashier clearl!
identified Grundler as the messenger
but the latter persisted in knowing no
thing about the forgery. The note
had been given to him in sealed pack
ct; as he got, so he said, he delivere'
them. The English cashier in some re
spects corroborated his statement, 70
he had found the bank seal perfect, an
the time at which the notes were sen
and delivered agreed with that whic
Grundler might have taken to wal
from the bank 10 Elbe Stress where th
English bank was situated. By th
laws Of Hamburg, Grundler was oblig
ed to tell how he came by the note uu
der those peculiar circumstances, or SUI
fer the penalty of forgery. which wa
there capital offense, as in most othe
countries N Europe; and as no explans
ton could be got from him. he wa
committed to prison. and day appoin
ed for bis trial in the city court.
All who knew Grundler was sorr
for him. Nobody thought of blamin
the Frenchman Delapres; he had nevt
been accused of any crime. and thei
was not shadow of suspicion again'
him; but Grundler's friends and rel'
tions said that bad company was th
cause of his ruin. and it was easy, se'
ing how little Delapres cared for tfl
boy now, for be was to be seen in a
public places, as gay as ever, laughin
and iesting with new companions; br
that was ike his country. Late in th
evening before the trial, Haroldson rt
manned in his Office arranging some p'
pers and looking over accounts. tt