The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-05-14
OBITUAR Y.
HENRY b. JENKNs-HIsToRY OF THE PHOENIX
BANK DBFALCATIoN-AN OLD MANS CRIME,


B. JENhlNS-HlSTOhH
BANK DBFALCATIoN-AN OLD MANS CRIME,
FOLLY, AND PUNISHMENT.
At halfpast o'clock on Saturday morning,
in one OF the ward rooms OF st. Luke's Hospital,
the curtain fell on the last scene Of one of the
most remarkable dramas of crime which has
been recorded in many years. AT that hour
Henry b. Jenkins. the defaulLing teller of the
Phoenix Bank, died, in the fifty first year of his
age and the second of his incarceration, broken
down by the remorse and fearful mental suffer
ing consequent upon the crime with which he
stood charged.
The facts of the case are briefly as follows:-
On the afternoon of August 10, 1865 Henry B.
Jenkins was arrested on the complaint of John
Parker, cashier of the Phoenix Bank, on a
charge Of embezzlement, and on the same day
was locked up to await an examination. The
amount of his detalcations, after several days
spent in inspecting his books, was ascertained
to be about 100000, and his mournful fate
stands out in bold and terrible relief as a
fearful example of the consequences OF yielding
to the temptation of dishonesty. The unfortu-
nate man died in almost absolute want, save
only such ministrations as his relatives and
friends were wont to bestow upon him in his
hours of atlliction. The money which he SO
recklessly or thoughtlessly converted to un-
lawful uses vanished like a mist In
less time than it had occupied him In appro'
Drlating 1t. For some Time previous TO MS de-
lection and arrest he appears TO have fallen into
the hands OF others, whose designs seemed to be
to extort the ill-gotton gains from the tempted
and fallen man. The first OF these proved to
be James H. Earle, person who had formerly
occupied the position Of book-keeper In Athe
bank, and who had been removed about six
months previously. This person had, it ap-
pears, aided Jenkins in the abstraction of the
funds and the false balancing OF the books,
and his share Of the ill-gotten proceeds
amounted to about 100000. on the even
ing of the same day upon which Jen-
custody, and locked up In a cell OF the Twenty
ninth Precinct Station House. For time
during the evening he conVersed pleasantly,
but subsequently became apparently depressed
and laid down to sleep shortly after IL O'Clock.
That sleep was but the precursor of the last long
tined soon to be enwrapped. At o'clock on
the following morning an officer entered the
| cell Earle was prosLrated on the floor, his
! corpse cold and stiff. An open penknite, pool
Of blood, and a CHASTITY wound in his throat told
! the fearful story. The defaulters. accomplice
! had committed suicide. In his pocket was
! found brief note OF farewell to some relatives.
child, and request that he might be buried
| beside his wife, "dear Dorie"
| The other persons most prominently con-
| nected with Jenkins in his crime were Gene
| We've Lyons, alias We've Brewer, waiter girl
| in q Broadway concert saloon her paramour.
| Charles Davis alias Sam Brewer and member
| of the de1ni. monde named Rosa Frazer. To the
| former ne had evinced considerable attachment,
making her frequent presents OF considerable
| CANT apartments for her use in Bleecker street
| The girl We've gave small sums OF money TO her
| paramour Davis and he also occasionally re-
| uuested loans of various amounts from Jenkins,
| which were always rendered. mo threats"
| said Jenkins, "were necessary to man in my
| position" Davis knew enough OF the secret to
| Insure acquiescence
Crayed and unhappy man for period, and his
visits were frequent 10 her place OF residence
! She received from him numerous sums of
money, and, among her valuable articles,
| handsome cluster diamond ring valued at $1,000
Her acquisitions, however, proved as evanes
cent, though not so fatal, as did those OF the
| misguided donor
After his confinement IN the Tombs Jenkins
became comparatively calm and resigned, and
not at all unwilling to converse with the few
| visitors who obtained access TO his cell. At
several interviews with friends he expressed
himself in q manner which would indicate that
he was less unhappy after his arrest than while
at liberty reveling in a career OF luxury, ele-
gance, prohigacy, and abandon. During those
| hours when he bestowed money squanderlngy
on all those for whom he conceived an attach
ment or passing feeling of friendship, he seemed
to have had presentiment OF the Damoclean
sword which quivered above his head and
brought shame and dismal retribution in It's
fall.
After several examinations before the Essex
Market Police Court, watch resulted in unfold