The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-07-14
THE BOSTON BANK SWINDLE.
Curious Particulars.


The Roston correspondent of the Chicago
11t6une furnishes the following singular state
ments in regard to the robbery OF the Hide and
Leather Bank by the cashler:-
'The Directors of the unfortunate Hide and
Leather Bank have been compelled by the pres
sure exercised by the newspapers TO put forth
statement OF the result OF their investigation
into the robberieS of their cashier. Tn,s Is,
more properly speaking, an apology for not
making statement in detail, which it is
thought would aid the swindler in making up
defense Tor The trial, which is to come off in
a lew months. The Directors reiterate
that the loss which the bank has sustained
is only five hund ndred and seventy-hve thousand
dollars" and take some credit to themselves or
the TACT that they have Lot lost dollar by in u
dicious loans and that all their dividends have
been the result OF actual earnings, and that tnpy
have not contributed to the panic which has
assailed the stock of the bank by selling one
of the shares owned by themselves. 1t seems
that the detaulliDg cashier combined with a
stupendous talent tor rOguery, still more won
derful tacalty Tor inspiring confidence in hls own
honesty. In all the nvesug atIons into the affairs
OF the bank, made by the Directors and by
United States officer every few months, the
cashier was the guide and interpreter, and his
eXplanat ons and schedules beng accepted I'm.
phcitly, 1t only required skilltul booK-keepers on
his part to conceal his enormous stealiugs. Of
course as the tolal amount grew larger and
larger, his fictitious figures became more and
more complicated and 1t becomes marvel
indeed how one head could carry the whole
loau OF intricate deception. HIS career was tull
OF narrow escapes. AT one time, 1t is said,
deposior sent three thousand dollars to the
II de and Leather Bank, which his messenger,
by mistake, carried TO the Snoe and Leather A
few days later, the deposItor not finding the
amount laced to his credit at the former iusti-
tuition, asked the cas- bier IN regard to it. Cashier,
AFRAID 10 make any objection which might in
volvc an Investigation into books, be knew TO
be mass of lies, Acknowledged a mistake he
had not made, and placed the three thousand to
depositor's credit Depositor by and by learned
W hA Lynn
nothing was standing i'll his name at the other
bank. Yet all this was stTatghtened out with
out bursting Martins bubble of vilany. The
cashier used to prevent any disclosure of MS
account cooking by complaints coming in by
mail, by going himself TO the post Office, aud
abstTaCtlng all letters which spoke of errors in
his accounts, recnfying the matter by plumber
log some other account, and perhaps writing
himself in reply some explanation or apology.
Thus, an indignant customer would write to the
Vlcepresident aud manager OF the bank, MIR.
March, 1urous account OF abomina0e errors
in his accounts, AMI, calling little later, would
be received by that gentleman, al unconscious
OF anything wrong, with bland suavity
wi ich he would attribute to most Won
derful mpudence. Once, it is said, the
cashier received a letter from the officer of a
ne ghboring bank, whose patience had been eX-
hausted by the frequency OF what seemed blum
ders at the Hide aud Leather, and VINO wrote:
Your account OF such and such a date is re-
celved, and is incorrect, as usual" The cashier
saw chance for compliment, elaborately
erased Two letters, ana passed In the letter TO
The directors as a testimony to the gratifying
fact that his account WAS correct as usual"
With that ineXplicable insanity on one little
point which characterizes all great criminals,
he preserved, with scrupulous care, all the iu-
tercopted letters above mentioned, all the
checks which he had fraudueutly pail Tor hts
accomphCe, FELTON,, aud o her clues by which
to uDraN ell the prolracted skein of his guilt.
1t is remarked as somewhat significant that
the earliest and loudest newspaper clamor for a
tull and minute statement Of the discoveries
OF the Directors has been originated and keD
up by a journal OF which one of the bondsmeu
OF Martin, who will suffer by the defalcaLion if
the guilt can be legally brought home to the
late cashier, is owner and MANAGER.