The New York herald., 1873-12-09
ANOTHER DEFALCATIoN.


IL. K. Hosford, Former President or the
Croton Bank, Accused OF Embexxie-
mcnt by His Empioyor-The Amouut
or Loss Unkn0wn-Rumors or ths
Stroes-Dtsn ppcarancc OF tho Alleged
Crimfnal.
Shortly before the closing OF business hours IL
was rumored in W all street that another large de-
falcation had taken place. AL kinds OF reports
were rife as to the extent of the l0ss and rumOr.
with its thousand tongues had already stated that
the thief mad started for Havana Europe ana .
dozen other places. HERALD reporter was soon
on the track, endeavoring to nnd out the man
and the matter. AT hali-past four O'Clock
he had located the place 80 far az
that he had learned that the robbery
had taken place nearly opposite the sub-Treasury.
in Pine street, and while patrolling tho block no
met Mr.. James sampson, Sub-Treasury detective,
and Detective Edward Malioy, who told the re-
porter to 90 to the ONCE OF Mr.. Augustus w. King,
stock broker and banker, where full particulars
could be obtained. Entering the spacious Offices
OF the nrm, knots OF three and four business men
were seen engaged in converse. The HERALD re-
porter was invited into the private office, and from
MI. King, who l6 q member OF the Stock Exchange,
to the deiacati0n:-
"H. E. Hosford,' said Mr.. King, ssformerly Presi-
dent OF the deiunct Croton Bank, was cashier and
bookkeeper IN our 0fflce till noon this morning,
VIII N he disappeared. He was busy at work til
noon, when he said he was going out to lunch and
would be absent Tor about ten minutes or y quarter
of an hour. We have not yet mad time to examine
our securities and see what may be mssing.u
At this moment q telegraph messenger br0ughs
In Q despatch from Detectives Thomas Sampson
and I. Golden, who are engaged in working up tho
afair, relative to the cashier, but Mr. King dd not
inform the reporter what its contents were.
Mr.. King ontinued-"Hosford, as nearly AZ
can judge, is man or about SO to 3S years OF age,
ana Is native OF this State. am not certain but
that he was born in this city. He entered stock.
% himself remarkably % W bright ana apt. apt "a He suDse-
quently went into business on his own account,
ana, whle'a member OF the Board OF the Stock Ex-
change, was considered one Of the keeneSt and
most intelligent fellows who was ever Interested
in stocks and shares. HIS memory and retention
OF figures was something marvellous, and he was
looked upon as perfect walking encyclopedia. He
carried the accounts OF our customers at his finger
ends and could tell their balances in q few mo-
llshed himself that he amassed large
OF several friends, consented, on account 'of his
reputation as an excellent business man to be-
memory serves me this was about the year 1868
To cut long story Short the bank failed after
short existence, and H0sford was very large
loser, he being in Europe when the doors were
closed
HosFoRD's FAMILY AND RESIDENCE.
H0sford has been married for IL years to q most
estimable wife, and they have daughter OF 10
years OF age. Hoslord has hitherto enjoyed the
ops o. Of on the he IS
above the average height, has keen pair of dark
eyes and wore q heavy black mustache. He
dressed well and had agreeable manners and
cannot tell you how hurt am, not only in pocket
but in mind, at his turning out in this strange
manners
THE LOSS UNKNOWN.
REPoRTER-You cannot tell me, then, what your
loss is by this deialcation
Mr.. KING-No, sir. We are going to work late to-
night at our books and tomorrow We shall fnd
out what checks have been cashed We shall also
go carefully through our securities. l signed sew
eral checks In hurry to-day at the request OF Hos
ford, who told me that some scrip had to be paid
for, but hardly looked at their amounts such per-
feet confidence did repOse in him. cannot think
that he would be guilty Oi forgery but from thett
to forgery the step is not great. l have already
stopped payment for check Of $109 300 on the Union
National Bank
WHAT HERALD REPORTER FOUND OUT.
At the ofiice Of the well known bankers, /. 8.
Lawrence u Co., at the Bennett Building, q
HERALD reporter ascertained that Hosf0rd had
called there shortly alter he had left the oce of
King. He was about changing 81, 900 gold GER
Iihcate, for nalf gold and half greenbacks, when
an acquaintance recognized him and said in the
hearing or the teller :-ssWhat you doing here,
HosOrd; you are out OF your latitude here, are
you notyr To this Hosford replied well, s0me-
times get up as far as ths.- But ne appeared un.
comfortable and put back the gold certlficate i'll
his pocket and lett the banking house without
changing IL.
1t is reported that Hosford has appropriated tho
funds OF check for $4,000, drawn in favor OF Mr.