The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-20
HENRY SCREIBER,S FOLLY.
THE THRElDB<RE STORY OF GAM
BLING IN WALL STREET


Dabbiinr IN Pacific Natl and Landing in
Ludlow street Jail-uow an Assistant
Cashier mt Length Became n ThicE
The agents of the Methodist Book Con-
cern frankly furnish all desirable inforrna Ito n
about the recent embezzlement by their assis-
tant cashier, Henry Screiber, whom they have
sent to Ludlow street fail. Henry Screiber, who
Ia thirty years OF age, has been in the emtloy Of
the Concern as assistant cashier ever since he
attained to his majority. The assertion that be
entered the employ Of the Concern at the time
OF the Investigation that followed Or. Lanahans
charges OF Irregularities there IN 1892 is untrue.
He had been the assistant cashier for more than
two years when that investigation was made.
His employer, during his long connection with
them never knew OF an act OF his that gave
them uneasiness. He was punctual, diiigent,
discreet. and Trustworthy. He had an easy,
pie isant manner aud was well liked by bis as
soclstes, and his affected piety gave him good
standing In the different Methodist churches to
which he linked himself.
A fortnight ago, while Mr.. Nelson, the senior
agent Of the Book Concern, was In baltimore
attending the Conference, young Soreiter
sought a friend and confessed to him, In the
hope that his friend would either lend him
money wi III which to make good what ne had
embezzled, or suggest some means by which
exposure might be deferred. II was the con-
n a, n
person to whom ~creber made known the truth
carried the news to the Book Concern, and
without fully exposing the culprit, disclosed
enough OF the truth to bring Mr.. Nelson to the
city.
Mr. Nelson, on the morning after his return,
called Screiber to him and told him that his
position must at once be surrendered. The
kindly clergyman expressed astonsbment at
what he had learned Of the cIerks misdeeds,
and ScreiOer hung bis mead and muttsred hts
apologies. Speculation In stocks had fascinated
him, and he mad been led To take the company's
money u bridge over temporary losses, ALWAYS
with the intention OF returning at the earl est
moment nl that he had taken.
For years. Screiber carried the KEYS OF the
safe aud OF the cashiers desk and money draw
ers, and these he delivered TO Mr.. Nelson. Then,
at Mr.. Nelson's command, he wrote full con-
wrote and what he said, Mr.. Nelson learned
that for a long time ScreiOer had been speoula-
ting Ia Wall street, mostly In Pacific Mail stocks
lie used bis own money IN the beginning. Oc-
isional profits. once to the extent of ne Irly
S4OO. inspired hun aud he got in deeper and
deeper. A few months ago he began TO lose,
and his own money soon became exhausted
and he fed his brokers with Book Concern
bonds that had been Entrusted TO the agents OF
tue Concern by their owners for safe keeping IN
the safe. In this way he stole t15.000 worth u
bonds. lie knew that some of tue bonds might
he called for at any moment by their owners,
ana these he rec 1vered and replaced by pur-
chasing them with cash stolen from the large
amounts that daily passed through his hands.
-Four thousand dollars In money he thus EN-
oezzled, aud with II he repl,ced an equal sum
The cashier OF the Concern Is also cashier for
Mr. Nelson, who Is the treasurer OF the Mission
airy Society. Screiber and the cashier handled
all immense amount Of money, and at the close
OF every day Screiber added the cash on hand
and the cashier figured up the cash accounts,
the two togethet squaring the business OF the
day on the books OF the concern. On the sue
ceeding evening the cashier handled the money
aud Screlber reckoned up the entries In the cash
books. Whichever duty fell to ScIeiber he msu-
aged to make the book aud the cash tally, by
deducting from the one IN his hand the amount
he mad pocketed during the day.
The Cashiers books were Investigated. and the
young man WAS arrested on civil process. The
intimatiOn that the agents Of the Book Concern
have tried to keep the eInbezzlement quiet, or
that they intend to compound tue crime, Is
wholly unfOuuded In fact.