New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-01-03
EABEZZLING HALF A MILLION.
ARREST OF A GREAT swINDLER.

FALoATIoN OF 100000 EvIDENT-How TIE
DEFAULrER WAS DErECTED-sKTLLFUL DE-
IECuvE woRK-rHB FATTHLEss CASHIER CHAs.
n. BECKwTTn, IN CUSTODY.
Charles r. Beckwith was arrested yesterday after
noon at a quarter before o'clock, by Special
Officer Timothy Golden, on a warrant Issued 10y
Justice Bixby, in which he is charged with omDez-
cling 81 $3.50 % from his former employer, Mr.
b. T. Rabbit, the well-knOwn soap manufactures,
whose Office is at los. 60 and 20 Westinghouse
Beckwith who il a married man, about 80 years
old, was employed by Mr.. Babbitt from 1865 to
1873 as a confidential clerk, cashier aud book
keeper His duties were to keep the bank account,
receive and pay out money, drawing checks which
had been signed in blank by his employer. lie was
implicitly trustee, and no suspicion was entertained
Of his integrity for long time. In 1873, however,
Mr. Rabbit had circumstance pointed out to him
which seemed 10 him 10 indicate that Beckwith
was untrustworthy This caused him to discharge
Beckwith on Feb 10, 1873. The cause being merely
a suspicion, no steps then taken, but about
Nov. /, 1873, Officer Golden became possessed OF
some information which pointed directly toward
Beckwih as an embczller aud no III
formed Mr.. BabbItt of what he had heard.
The members of the law firm Of Beach & Brown
were consulted aud it was decided to make an inves-
tigation. Officer Golden who was then attached 10
and Commissioner Matsell Of the Police Board gave
him two days TO work IL up. The two days expired
and no result was reached, and ho was given
four DAYS more. Upon the expiration Of the four
DAVIS Messrs. Beach 4 Brown wrote a letter 10 the
Police Board requesting that Officer Golden should
be detailed specially to work up the case. This re-
quest wac granted, and Golden was transferred from
the Sixth Precinct 10 the Central Office. Dir. Bab-
btt had signed check for the amount of the officers
salary for one month, and this was retained by
Messrs Beach & Brown who gave their own check
in it's place in order that tho might not be dis
closed
The books OF Mr.. Babbitps business were taken 10
Mr. Rabbits residence atNo. 40 West Thirty fourth
ST.. and experts were engaged To make thorough
investigation Of them. One of these experts
Mr.. Barton now in the employment Of Mr.. Babhitt.
This examination has not yet been completed, but
up 10 the present time, false entries and checks
have been found to the amount of nearly
100000 and It is expected that the
total amount of the ENLIGHTENMENT will
reach nearly 5000, 600. A comparison of the busi-
ness done during the last eighteen months in .5hch
Bockwith was employed by Mr. Babbitt, was made
with that done in the eighteen months Immediately
succeeding his departure, which showed that not
outstanding the fact that per cent had been
taken off the prices-which would reduce the re-
ceip:s moro than S100,O00-the total amount
Of receipts was some 1913 900 less during the time
when Beckwith was employed than afterward. His
mode OF swindng was to alter checks make false
entries in the ledger, and pretend TO pay
bills which did not exist. For instance,
bill was rendered for 1898. his Bcckwith
paid and drew check to himself for 1898,
altering the books and invoices to correspond. The
amount Of 81 ,0jG %, upon which the warrant
was issued was q clear case Of stealing tina, amount,
Beckwith having filled in a check and having drawn
the money which Mr. Rabbit never received. When
n check was drawn 1t was stamped, PAY to the
order of G.. X. Beckwith' aud he would then pay it
away himself
THF ARREST or THE DETAULTER.
After sufficient facts were made known to war
rant an affidavit Mr.. Babbitt went before Justice
Bixby and obtained the warrant on Dec. II, 1873.
1t was placed in Goldcnh hands 20 execute. Beck
with has been recently employed in the Manhattan
Insurance Companys office at No. 0S Wall-st. He
obtained leave OF absence for several weeks, Civ
ing as a reason that his health was poor aud that he
wished to travel West but it is probable that he had
learned that the books of his former employer
had been taken 10 Mr.. BabbetIs residence, and in
tended to conceal himself. lie resided with his
wife in Nat at No. 09S Sixtl-ave., bat his name
was not in the directory officer Golden did not know
this but only knew that ne lived a certain block.
In order TO find out the embczzer without betray-
ing whom he was looking for, he told
the janitor that he had message for
ono Of the occupants OF the building
but had forgotten tho name The janiOr, 10 assist
his memory, mentioned over the names OF those who
resided there, Beckwitls among the number. Upon
learning that Beckwith was there, Golden watched
the building closely and for 26 days had il under con-
slant inspection Yesterday he states that lac saw
Mrs. Beckwith open the window shortly after noon
and look out carefully up and down the street. She
closed the window aud soon afterward again opened
il and looked around soarchingly. Apparently salts
fed, she closed the window again, and in about five
minutes more Beckwith came down and
started to 20 toward Central Park. Golden fol-
lowed him aud arrested him at 1:4j p. IN. The
apartments in which be lived were elegantly OIL
though not extravagantly furnished aud it is
supposed that he has not parted with the most of
the money which he has stolen but has invested it.
He is not known to be addicted to drinking gambling,
or fast living He however, spent money freely. aud
to account for his always having plenty of money it
was stated that his wife had received n legacy from
her father amounting to $4,000. This is known to
be false as her father who is known to the officer il
q poor man.
Beckwith is a man Of gentemanly appearance of
GOOD education, and refined tastes He was born and
brought Up in the interior OF this State, and lived
for long time in Utica, where he was employed by
Milton Thompson in the insurance business. He
was taken to the Police Central Office yesterday
afternoon and locked mp, and will DO taken to tho
Tombs this morning and arraigned. He remarked
that il WAS bailable case, when he was arrested.
and seems to be cool and calm.
The whole working Of the case was exceedingly
adroit and successful, and reflects credit upon the