The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-24


TosEY--Is HE INSANE?
GILBERT l.. Whiting. chief bookkecpsr Of tho Brooklyn
Bank, OF Fulton and Front streets arrested
yesterday afternoon. tho charge OF stealing from
that institution slo6, $50 81 In negotiable bills and
sl0loo OF In cash The circumstances attending the
case are peculiar interest," and indicate either tnssn
ity reckless disregard OF very rarely
betrayed IN criminal circles whiting, who connected
with OF tbs oldes aud most respectable families
In the City OF Churches, being a brother Of
Robert M Whiting, Jr.. cxmcmber OF the Board Of
Water and Sewerage Commissioners, was for twelve
years IN tie employ OF the bank named On last
Wednesday evening he engaged correcting
clerical IN company with clerk. to
whom ne said that he informed It the intoR.
ton OF his employers TO reduce hts salary, but that
ne did not intend to let them do 1t so easily.
"why," said the clerk, .what you going to do
about ts"
"l'l get a leverage the bank" said tho pris
oner $50 that can hold the thing 10 my own handa
aud make them compromise"
Tho clerk shortly after left leaving the 10
complete his work. When Whiting subsequently ioit
he took with him vaise. which the night watchmau
saw but did question him concerning the contents
Tho yasc contained all the available funds in tho
safe. Whom the clerk opened tho bank on Thursday
morning the bookkcepcr missing, and In the vault
note addressed to Mr.. Messenger, the president
OF tho Brooklyn Bank. When tho missivo was opened
by the president tho latter astounded 10 learn
that II tho bank wanted TO get tho money back u
would have 10 make "a compromise with tho missing
bookkocpcr, Whiting. Tho billet also stated
that tho writer would restore half the money IN
his possession provided tho authorities did proso,
him. He desired that tho bank should give him
half the he had TAKEN aud stated that II they
did not do that he would OIL with the cash loi
parts unknown, and burn up tho bills that no held He
would destroy he wrote all the bills rather than
turn them TO hts employers Detectives Looncy ana
Corwin, OF tho Central once, assigned by the
Superintendent to 'work up'' tho case. Tho oinccu
went first tho residence oil whiting Macon street.
near Tompkins avenue bat could CLEAN evidence az
to where he had gone. Tho Superintendent caused
advertisement to be published In tho New YoRx
HERALD OF yesterday as foloxs:-
w H. GIVE AGREE TO YOUR PROPOSAL
Tho FIRST letters wore tho Initials OF witness nnme,
and tho last stood Tor tho BrooHyn Bank II Is pres
sumed that the advert had the desired effect,
Tor at early hour yesterday morning tho officers
named above, who watching the house OF Whiting,
saw him the house with a valiso in his hand.
When he again emerged carrying the valisc they
rested him on romkins avenue.
show do you DO, Mr. whtngg" said Detective Cor.
win, laying his hand tho shoulder OF tht
prisoner. Tho latter, who was frightened for
moment. recovered his breath and
marked tnat be supposed hc under
arrest The valise found TO be illod With money
and bills On being taken to the Police Central once
and closely questioned, he said he mad been IN New
York since "Wednesday evening last. Tho money
found the vase 500, 900 In negotiable bills
and between 900 aud $40, 600 IN greenbaHks liz
also had revolver and ticket, No 351, tins
Havana lottery and these, together with gold watch
which he had were taken possession OF by tho police
When he was asked where the balance OF the money
was whiting rcpled:-
II don't think It Will DO policy for mo to tell"
The President Mr.. Messenger, ana other officers OF
tho bnnk then called In by Superintendent Camp
bell who asked him to return tho missing amount
This he declined do unless he fully satisfied that
he should enjoy immunity IRON prosecution. His
wife visited INN ut Headquarters IN tho afternoon and
had n most affecting interview with him. Lass
In the afternoon he pretended 20 have
Tented, and said he would tell whore the bal.
ancc Of tho stolen mopey-s40, 000-was 10 be iound
lie sad that II the police would to room No Al In
the Van Dyke House in the Bowery, corner Bayard
street. New York. where he had registered his
George Cooper, and would look n closet they would
nnd the money The police though pacing but tio rclk
in the statement. scarcely crocttng the asscrilos
such a large sum OF money In such a place.
hnstened to the hotel Indicated and there found 0O
the precise place where they told no had LEFT
the money. The directors wcrc OF the opinion that
would have acted carcIcssly If he desired
to get away with stolen money Whiting obtnincd
the combination o tho safe IRON Dir. Hall, tho paying
teller. by dint OF questioning, Mr. Hall kept tho
igurcs In book, and one day while he busy tho
accused asked HIM to lot nm see tho book Tor min
This DONE and Whiting jo;tcd down tho
comb OF the sale lock.
THE CASHIERS STATEMENT.
reporter OF tho HERALD had conversation with
Mr. p 5. henderson, the cashier OF the bank yc-ter
day afternoon, in tho course OF which Mr.. Hendofs
said: -
~whting nude a fool OF himsoIf That Is all can say
on tho subject, except this--that We have got tho
money the most of We have got Whiting and
the most OF the money back again. Whiting the
teller on tho afternoon on which no disappeared,
York and will back again and vii.
help YOU That was in answer TO
teller hen went Of and Whiting got the money out OF
the SAFE and making IL up INTO bundle took Il homo
In bills rcdccmabe in April next. This morning the
detectives saw him coming ont OF his house aud
arrested him. recovering all tue money except $40 900
$4,000. His wife said she believed she could 70.
cover all the missing money. and restore II to the
bank. -
The cashier further said he believed that Whiting
was not IN his right mind, as he had always boon Q
mostlahul aud correct and steady man IN 81" his re-
latioDs with the bank. "Why" said the cashier, "ho
was regular church member and u brother Of OK.
Water Commissioner Robert N. Whiting, Jr His
brother up nortnern part this State yes
tcraay to attend The funeral Of his mothor-in law. Il
viii surely Kill his mother We are very sorry, in
deed think he was dcrangcd mentally, because
OF the threat on tho part OF the bank
officials to cut down his salary. You see he
had had great deal OF trouble and sickness Il
his family lately His salary has been - 200, the
reduction proposed troubled him. His wfc had bees
mn inmate OF the Bloomlngdalo Lunatic Asylum fol
time. and the cost OF her board, &c. had been
drain upon his income, which have boon cut
down TO 1900 per onnum Tho loss will not affect tho
bank IN any way either directly or Indirectly, assure
you. II has established since 1885 as n State
bank. The capital Is $500. 900. and tho surplus 10
$330,000
~ HE fySAxEY
'Hr Whiting, who Is about thlrty-0vo years of age
is sober, steady and industrious man. who has been
twelve years Ia the employ OF the bank. He has o
WHO and three children In a letter which Whiting
had lott ia the vault OF the bank, addressed 10 Mr.
Messenger, II was stated that tho writer had taken all
tho bulls receivable and all tho money no could find
and that, rs there moro than he wanted, hc was
wiling TO rcinquish portion OF IT, II they desired
Ian hA liar sfn tu tp~r
personal IN the colnmDs Of tho HERALn II all
the money deposit taken from the bank 10
would he made good This bank has always becn ro-
Garbcd OF the souDdcst In tho country In the
lnnncia disaster 81 1851 " was tho only institution
that did not suspend specie payments. Ny theory Of
the robbery IL that Whining is insane. iio had com.
paipcd recently oil bad ccing 10 his head, and be-
lcve IL was affected. His habits were always regular"
TEILEKs STORY.
Tho receiving teller, Mr. Thomas " Halsoy, who