The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-07-19
AFTER TEN YEARS.
The EX-CaShier of the Merchants EX-
change Bank Captured.
A MYSTERIOUS BETRAYAL.

In the summer of 1858, when Long Branch was In
blaze Of vulgar sp lendor, Fisk, with his gorgeous
four-in-hand rattlsd up and down Ocean avenue
dazzling sight to behold, there were many who as
gayly lived on funds obtained in scrooked" ways.
Among the swarm Of politicians and gay butterflies
Matched In tho heat Of speculation e. J.
Oakley, who had been for twenty years identified
with the Merchants Exchange National Bank OF this
city. Previous TO this summer he had spent his holi
days in some secluded srot The wild speculative
spirit that seized tho street. the preceding win
ter and the fabulous fortunes made, sometimes in q
few hours fred Oakley the old employs and now
cashier of tho Merchants Exchange Back. His
ample salary OF $4,000 insufficient keep him
and his famiy-at least in the world Of fashion, with
others with whom he thrown In contact In bust
ness and the love OF show made an Increased income
a necessity. He speculatcd, and with such success
that when the winter had passed away he was In Q
condition to take his wife and family TO Long Branch
where he maintained q fine establishment and drove
last team. Beneath the guise of pleasure seeking
there was an impsliug necessity, for In those days
any man who had cash In speculative stocks could
be too far away from the crowd who msnipu-
lated prices Change The wide corridors and
broad high piazzas Of the Ocean and West End were,
in those days, after dark, as busy as the neghbor
hood of the Exchange ana skirmshing brokers never
wearied oil buying and selling
CAUGHT IN MEsHEs.
An unfortunate bargain made here one night
marked the beginning of the decline in Oakley's
career and in desperate endcavors 70 recoup his loss.
during the closing month OF 1865, he distracted from
the bank Of which he cashier the OF $150000
Loss followed loss and still Ia his desperation he wont
abslractng sum after sum to bolster up his spccu
latons. Tho directors OF the bank were OF course
ignorant Of the doings Of the CASHIER as he did not APP
pear in any OF the schemes in which the money
being sunk, and he might have had longer race bus
for q little circumstances which happened at Somers.
In Westminster county. the bank At that place
deposited with the Merchants' Exchange Bank.
the cashier Of tho Somsrs Bank, Mr. Hill
rather eccentric and one morning, without
visit some friends In Baltimore. This strange con-
duct induced an investigation Dy the directors and
On me hss Ssr %
was a discrepancy Of $4,000 In other words, the
books OF the New York bank showed that $40 had
b. en- drawn by the country bank which there
no entry tha latter's books To make matters
the directors subscribed tho deficit OF $4,000
and balanced the accounts. warrant was issued Tor
Hill, no In Baltimore and brought to
White Plains and there incarcerated. Hill asssv.
Grated his innooence but his departure was too
p,cious, under the circumstances to be. accounted
DISCOVERED.
Investigation was made aud the directors OF the
Merchants Exchange convinced that the irreR.
ularity had occurred III their bank ana they there.
with great show OF virtue. volunteered to assist In
ferretpg out the delinqusnts. The investigation
showed that he had manipulated The account Of thu
Seamen's Bank, ana the evidence against him grew
stronger day By DAY. Suddenly he disappeared, and
opsa deficit o. $3.50 900, all Of his making, the d..
to United states Assistant District At
torney Purdy ana procured warrant Tor hts arrest
In the month Of July succeeding he was Appre.
s IN su@ Of 10
He forfeited his bail and left for parts unknown. Al
most Of The money he had taken from the bank was
little with him when no left and during the last seven
years he has been wandering abroad and in Canada,
generally getting his bread by doing laborinR work.
Tue bank had robbed was rsorganised, and Oakley
all but forgotten. During the mouth Of March Of
the present year United States District Attorney
Fiero received anonymous letter, stating thai H.
the authorities we're anxious to arrest Oakley me
writer would put the proper persons on his track.
The writer asked 10 have the answer directed TO .
box In tho HERALD office. Mr. Fiero obtained Q
bench warrant. Tor 0Axley's arrest answered the
letter, but never again heard from his an0ny nous
correspondent
Yesterday afternoon, while ar Fiero was sitting in
his room, gentleman, who seemed TO be much sx-'
cited, rushed In upon him and said be could lea<
The officers to where Oakley WAS Immediately Mar
snas Bernhardt and Walters were gwen the warrant
and sent with the gentleman, who hurried from the
Post ONCE building 10 Fulton street, then turned east
Just before Nassau street ned the infoPmer
stopped and pointed 70 q man about i've feet i've
inches high, with sandy hair and whisksrs, and then
Marshal Bsrnhardt went mp to the indicated
the standing in front OF tho Commercial advertiser
omce) and said:-
sHow do you do, Mr.. Oakloyf"
'Quite well. thank YOU" said Oakley, extending his
hand, thinking, NO doubt that the Marshal was some
forgotten acquaintance.
When informed that he was wanted at tho Marshai'a
Office he seemed astonshed but went with hts captou
without murmur.
TIE MYSTERIOUS MAN
The man who put the government on the track
Oakley unknown AMI speculation ~ to his Identity
Is riis Some claim him 10 be Hill, who was dis
honored ana suspended In his position by reason d
Oakiey's rsscality.
Oakley says no jumped his bail BY advice Of counsel,
and that he was informed that the statute OF Lima-
lions would run against the Indictments The seven
years which be supposed had outlawed hM crmo hav-
Ing elapsed, he returned TO New York about Jour
mouths ago and has since been living with his
brother, Hobart Oakley, who, II s said, was bis part
ner in speculation.
Oakley Is now q broken down man, and his troubles
have told ON him. During his exile his wife, who
shared with him tho brief luxury Of dishonor, has
divorced him and remarked. Oakley was taken TO
Ludlow Street jail, where he will remain until Oc-
tober next, when he will Dc tried Tor embezzement