The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-19
VIOLATED TRUST.

THE POPULATIONS OF CONFIDENTLY CLFIK-
THE STORY OF HIS CRIME AS NARRATED BY
HIS GENEROUS EMPLOYER
John D. Payne, young man OF about thirty, was
employed for q number Of years by A. J. johnson 4
Son, publishers, at No. IL Great Jones street. His
discharge OF his duties was uniformly satisfactory,
and he TO the highest position OF trust In the
gilt OF his employers. As their confidential clerk
Mr.. Alvah johnson, the senior member OF the arm,
has accepted his accounts and statements without
vcstigaton and allowed him 10 exercise to certain
extent, the superintcndence OF tie business
On tho 22d Of April express package OF
S423 received from N. G. Withcrington, OF Day.
export, ONO which Payne appropriated. ind II was
tho discovery OF TINS that first Suspicion
and lod TO an Investigation. The books were exam
mod and II learned that only thr oe weeks ago
s275 collected on draft OF Mcssrs. DonneI, Lawson
l. Co., OF Broadway, had b,en collected appropri.
aicd by the confidential clerk 10 his own use. The
further the examination carried tho more his
villany became revcaed, ill after gong books
tor the last two years was thut that space
OF limo he had appropriated about $4,000 OF Tho
investigation The total Of his pecuations will reach
about $25. O00
Payne, when produced In tho Jefferson Market
Police Court yesterday seemed to accept position
as an inevitable ono, anI bore himself WIN ease and
cslmness during the inquiry 10 which he MAS sub
jected. Mr.. Alvah j. Johnson, tho complainant, VINO
Will DO remembered AS the gentleman IN whose house
Horace Greeley breathed his last maue the following
BETRAYED coxrIDgxcg.
John d. Payne has been employed In my estab-
ooncc IN MIN. used him rather as u son iLun
un employe lormerly looked alter my
accounls. but | was attacked by paralysis aud
Savo tho entire coutroi OF my. business
10 him. In our communication with other concerns
through the country aud with customers generally he
acted ON my part. and approved OF his management
OF affairs Two years ago ny son graduated from col
iege aud gave him charge OF the books aud asso-
Grated him with III the business He was young
however, and with comparatively little xperIence SO
Payne sun remained IN virtuai control II was
only month ago when 1 at all began 10 entcrtuin
IRON downtown concern had been dashed
ami a messenger was bringing the money into
my private oiicc, when Payne interposed ana said
HAND that over here; everything comes to me-
The boy gave HIM the money but scoded ali tho
same ny Payne. This tended TO lend unimus 10 the
messengers suspicious, and he said to some his
companions that any complaint wsrc mado against
words OF his reached me and nude inquiry about
mo drafts, only 10 lcaru that their had gono
Into Pay nes pockets. taxed him with his unfailh.
fulness and he admitted his guilt, but pleaded that Il
was his first offence. asked about his affairs
and learned Tor the hrst time mat he had been
married Tor four years and had vile IN Washington
place. Well, l forgive him but on looking over
his accounts discovered that nc had boen systemat
Gully ict,mizing mo all along When l saw that no
had made away with large sums underworld 10 learn
what he had done with lhcm wus much surprised
with the result. Payne neither drank gainbicd,
but the whole Of tho proceeds OF hts thelts
huve been squapdercd upon unworthy women. HIS
own wife, who learned was very eslin.able lady,
he had frequently deceived about his whereabouts
unt had awaited himself OF his leisure In omen,s 70
hold communication with u divorced woman. | am
sorry for THIS young mans offence and have VIM
dic,ivo feeling in making this compliant, which moth.
ing but regard for my duty citizen would lead
me to prefer
Payne had been arrested by Sergeant Keaiy, chief
OF tLe detective iorcc. TO whom uumitled every.
thing. Alter being remanded IN the morning he was
again taken before tho bar the afternoon und as
Mr.. johnson would only embody ono OF bis theits IN
the complaint, 10 make the young mans punishment
as hight NJ possible he WAS committed by Judge Muir
ray IN s. 600 Paypc's POPULATIONS have been quito q
surprise to those who knew hin. He was regular
attendant at the West Sxteonth Street Baptist
where he sang In the choir Al pressnG hs only do
src seems to Dc to 90 To Sing sing without any delay
aud there atone for mis- offence.