The New York herald., 1879-11-08
VIOLATED TRUST.
A Bank BoOkkeeper Embezzles Over
Thirty Thousand Dollars.
FLIGHT OF THE DEFAULTER.
His Confession. Involving Manufacturer Who is Held in
Forty Thousand Dollars Bail

The facts leaked out yesterday Of a defalcaton in
the Manufacturers and Merchants Bank by of
their trusted bookkeepers, John P. Haws. who dis
appeared from tho bank on August 27. The defalca-
tion had extended over period of about year. and
was not known to the bank until his brother brought
letter to the officials. which contained confession
of the fraud committed.
From the affidavit of Joseph Pool the president of
the bank. it appears that Louis Levinson. q manu-
facturer of artificial flowers, prior to October "a.
1878. had kept deposit account under the name Of
+. Lcvinson Co., which continued to be his de-
posit account until about January H. 1870 when he
opened an account under his own name aud con-
tnued the same On October "a. 1878. there was
deposit only $241 so belonging to Levnson. or to
the account of Z. Levinson Co. On or about Octo-
ber "a. 1873. it is alleged that "Levinson entered
into secret and fraudulent conspiracy with
John P. Haws. bookkeeper in the bank knowingly
and with intent to cheat and defraud the bank, by
means of fictitious entries and fraudulent artihces
and devices whereby pursuant thereto Levnson
fraudulently drew out OF the bank between October
"a. 1878. and August a. 1s79 the of $3S ass
and above all moneys on deposit with the bank on
October a. 1878 belonging to either Levnson or Z.
Levinson Co., and also over and above all moneys
deposited with the bank to the credit Of the account
Of L. Levinson & Co. or to Levinson, or either Of
them from October a. 1875 to August 27. 1872 well
knowing at the several times at which said OF
$3S ass was drawn out by him that said and the
whole of it was the property of the bank. and that
he had no right whatever to it," The affidavit
further AYERS that Haws who the bookkeeper
having charge of the books of Levnson and Z. Levin.
son Il Co.. left the bank on August 27 and has not
since returned, but the bank was informed by
brother of the bookkeeper that he has fed to Bel
GUM. Since then. however. he has been induced to
return to Canada, where he is supposed to be now.
On tho above affidavit Judge Barrett issued order
of arrest against Levinson. He was lodged in Lud-
low Street Jail October 16 in default OF $40 900
ball. and is still there. motion to vacate the order
of arrest having been denied by Judge Donohue.
Levinson carried on the manufacture OF artificial
flowers corner of Mercer and Prince streets.
E. Levinson & Co., "E.'' beirg his wife. She
failed in January 1879. and the assignee sold the
stock to Levinson for less than $780, and few days
ago ne made assignment for the benefit Of his
creditors Samuel Zeimer giving preferences to the
amount of 1895 %.
THE DEFAULrER's CONFESSION.
The following letter of confession, written by
Haws, Is addressed to William Z. Haws his bro
ther:-
New YORK. Aug %. 1870
DEAs BROTHER W.T. am in serious trouble and an, s
60 have involved at the bank and have tho
s 70 bear longer Ny 50 nt That
feel unless unonrden myself 10 some one shall 60
and keep the matter myself feel heartily sorry that
not help matters now some of the funds & ~srs s
s, used to help dealer of the & bank without any ~
to and what
to return the amount enclose statement Of the
TO % % M to %
bic confusion In tho he. accounts .,,n
Information can give which may enable them to possibly
Ss ass and from Soss
from me in that render them liable for IT,
what will become of us. do not know whore shall go
will try to lot you hear from before many days. Do
M to ii
All operations have been since september 1873 zone
year ago. when began Sx to o. kSfp s ledger S to
and was carried hope tha. may be the
aeling the officers Of tho bank 70 regain some of the
MsIssr @ "a and r,i1ss street. 9, .,
charging other account mako my ledger prove,
@ Is s %S by s 90 make ssnn %
be d for & s %s to Sg % @ ssI, ON Lifting h @
busy Season hoping that when his collections came in nc
% gd al ss but A s ds avs not ovsr ad sS aS
felt fearful Of losing t. began beg a,t 70 speculate to
ventures and am behind my accounts sss ASS.
and have given up in eesps, The $40 S sSS which have
so
hand ' 10 n me I'M in money When would balance Mr.
amount in cheeks aud only write enough checks in his
him checks that he could prove his check
enclose herewith his bank book, which balanced on
August 26, 1879. You will that the book
vously balanced August D. leaving him balance OF
$72 IL, and he deposited from August TO the last
balancing august 2 only $s01 S. making total credit
OF 1878 80 Against the above he drew g. thereby
right and to his book balance only entered In
tho book SS "a in checks thereby making the book
show balance Of ~ 30 the same as balance ON cger
and this operation was done In balancing the book
several times previous, and on each occasion handed
him the checks held enable him check his book
handed him before yesterday the enclosed book
you and he had IL night and thought would
be valuable FOR the bank to have so got 1t from m
terday morning under prccncc of checking 20
urei mgr ~ ken for he
information the bank. The money he drew out aud
handed from time to time spcculated In lottery
policies with -. investing very heavily for u long
time II much 300 500 u day. but did draw
altogether over S2. 800 to SO UU -
Anything do to help the bank In recovering all
they will do and only be too glad 70 do. tho bank
will only guarantee to let have nothing to give
them aud had prineey fortune would give II all to
nishment In this matter and lot what do
my part help matters. III the bank ~
the lottery they must work cautiously and secretly
until they get hold OF them. will let you know o
let 10 know whore can be communicated with
od bless you dear brother and may you His good
bc able to help AHectionately your brother,
JACK
The following statement was inclosed in the
In