New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-01-27
ABooKKEEPER's STORY OF FRAUD.
now THE MANUFACTURERS AND MERCHANTS BANK
LOST S3S,45J.

HOW THE MANUFACTURERS AND MERCHAN IS BANK
LOST $3S,455.
The trial of the action of the Manufacturers
ana Merchants Bank against Louis Lvnson, begun he
fore Judge Van Brunt IN The Supreme Court. Circuit
yesterday discloses interesting details of an alleged At
tempt to rob bank of large sums OF money by con-
spiracy between Of it, b0okkcepers and deposition
Levinsou the plant states kept cunt at the bank
In the OF r. Levnson Co.. from October "a, ISIS,
until January H. 1879 when he opened account IN
his II is ayerrei further that about October
"a 1873, when the defendant had deposit with the
plaintiff s241 So the defendant eneredintO secret aud
fraudulent conspiracy with one John T. Haws book
keeper the employ Of the plaintiff knowingly and with
intent cheat ana deiraud the plainiR by means of
fictitious entries and fraudulent articles and devices.
whereby pursuant thereto, the defendant frauducnty
drew out of the plaintiff and without the plaintiffs
knowledge between October "a 1873, and August 27.
1879 the Of $3s,455 over and above all moneys on
deposit with the plaintiff on the account OF the de-
fendant and converted the to his own use." Dam
ages to the amount Of $4,000 were demanded.
The answer OF Mr.. Lcynson merely denied that lie
had an account the bank in tho OF Leyinson
d Co.. or that lac had control over deposits held
under that name. On January IL, 1879 be admitted
that he opeaed an in his name, and there
stil remained on deposit TO his credit Si0O All the
The interest OF the case centred IN lhe testimony Of
the bookkeeper Haws, who was brought from prson 10
were committed. He Is u little, pac-iaced man
about thlrty-fVe years Oh. WIN features ana
manner indicating intelligence and familiar
with business affairs H. told Ills story Ge ibcrate and
with APPARENT condor. The defendant who rs Hebrew
with very dark complexion ana rcpuisye features,
watched the witness very ntenily Tho defendant and
his wife are said 10 have considerable properly.
Mr. Haws said thit he became bOOkGee per IN the Oank
1873 and had charge of tie ledger running from 10
inclusive The stcaimgf rom the bank ran ffom Octo-
Der 24lS7S uaiil August 81 1870 On Ausls, %, when
fe lcarIed that the crime was likely to De dis
covered. no sailed for Europe, LEAVING behind
letter officers OF the bank pub he'd AT the time
iu The TRDUNE) telling Shy BE went ana how ne had
been rob5ing them. No inquiries were made Of he Wit
ness rs TO his wanderinss IN Europe he said that lie
first made the acquaintance OF the defendant, who
nanugcturpr of artificial flowers in Broadway. when
I]syinson came 10 the bank a deposition. lie
Jvusons house and there they talked over he plan OF
stealing the money They began With smdll anouni..
He gave Icyins0n fictitious credit for $500
and paid 1t out small checks. Wien
that was exhausted he gave him credit
for another 500 and so When the nrm o. L..
Layinson e. Co. composed of the defendant and hlR
wffej made an assignment IN January 1870, about
81 500 had paid out IN this 10 LcVnsOr. Then
Ieyinson opened mis- individual account and the boon
keeper gave him fictitious credit on this Tor $1,000
The defendant drew the money but paid most OF II 10
the witness, who told hn h. wanted 70 speculate with
A. He diO speculate aud lost. liz this way about
$4,000 drawn out. The witness dcscribed his
ethods being by fraudulent credits not including
acrua deposits ana by fraudulent extension OF bal
anccs"
Tie examination will he confined this morning. Fos
ter Went worth Foster represent the hank t1Judge
CardOza and Il. 3. NewcOmbe, the defendant.