The sun., 1890-01-26
CASHIER IOUNSBERY DEAD.
THE AMOUNT or THE DEFlLohzToN
NOT YET KNOWN.

George H. Lounsbery, cashier Of the New
! York Post Once, who shot himself at his hom'
at Hhokensack on Friday night, died before
daylight, and Chief Post once Inspector
Wheeler. who had been sent out to arrest him
returned TO this city, leaving Inspectors Harts
horne and Morris at the house. He gave Mr.
Van Cott the hrst news OF Lounsbory's death
! He also reported the refusal OF Justice OF the
| Peace Thomas H. Cummings to issue q search
| warrant to determine whether the missing
money was In the cashiers house OF not. Jus.
tice Cummings refused on two grounds. He
said that the crime was not committed in New
Jersey. and that II the houee was searched
there was no means OF determining that any
money or property found there belonged to the
New York Post 0flce.
Postm aster Van Cott sent Inspector Wheeler
ts see United States Com missioner Muirhead
In Jersey City and get search warrant from
him II possible. Mr.. Muirhead refused to grant
q search warrant, saying that tho United states
had no power to issue search warrants only
whero smuggling and offences against the
revenue service were charged.
Then the Postmaster, after conference with
Commissioner Shields and Assistant United
States District Attorney Rose. decided to
abandon the effort to secure q search warrant,
partly in view OF Lounsberys death and partly
In view Of the fact that 1t isLounsbery's bonds
mon and not the United States who are inter-
ested In discovering whore the money IL. A
telegram was at once sent recalling Inspectors
Hartshorne and Morris.
Postmaster Van Cott and his bondsmen arc
interested OF course In seeing that Lounsbery's
bondsmen make good the deficit. Mr.. Van
Cott was expecting the appearance Of Louns-
bery's bondsmen all day yesterday. They are
Theodore p. Huffman, partner Of Louns-
Al. n 10 rUl-
fourth street. John Moonan OF 413 West
Twenty-hrst street, ana Edgar Washbtrne Of
BAT West Thirty.fourth street. They had all
been notified the night before to appear before
tho Postmaster yesterday Mr.. Huffman had
gone on Lounsbery's bond for $20. 000 and the
other two for $4,000 each. Postmaster Van Cott
had sealed up Lounsbery's safe the night
before and announced that he would
not open Il except In the bondsmOp'B
presence, The only one Of the sureties who
day was John Moonan. He is in the feed busi-
ness, and said that he had gone on the bond TO
know Lounsbery personally. Postmaster Van
Cott decided not to open the safe until at least
two out of the three bondsmen arrived; Mr.;
Huffman. He went. but did not return, and so
the 50, o will remain sealed until Monday: Un;;
III II is opened ne amount OF the deholt Will
The The examina'ion Se io'oii Of Lounsberys books was
Grk S Hao
Postsi PC CARDS, and stamped nS enSSiopcs was also
Of maktRg aTay with thoTsands TSI Of dollars rs
not got far enough. whom tho Poslmaster and
his assistants went home. to determine
there WAS any hSse % tag this a
as made at that time, showed no definite re;
sult as to the amount Of short9ge OF when and
Van Colt was certain that the theft was com
mitted recently; oo He says It will not amountt99
Rs sa the Post RS 9s the
searchers and counters still at work. They
will keep at 1t to-day, o.,.,ss
Assistant Postmaster Morgan. and that the
man is dead We cannot take any proceed
lngs against him. 10 there is no particular
Commissioner Shields said that the United
States, being secured BY the Postmasters
with the death Of Lopnsbery. Its attitude
found reason to, bring charges against living
persona Tho whole issue was now personal
on one between the Postmaster and the sureties
Postmaster Van Cott said that he had first
become seriously dissatisfied with Mr.; Louns-
were such that he became convinced that a
change was necessary. and he notified Louns;
have 10 give up his Office on Saturday night.
On Thursday night he changed his mind as to
the date of removal. and told L9unsb berry he
would have to turn the office over the mex day.
The next day Lounspery did not come to the
office. The rest Of the story was told in yes;
what the books have disclosed until the safe
shall be opened and the final results reached.
n spm 81
Co. The firm are said to own their premises
in West Thrty-fourth street which are val
There was II thicd partner when the tlrm start
ed seven or eight years ag9mC9aT'e eS f. James
he subsequently dropped out Mr.. Huffman
said. at his house In Roseville last night hat
he did not get Postmaster Van, Colts notice
house not to hls ONCE. He was prepared
to make good his share OF Lounsbery's de-
ings in Vest Thirty-iourth street, occupied
by his business, and his creditors had prom
ised to be 10 onent i as to his other obligations.
bery's estate would come TO ut least $4,000.
aud would at least in part recoup the bonds
feed firm was worth he did not care to tell.
Loupsbery put in few thousand dollars when
business & was DsfHn sna 0hy ba Taea the
Mr.. Huffman has no idea what Lounsbery
that Lounsbery's failure to succeed Mr.. Pear
son as Postmaster affected his mind. MIR.
him that LouneD Dery had recently invested
$4,000 in Cough Osborn's umbrella business |
VI 3J2 broadway.
There were many reports afioat yesterday as
10 Lounsbery's habits around town. That he |
drank hard Is admitted, but those who have |
frequently seen him under the Influence OF |
liqnor say that he never got really drunk or |
lost control OF himself
Thomas L. James, who appointed Louns-
berry clerk In the Post Office, expressed him
self as ustOnished and shocked at the defalca-
tion and suicide. He said he had known the
young mans father for many years intimately
as Harbor Master and Port Warden OF this
port, and had known George since lie was
boy. He had faith IN the young man when he
appointed him q clerk. aud in this faith he felt
himself justified by the energy and fidelity he
ltterward showed in his work. From the reg
stry department he WAS transferred to the
cashiers department as clerk. and in 1875
he was made assistant cashier as
reward for faithful service and good conduct.
He was still In this place when MIR. James left
The POSTMASTER shin. Mr.. James said he had
heard that MIR. Lounsberry had been drinking
ately but he unders ood that ho had taken
liquor to get rel lief from nervous disorders at
endaDt upon rheumatism. from which he was
. great sufferer. Mr.. James expressed the
opinion that the money must have been taken
t+fth In fauy Ia Nh nf AatI