The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-07-28
SIX YEARSN JAIL FOR DEBT.
IT VAS EISHEL'S GWN CHOICE. TO
AVOID JAIL FOR lELONY.

ue Had Robbed Ills Firm and Con6e ssea.
md Was De,a,ned as n Witness Against
the Banks His Forgery Had Deceived.
Frederick Fishcl has been prisoner In Lud-
low street Jail on civil proccedngs since
August. 1885. while two Indictments charging
forgery have been pending since Nov. IL Of the
same year. He pleaded guilty to tho indict-
ments before Recorder Smyth yesterday, and
was iemauded until Friday for sentence Dis
trict Attorney Nicoll. with tho consent OF the
Wet ms OF tho forgeries Will ask TO have sen.
tence suspended and the prisoner discharged.
Fishel for threo years prior to Aug. 10 1885.
was bookkeeper In the employ OF August Bern
helm IL Bauer. Wholesale clothiers at sic
broadway. He stole several checks given to
him to mall aud by forging the endorsements
got them cashed. Joseph $. Klotz. described
as the general credit man OF tho firm. drew
checks under power OF attorney On May az.
1885, he gave Fishel u check ON the Importers
and Traders Bank for t2,G5O in favor OF A.
Jacobs. Fishel forged the endorsement and
lost the money gambling ut Long Branch. On
a check drawn by Klotz on tho Fourth Ma
tiona Bank on Aug. 10, 1885. to T. j. Davis for
sl,4SG55. Fishel made the body and endorse.
mont OF tho check read +. ]. Davis, and cashed
i in raylnen, Of hoard bill at the West End
Wien his forgeries, were. discovered and
he was arrested Fishel sent for his employers
Tho list. OF the checEs he hal misappropriated
and Vi the uses u which he had put The money
was: $2lOO. s2.G50. 81 $50. S2.6U5. paid To- gam.
b.ers S2.6iOlu 81, ilAai, Sl.S72. 81 deposited in
Long Branch The firm found that ils losses
aggregated s4O.uiu. and made the Fourth Ma.
tional flank the Importers aud Trnders. and
four other banks co.deiendants with Fishel in
suits in the supreme Court iur recovery OF tho
money. fishei confessed judgment whenever
called upon. ana helped In every way IN his
power to ST aighten cut the mess INTO which
he had got the books OF August Bernheim Il
was not called upon to nlead.
detained in custody on orders OF arrest in civil
proceedings. Judge MARITIME was District
ATTORNEY when FisEel was indicted. aud he
must. Mr.. Nicoll says. have consented TO the
completion OF the civil suits before calling ON
the prisoner to plead to the criminal indict.
mcnts. Fishel could. Of course. have demanded
n trial at any time. but lie would not have
gained anything as with so mnny orders OF
arrest against him and two indictments pend:
ing 1t WINS only n question whether he should
bs detained as a civil prisoner or IN tn" -rimi-
nal charges. Tho civil suits are In II fair way
OF settlement. Fishel hns rendered Q hcient
nearly six years OF imprsonment.
recorder Smyth said to u sun reporter that
since he had read Dickpnss Little Durrit" h9
had never hoard OF a man Icing detained
nearly six years actually n prisoner for debt.
lie wanted itdiSlinctly und"rsiOo,i that neither
the District Attorneys Office nor the Court
was responsible. The Recorder admitted that
the proceedings were perfectly legal aud that
this might occur at any time under tho law.