New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-01
HIS sTEALINGs DETECTED.
A TRUSTED BANK CLERK GONE WRONG.
HENRY REFERS, EMPLOYED BY HENRY BIscHoFF
G. CO.. LOCKED Ur-si. SIS 40 MISSING.

,4rvRy REFERS. EMPLOYED BY HENRY BIsCHoFF
CO., LOCKED Ur-si.52s 40 MISSING
Henry ROBBERS, n trusted clerk employed In the
banking-house Of Henry Bschof q Co, with oihces
in tho STATS Zetung" building was taken to Ludow
Street Jail yesterday morning because he was unaole
10 furnish 81 800 bail in civil action brought against
him by tho for the recovery of 81 52o 40
which he is believed 10 have embezxled. Besides
general banking business, Henry Bischof Co. con-
duct n ticket agency for German steamship lines.
Gebers was chief clerk OF this department and received
all moneys for tickets bought by those about 10 take
Passage iu one Of these steamers lie had been con
nccted with the banking firm for seven years. ana lad
always, until within year, been held 10 tpe mgh'st
esteem not only as clerk, but for his pleasing quail
tiles as a
About one year ago the regular halfyearly over
hauling Of the books and balancing OF all the accounts
was undertaken In every department of the business
and the heads Of each department submitted ther e
ports to Mr.. Bschof and his partner 1t was then
thg shortage Of 81 300 discovered In the passage
denartment over which Rebers presided Rebers's at
tcnton was called to tbe discrepancy, but he said 1t
was An error made In entering the account and that he
would examine the books himself aud straghten IL out
lie seemed little concerned about II that ms expia
ton was At once accepted, aud Mr. Bischof and MS
partner left the matter entirely TO him. feeling fuly
confident that the result would be Just as be said SIM
ply an error Of entry.
So great was the confidence reposed in REFERS that
nothing further vas said TO him about the matter until
short time ago. The chief bookeeeper however, ex-
amnd the accounts OF HIS department. but was unable
b find any error and the missing 81 600 wac s un-
accounted for
About ten days ago the halfyearly balancing Of &C
commits was again undertaken, and to assist Rebers in
the additional work which this necessitaed an extra
bookkeeper was employed. The new clerk was In
sructed to take the books and over all accounts for
year back. This would take In the entry which
REFERS said was an error. There were few errors
found all of which were in Rebers's favor. The old
discrepancy was however. not entirely cleared al
though tho original 81 300 deficit had beer redsced in
amount by the few errors discovered An expert book
keeper was then employed and he found deficit in
Rebers's accounts of sI5os 40 This reported to
the firm and Rebers was called upon to explain.
He again said it was an error, but the expert book
keeper positively declared that there was no error
Then the investigation longer confined to the
examining of the books but embraced every detail OF
ReberSs department The investigators had not long
been at work when they discovered that REFERS was
short of two tickets TO Europe. lie was again asked
to explain, and he said the tickets had been sent 20
Herman oelrchs s. Co. the agents for the North Ger
man Lloyd Steamship Line. in Bowling Green. "1hs
explanation said Henry BiSchof "wOud have been
satisfactory under ordinary circumstances but as things
were looking bad for Rebers took it upon myself to
go down TO the steamship company's ONCE ana nhd
out the truth for myself When l reached the Office
hN"A"'~
was known about them, and that no tickets had been
received from Rebers
at not infroauently happens that ticket Is held
for a passenger a certain steamer BY the payment
of a deposit thus leaving balance stu due on tho
ticket. This is smply accommodation which we
extend TO some people who want to hold berth on
certain steamer This was the case with these two
tickets There balance due on one ticket OF
$50 and S26 on tho other l had heard complaints
OF looseness on the part Of Rebers but found IT so
hard to realize that he not strictly honest that
] clung TO the hope that it only an unfortunate
mistake, which would In time be cleared up. am
forced 10 believe the stories against him which
had been told TO me. l telephOned 10 the bank for
Rebers 10 come down 10 Herman Oelrichs IL Co.'S
Office He answered me that he would come tmmedi-
ately. He put bis hat and LEFT the bank. That
was the last we saw OF him until he was arrested
and lodged in jail We have brought a civil, not
crimina} suit against him. lie has a wife and two
little children, and belongs 10 line family In Ger
many"
Mr.. Bischoff deeply affected by Rebers's dis;
honesty and said that while he felt obliged TO take
action against him. yet he would much prefer to
forgive him ROBBERS has no property. He lives at
No. SIT PCrk ave-