New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-22
iFORGERIES OFT REPEATED.
TIFFANY & co. WERE TIE VICTIMS.
THE CONFIDENCE RErOsED BY THE FIRM IN
JAMES \. PALMER GIVES OPPORTUNITY
FOR TILE LARCENY OF $4,000.

JAMES 4. PALMER GIVES OPPOEICNllA
FOR TILE LARCENY OF $4,000
Among the prisoners at Pclicc Headquarters on
Wednesday afternoon was James 4 Palmer charged
with the larceny Of upwards of $4,000 by means
Of fraudulent bills and forged Endorsements, from
the great iewclry firm of Tiffany * Co, with
whom Palmer and his father had traded for nearly
fifty years. Palmer who j. thrty-one years
old, and lived with his wife at No. 230 East tft-
eth ST., has for many years had sole charge OF thc
bronze redesal and chandelier manufactOrv founded
by Ills father, James +. Palmer For more thah
forty years the senior Pllmcr carried on business
in University Place, between Eleventh and
Twclfih-sts and, when Tiifanvs had their
store at No. $40 Broadway, made nearly all
the bronze or brass pedeslals and chande-
crs used by them in their business.
With the general advance uptown Palmer shifted
his headquarters TO No. l3 East Sevcntccnthst.,
his factory being at No. 32G Fast Twenty-siNth-st.
James A. Palmer became confidential clerk to his
father and aftcrward took charge of the business
The elder Palmer diod in 1873, and since that
time his son has carried on the business under
the firm name of " James F. Palmers Son" From
his boyhood he had been well known to the mem
hers Of the Tiffany firm and by reason of his
fathers and his own long business connection with
the house. enjoyed freedom not accorded to
other dealers.
Through the confidence rrpcscd in him by the
firm, he was able to carry out his scheme Of
fraad The rule Of the house has always been
that every bill sent in by traders shall be checked
by The head Of the department to which the goods
were consigned. The department head, after en-
amining tie bill. indorseS il with his initials.
The bill is then countcngncI by of the firm
on behalf Of the Board Of Directors. and this duty
was generally performed by G. T. Cook. Checks
in payment of bills were sent bY mail. This rule,
ricdy adhered 10 throughout the history of the
house. had but one exception. That exception
WIS James a. Palmer. OF all the thousands of
tradcSnrn doing business with the firm, he alone
enjoyed the privilege Of pres nting his account
direct TO the c1-hicr and receiving payment. The
custom had begun with tie father and WIS con-
tinued with the son.
One day about five years ago, Palmer WHO had
begun drinking and had lost heavily on the races,
found that the pay day Of his men was at
hand and that he had 20 money with which -
pay them Then il occurred 10 him that II would
bc easy to present bogus account 10 the cashier.
and. with tho aid OF littlc forgery collect the
money. lie prepared a bill for $500. affixed to
il the initials Of II. T.. Ward head Of the chan
dclier and bronze pedestal department. and Of Mr.
Cook. and handed it Ia the cashier. The scheme
worked 10 perfection. Then he adopted II fire.
qucnflv. ueing the money he earned cgi,lmatcly
on the rncc-track and drawing on Tiffany ~ Go.
whenever he found that h. ran short Of cash.
n, always chose Saturday morning for his
opcra,ions. cntrcaring payment Of the morcy on
tic plea that he must pay the wages of ms men
One dav abon, thrce weeks aco. Mr.. Cook called
nj
bv tho hand said kindly Palmer ! am sorry
90 sce TINT YOU are doing 81 littlc business with
H. Your father had large trade with the house
and we should like ~ bc able to say the same
thing ~ his son
Palmer thanked Mr. Cook and promised 10 do his
bc,, In all prohabity.thc fraud which is i've Nears
had mounted beyond the $4,000 mark, and would
not have been discovered, bat for one Of VIZ.
ralmcr's little convivial indiscreions Cn last
Saturday morning be prepared bill a. usual t'
ptcscnt 1T Iinany's lie mad passed through a
pariicuhrly lively Friday night. and hi hand
shook and trrmlcd os hc put pen - PAPER. lie
completed his work 10y making the figure S2"p
and so add mp S24O. The iuitAls H. +. W and
e. r &. he dashed of boldly. He WIS used 10
them from long years Of practice. According 10
rule he walked up 10 tire cashiers desk ana
handed IN the bill.
% GREAT was The coslirr's conf cncc in Nr.
Palmer that he did not notice that So" VIII
not make $40. hut paid over the money 1t wa
not until after Palmer had left the store that the
cashier noticed that the name OF the retail
cl.tomcr-a woman-io whom lamps and bronZ'>
were to he consigned. WAS llleeihl'. The cashier
called Mr. Ward and asked him to read the name.
That is not NY Endorsement, sail Mr. Ward.
never checked this bill. The INITIALS are
fOrgcrcs
The bill was M one shown 10 Mr. Cook. who
promptly pronounced the signature of his initials
a forgery II was then remembered that on
April > Palmer had handed IN similar hill Tor
$40. This bill was uacnrtled and again Nr
Ward and Mr. Cook declared that me lndorSe-
ncnls were NOT genuine. On Tuesday morning
the case wac laid before Chief Inspector Steers
who detailed Dctectiyc-ScrgcantS Titus and Mur-
phS on IN case. Early in that afternoon Murphy
went 10 Pnlmers office in East Scvcntcenth-st., and
was told that Palmer had gone ont of the city
and would not be back for day or two. In tho
character Of customer Murphy BEGAN to examine
the stock
81 have q mortgage on three fiat houses and
must forcclosc on them at once if am to realize
any money on them he said 10 the young man
in charge Now those Hat houses are nearly
finished and shall want 200 chandeliers for
them. Would il be possible for Mr. Palmer To
meet me here at his own conyenience-say to-
morrow ?'
:" can have him here tomorrow AT , o'clock,
promptly replied the young man, delighted 10
land so good a customer "lon won't I'iI TO
call" -
oh no. said Murphy, " won't fail to call
On "Wednesday afternoon Murphy went 10 Palm
crs store and found the man he wanted leaning
unstcadily against desk. and waiting for HIM
Will YOU take Il walk with me to Police Head
quarters said Murphy Inspector Steers would
like 10 talk 10 YOU
Palmer turned as white rs a corpse, and stared
stupidly at Murphy for moment without speak
ing Am arrested he broke forth at length.
" Yes" answered Murphy. Then ! wish had
shot myself groaEcd Palmer. lie was taken to
Police Headquarters, and there Inspector Steers
pavc n full description of the fraud from the date
of ia, inception. Yesterday morning he was taken
10 Jefferson Market Police Court and rcmanded
for further examination charge OF forgery and
grand larceny.
TROTBLES OF SCHWEIEWRTH, THE CHRIST
ChIcngo April II special George Jacob schwcin-
H.. :.