New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-07
A DEFALCATION IN WALL-ST.
PLOT AGAINST A BANKING-HoUSE.
ONE OF DIX a. PuYFE's CLERKS UNDER ARREST
AND ANOTHER HAS FLFD-MoST OF THE
PLUMBER RECOVERED.

PLUMBER RECOVERED.
A dcfacation amounting to about 100000 waf
discovered in Wall-st on Monday but it was kept
from the public until yesterday, when the greater
part of the stolen money was found in the collar
of house in Brooklyn. One of the three men i'm
plicated is locked up at Police Headquarters, and
the other two, who are known to be on steam
ship bound for Copenhagen, doubtless will be
irrested.
Dix & Phyfe, bankers, at No. 40 Wal-st, carry
on an extensive note-brOkerage business. About
a year ago their head bookkeeper, Mr.. Hollings-
head. received a leave of absence account OF
failing health, and he went to Southern California
where he is yet Until Monday his place was
filled by Oscar Creamer, a clever young fellow who
had been in the employ of the firm about six years
Creamer was nineteen years DID, and boarded with
his sister at No. 425 Hicks-st., Brooklyn. His
habits were said 10 be good and he had the
confidence of his employers. On Saturday he was
at his post as usual lie not in the office
on Monday and his absence surprised Mr.. Phyfe'
who made an investigation. Cause for alarm was
discovered Immediately. The cash books had been
mutilated in way that suggested theft. entire
pages having been cut out
Mr. Phyfe looked into the safe and failed to
6nd Chicago, Burlington and Quincy bonds valued
at $4,000 which ought to have been there.
him from knowing how much money hdd peeh
stolen from the safe.
II was ascertained that Creamer had not been at
his sisters house in Brooklyn since Saturday De.
tectiye. e.Serceants Golden and Rogers were sent to
the Hanover Bank, where Dix d Phyfe
had an account and they learned something
of Importance from Mr.. Burnes. the paylng-teller
On March 5, Mr.. Burnes said, young Creamer TOOK
70 the bank check for $4,000, bsarlng the
signature of Dix & Phyfe, and asked for the
money. Mr.. Burnes refused to pay the check. ana
sent word to the firms office that an ldentllca-
ton was needed. William h. Carpenter, VINO
had been bookkeeper in the employ OF INK a
Phyfe for number of years, and was known 10
MIR. Burnes, went to the bank and said that the
check all right.
We'll. l will not nay checks for such large
amount to boy" said Mr.. Burnes. L will
rot nav this check now You so back and
tell the firm so. Say also that l would Ike
TO talk with a member Of tie firm
Creamer and CARPENTER went away. The mes
sace which Mr. Burnes wished 10 send TO the
firm did not reach Mr. Dix or Nr. Phyfe until
the detectives repeated it on Monday. Chief
Inspector Byrnes heard the report about
Carpenter on Monday afternoon, and on Tuesday
he sent for Carpenter, who is thirty-iive years
old, and has lived with his wife at
No 4s4 Lexington-avc., Brooklyn. Carpenter at
first denied that he had certified TO the correct
hess of the check for $1,000 at the Hanover
Bank. Then he was placed under arrest
and locked up at Police Headquarters There
he at length broke down and made confession.
Young Creamer hal talked with him about
March ]. when they heard report that
Mr. Hollingshead might return to his duties in
few weeks Creamer said be had been guilty Of
some irregularities which Mr.. Hollingshead would
be sure TO discover, and he thought it would be
we'll for him TO steal all he could lay his hands
on and escape before Mr. Holingshead returned.
If | could get away with S50,0O0 would be
willing to serve ten years in prison. young
Creamer said, for would be well-of when ! r.
gained my liberty Ferdinand Ward stole a
million, and he will be at liberty TO enjoy it in
few weeks"
Carpenter consented to aid Creamer OH con-
dition that Crcamer would take all the blame and
run away They hoped to get all the money they
needed by filing in blank checks, signed by the
firm, for large amounts. Their failure to get the
check for So, 900 cashcd at the Hanover Bank was
a setback, but young Creamer found a way 10
succeed by taking new partner into the enter
prise.
The third rogue, who had the appearance Of
q shrewd man Of business, was known to Car
penter only as James l.. White, Of Brooklyn.
Creamer introduced White 10 Carpenter, but did
not tell where White lived. A forged letter was
prepared, introducing White ~ the National Park
Bank. With the apparent Endorsement OF Dix 4
Phyfe, White opened account at the bank
early in March, depositng a check for $4,000.
Later he deposited checks for $500 $40,
1857 81 and $9,sjO, all bearing the signature OF
Dix & Phyfe. The checks had been furnished by
Creamer, with Carpenters aid
A letter thanking Dix 81 Phyfe for sending
good customer was sent from the bank but was
intercepted by Creamer.
On April /: White drew against his account
with the National Park Bank and took out 81 900
in cash. The next morning he drew out $4,000.
He and Creamer had made ready 10 escape from
the country together. Crcamer said his own
flight would fix suspicion upon him alone, be
cause he would take all the cash and bonds he
could lay his hands on in the firms safe. lie
thought it would be safer to leave the bulk OF
the stolen money with Carpenter who would re-
main and be free from suspicion White con-
vented 10 that arrangement. Carpenter agreed 10
send part Of the stolen money TO Creamer wneh
the latter reached a safe place in Europe. 1t
was agreed that Creamcr was 20 send letters
addressed TO George b. Taylor at the St George
Hotel in Brooklyn, and Carpenter would get the
letters by registering himself as "1aylcr' in the
hotel
Creamer the last person 10 leave III" Office
of Dix d Phyfc at No. A. Wall-st., on Saturday.
and before he went away, he took the bonds
worth 500 600 and all the cash from the SAFE
The punder was handed 10 Carpenter III Brook
lyn. along with the S2j, 900 which White had
drawn from the National Park Bank. White
and Creamer took out 50 900 each for their posi-
BILE needs, and then parted from Carpenter
The tramp steamship, Oakdale, bound for Copen-
hagen, Denmark, pulled out from the Atlantic
Docks on Saturday evening, but lay of Governors
Island until late on Sunday night, when She sailed