Evening journal., 1896-01-30
AN EXPERT IN FORGERY
With Figures Brings a
Clerk TO Grief.
HE FORCES CHECKS FOE $4,000

lie WAS a Clever Manipulation OF Accounts,
but Ills Misdeods Were Finally Discov-
cred-He Also Operated In Cash-Other
Boston Crooks.
BosTON, jan. 3O.-Harry NJ Fowie.
hitherto valued and trusted emp oyec
of the shepard & Morse Lumber Co.,
was placed under arrest by the bank
squad and it Is expected the charges OF
forgery and emhezzlcmont preferred
against him will aggregate $50, 600, the
figures given out being Si76l3.77. fowle
Is pronounced by the expert officers at pO-
lice Headquarters as one OF the most clever
manipulators OF figures brought TO their
attention for long time. For years no
has lived in luxury, but It appears that
his first downward steps were taken in
October. Sg3
Fowle's misdeeds came to light all at
once. He has beon q successful real estate
speculator, and methodical one as well.
The key To his ombc.zlements and for
geries was found in his pocket whom taken
from his desk In tho firms Office and
placed under arrest.
On his person was found $50 in cash.
loaded revolver and two. envelopes, on ono
Of which he had written; Private mem-
orandum Harry NJ. Fowle. To be burned
unopened in case OF death This led
Chief Watts to believe that Fowlo would
have shot himself when arrested had ho
had the opportunity or inclination.
In tho envelopes were found detailed
list of checks and cash which he had taken
from unsusplcious employers The total
amount was S47,6l3.77. Here IS his
monthly statements: June, 1891, 81, 369
~; August 1894 S1,2sS 81; November,
1894, 81, 395. 81; December. 1894. and Jan
uary, 1885, 80, l7172; February, 1895,
Sl,043.64; March, 1895, s2.3li.O1; May.
1895, 81, 702.77; june, 1885, -, i37. SS;
July, 1896, 81 329.26; August. 1895,
SO, 0OASS; September, 1895, s. 5S6.72; Oc-
tober 1895, s., 524 SO; November, 1895,
81, 093 l6; December, 1895, 3d. 09O.TO.
Cash Also Taken.
The cash sums which he embozzled
varied from 800 to $500 per month, or
about $1,000 In all. This will be dead
loss to the company, while, ON the other
hand, the banks will lose the greater part
of the forged amounts. These banks are
located all over the country and there are
so many OF them that no one will sustain
heavy loss.
As ledger clerk for the firm he handled
checks IN large numbers and, In the alb
sence Of the cashier, tho cash receipts,
which, as a rule were paid In checks on
banks. He was shrewd enough to credit
customers on the ledger, although checks
did not appear ON the cashbooks. Fowle
is also credited with forgeries by stamping
checks with the companys stamp and
forging H. B. Shepard's signature. Fowlo
NJ ha
Trust company, depositing his checks
there, some checks needing Endorsements
being cashed through other banks An
indorsed check presented at a hank where
the firm had no account led to inquiries.
He is married and has one child. As
far as known he had no bad habits, but
lived better than his ST. 900 salary would
allow Fowle was very cool for awhile,
but finally confessed.
Five Crooks Arrested.
Chief Inspector Watts, with four officers,
arrested five professional crooks two with
burglars kits, and all armed with 30 cali
Der revolvers. The arrest Is the most inn
portant made for months by the police de-
partment.
Several days ago Chief Watts learned
from New York that these men had started
for Boston, and located them. Henry J.
Kelly, alias Eddie Kelly, aged 81, and
George W. Townsend, aged 2s, Were cap
turod after livoly tussle with the officers,
and Jack Arthur. alias Henry 3. Lowry,
and William Gray, alias George Perry,
were captured while sleeping in a south
end house All drew their revolvers, but
were disarmed and oyorpowercd. Kelly
and Townsend, when arrested, wero ovi-
IDENTIFY prospecting for a chance TO crack a
safe in a Bowker street business Office.