The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-30
A SMART THIEF.
Causes a Boston rim TO Lose to
ths Extent OF Nearly $780, coo
BY FORGERY AND ENLIGHTENMENT,
Old story Of Trusted Clerk
nd High Living.

6osToS. Jan. 80. = Harry M. Fowlc,
hitherto n valued and trusted clerk for the
Shepard e. Morse Lumber company. was
placed undor arrest yesterday afternoon
by the bank squad, and II is expected the
charges Of forgery and cmbezzlcincnt pre-
ferrcd against him will aggregate $4,000,
the ngurcs given u last night being Si7,-
el3.77
Fowle IL pronounced by the expert off,
cers at police headquarters as one of the
most clever ~manipulators of figures
brought To their attention for "a long
time. For years he has lived In luxury,
but 1t appears hat his first downward
steps were taken in October. 1893.
towlo's misdeeds came to light all mt
once. He has been n successful real estate
SPECTATOR. and u miethodical one as well.
The key To his embezzlcments and for.
geries was found in his pocket when
taken from his desk in the firms Office.
He was placed under arrest.
On his person were found $50 In cash. a
loaded revolver and two envelopes. on one
Of which no had written, Private memo,
Harry M. Fowle. To be burned unopened
In case OF death" This led Chief Watts
To believe that Fowle would have shot
himself when arrested had he la the OPP
portunity or inclination.
In the envelopes was found q detailed
list Of the amounts Of the checks and sums
Of cash which he had taken from his I'M
suspicious employers. The total amount
was s47, 6l3. n. Here Is his monthly state
ments; June. '0+. e2369. II; August, 49,.
el2SS. 81; November, 'O4. $2395 81; Decem-
Der, "a, and January, '05, s2i77 ~; Febru-
airy. '95, Sl0i3.G4 March, '05, s23ll07;
May, '95. s27os.77 June, '95, s2i37.sS;
July. '95. s232) %; August. '95, 1904 IS;
September, '95. S25S6. ~; October, '05,
s2524so November. 90, S2O93. i3; Decem.
Der. '9J. 5000 10.
Banks Must Boar tho Brunt.
The cash sums which he embezzled
varied from $50 TO $500 "A month, or about
$500 in all. This will be a lead loss 20
the company. while on the other hand the
banks will lose the greater portion of tho
forged amounts. These banks are located
all over the country, and there are so
many of them that no one will sustain "a
heavy loss.
Fowie In October. 1873, stole a 800
check, and then So in cash. being hard
pressed for money. His success i'm this in
stance led 10 repeated thefts, then forgcr-
les. As ledger clerk for the firm no
handled checks In large numbers, and in
the absence OF the cashier, the cash re.
ceipts. which. ms n rule. We're paid in
checks on banks. He was shrewd enough
To credit customers on the ledger. al
though checks did not APPEAR on the cash
book. Treasurer Shepard Of the company
examined the accounts and books, but no
errors were found until quito recently.
Fowle Is also credited with forgeries by
stamping checks with the conpany's
stamp aud forging IL. ID. Shepard's sigma
ture.
Fowle opened an account at the Old
Colony Trust company, depositing his
check there. some checks needing indorsc-
meDts being cnshcd through other banks.
An Endorsed check presented at "a bank
where the firm had no account he'd To in.
quiries. His employers knew inc was well
10 do, having come into possession of con-
siderable properly ut the age of 81. Hc
owns a housc'nt Newton Center and Cliff.
ton; carried sl5, O0o life and so, 900 acct.
dent insurance,
Fowie Is married and has one child. As
far as knows he had no bad habits, bnS
lived better than his $1,000 salary would
allow. Tho tell tale check for $685. 81 was
drawn on the Lawrence. National bank,
with the forged Endorsement. Fowle was
very cool for q while, but finally con-
fessed.
The Shepard & Morse company Ia cap
italized for 500, 900, and has. nm equal sur.
plus on hand. II docs u big business and
employs 10 clerks. Details of Fowle's in
vcstments promise to add an interesting
chapter.