New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-19
SAYS HE STOLE FOR LOVE.
HARRY P. BROCKLEsBY CONFEssEs TO
EMBEZZLEMENT

HE WAS CASHIER OF THE WILLIAMSBURG CORK
WORKS. AND HIS WIFE COMMITTED SUICIDE
on TUESDAY LAST. WHEN THE INvEs-
TrGAT1ON OF HIS BOOKS BEGAN
Harry Pearson Brockesoy. office manager and
cashier of the Williamsburg Cork Works at No.
2ls Plynouth-st Brooklyn. arrested for EN-
bezzlement yesterday morning "A warrant issued
by Judge Van Wyck. Mrs Ada Pearson Brockles-
by his wife committed sui tide last Tuesday morn
ing at their home. No. 1855 Ceveand-st.. Brooklyn.
by drinking carbolic acid. The circumstances sur
rounding the case made 1t .trongy probable that
1t was the discovery OF his crime that impeled her
TO take her life. Brocklesby's confession that he
had robbed the company to the extent OF $500 pre-
ceded his arrest
Brocklesby is thrty-six years old English
man. a graduate OF oxford University An excellent
musician and man OF polished manners. Mrs.
Brocklesby was thrty-four wears old. communi-
cant OF Trinity Episcopal church and member
OF the Fortnlghtly Club.
Brocklesby came TO this country Ave years ago
year later he received em2 )yment as bookkeeper
for the Williamsburg Cork Works. which was then
situated In Lorimer-st. II absorbed by the
Armstrong Cork Company Uhe Cork TRUST. and
recently moved to Plymouth-st. Being efficient
Office man. Rrocklesby promoted 20 more re-
sponsible positions and. leasing the handsome VIA
in Cloveland-st from its architect and owner Will
lam DanmaI. he brought his wife and four children
from England three years ago.
Several weeks ago the general manager ana
treasurer Of the company suspected that there was
something wrong. and in quiet way an investiaa-
ton OF the books made which proved that
Rrocklesby had made many false movements. ON
Monday morning when he went TO work. the gem
cral manager called him into his office and taxed
him with a shortage.
Thank God it's all overt Brocklesby is quoted
as saying. i've been expecting II for month
When an agent Of the surety company. which had
furnished a 5000 bond for Brocklesby's good be-
havior as cashier visited him. he is reported TO
have said:
II did this for my wife and would do 1t again.
because | loved her"
ON the next day Tuesday Mrs. Brockesby COM
mitted suicide. Through the friendship Of the
general manager the arrest delayed until after
the funeral which was held on Thursday. Inc
arrest made by Deputy Sheriff Jesse Moore
when the cashier reached his office. yesterday
afternoon. His request not to be handcufed was
complied with. and he was taken at once to Ray
mond Street Jail There he declined to talk to re-
porters He sent note to man named Fair
banks asking him to look after the four children.
These were distributed among the neghbors last
night They are Muriel. fourteen; Charles. twelve:
Grace nine and Godfrey. Ave years old.
The Rrocklesbys lived in a more stylish manner
than his salary which said TO be 10 week.
would Justify. There is reason for believing that
he deceived his wife as TO the size OF his income
According TO MS n"!gnbors ne WAS iona OF NE
home and had no expensive Vices.
Mrs. Brockesby had been In poor health FOR some
time previous TO her death \ week ago her hus-
band bough; tickets for herself and two OF the
children for the steamship St Louis. OF tho Amer
lean Line. The ship sailed Wednesday. At
o'clock the day before Mrs Brocklesby sent Murie
to the drug store TO get some carbOc acid, with
which to spray the child's throat. she had been
suffering from the grip.
After pouring out some FOR the girl Mrs
Brocklesby said she. needed a gargle and went
upstairs with the bottle. short time after she
found In great agony. and died two hours after
the physicians arrived
Brocklesby said yesterday that his wife knew
nothing Of his crime bui the fact that her melan-
choa came upon her about the tim" that the In
vestigation Of her husbands books began. and that
she took her lifc the day after ne accused OF
theft would indicate differently. Il was said AZ
first that the cause OF her suicide was Worry over
her mothers Illness. As matter OF fact, her
mother not III.