The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-17

mere About the MAJ Arrested IT the uoGn-an
HOUSE en- Tuesday.

hAouhe % Eueeunys
Claude 8. Harrington, who lives at 211 West
121st street. visited tho Criminal Court build
ng yesterday and going to the Office OF the chief
clerk OF the General Sessions asked permission
to look over tho papers In two cases in which
no had been indicted for grand larceny. Far
rington at ono time was superintendent Of the
National Academy Of Design and was indicted
on q charge of being short 1925 In his accounts.
The complaining witness against him was Jo-
seph A. l.. Gardner, auditor OF the academy.
In May, 1897, Harrington in making up his
accounts discovered tho shortage. He had
been overtaxed with work and as soon as he
discovered the shortage he informed Gardner,
saying that he intended to make the amount
good andsexplaining that probably owing to his
loose way Of doing business his accounts had
got tangled up. Gardner Immediately re-
ported the matter to the Treasurer of the acad-
envy and FArrinEton's indictment, followed.
Ho was arrested on juno 3 and confined In the
Tombs until Sept. ls, when he was released on
Gardner remained auditor Of the Academy
OF Design until, Dec. 1, 1897. Harrington al
legged that Gardner was short in his accounts.
This Gardner denied and blamed Harrington,
saying that he was short "a, 269. Harrington
claimed that he was innocent Of all wrongdolng,
and every one, who knew him believed he was
On Jan. 4, 1893, David Mitchell, who was
then an Assistant. District Attorney. made o
motion before Judge McMahon in the Court Of
SAio HSooAbho w holItOo tio
against Harrington. Judge McMahon did 30
after Mr.. Mitchell had Endorsed tho papers as
follows.
In this case the complaining witnoss. the
withdrawal Of the indictments and asked that
the indictments DO dismissed. have looked
into tho evidence. and am satisfied that no
conviction could be had. The only person who
could testify as to the main facts appears to
be q d~efaulter himself and has left the jurisdio-
tion Of this court, and l am satisfied that no
jury, II he could be had, would place any, re-
lance on his testimony. The cratic conduct
Of the defendant for u year or moro previous
to the finding of the indictments conyinces me
that any of tho alleged Irregularities In his
books were the result of mental Irregularities
rather than Of criminal intent. A. lunacy com
mission was appointed to inquire into the sani-
ty of defendant, and although IT. reported that
it, thought the defendant, sane, yet 1t was so
close a case tse that the court upon Its own motion
Harrington said yesterday that there was no
doubt but he was suffering from mental trouble
at the time he made the mistakes accredited to
two men. He had been employed in the Acade-
my from 1890 until 1897. but had no trouble,
he said. until May l of last year, when he de-
manded. that an assistant be appointed to help
him in his work. He resigned because he did
not get an assistant
This matter has ruined me" said Harrington
yesterday. while the indictment papers have
been Endorsed in a manner that yindfcates me,
get employment anywhere. am looked down
upon and snubbed by my old friends, and the
members of my family are greatly annoyed. My
wife is :heartsroken: All this was brought S
night in the Hoffman House on o charge of at
tmpting to steal a clock, but who, / heard. was
released In police court to-day"
Iors Of the Hoffman, HOUSE ON Tuesday evening,
was discharged In the jefferson Market Court
yesterday beeuse Of insufficient evidence.