The Washington times., 1901-09-05
TRUSTED EMPLOYE FALLS.
Henry w. Supplee Arrested on the
Charge of Embezzlement.

Accused of MisnpprOprinting Nearl,
$4,000 in Cash and N Railroad
Bond From FfouIke a Co.-Storie'
The peculations of Henry w. Supplee
a confidential and trusted emDloye OF
| Ffoulke az Co., brought about by unsuc-
| cessful speculations in stock, resulted II
his arrest yesterday afternoon on a
charge of embezzlement. The complain
| ants are his employers, who conducted
| an extensive brokerage business in the
| Bond Building. The arrest was effected
| by Detective Hartigan. 1t is alleged that
| Supplee had taken s3.90 in cash. and a
| eco bond of the Fort Worth and Den
yer City Railroad at the market price
worth 81 200, from his employers and con-
verted the proceeds to his own use.
Supplee not only admitted the allega-
ton. but said tina, his pecuations prob
| ably exceed the amount which he is
| charged to have misappropriated. He was
unable to state just what money he had
| taken.
Supple is twenty-five years of age and
a native of Germantown, Pa, whence he
came to Washington several years ago.
| He secured employment with Ffoulke S
Co. as bookkeeper and for some time has
| had charge of their banking business. 1t
was while entrusted with the depositing
| of funds in local banks that the money
was appropriate ted. Little hope is enter
tained for the recovery of the money, but
it is believed that the bond will soon be
in the possession of the police.
The thefts are said to have commenc-
ed about two months ago. although
hot ba had
cessful in speculation on his own account
Although receiving hut si3 a week
from his employers he some time ago
hired locomobile at 500 a month. About
two months ago the tide of fortune set
against him and he saw all that he had
accumulated slipping from his grasp. II
was then that he took the first 500 of the
FIRMS money to margin his account, be-
lieving that the stock market would soon
turn and enable him to replace that
which he had taken and secure a COM
Portable amount for himself.
In all of his transactions he is believed
to have dealt with the local branch of
Haight & Freese at 142S + Street north
west. The firms money having once been
appropriated and lost, he saw nothing to
do, as the market continued to go
against him, but to again resort to the
same methods in hopes of recovering 1t
all. In the meantime he was living in d
handsomely furnished apartment on Fif-
teenth Street near Pennsylvania Avenue
He carried on his peculations without
being suspected, until last week, when it
became necessary for him. on three occa-
sions, to convert to his own use $1,000 of
his employers money. He covered these
thefts adroitly, but in a way that ensured
his eventual discovery. Once when given
1880 to deposit he is said to have de-
posted but $500 of the money, and after
leaving the bank, to have prefixed a unit
to the amount entered in the passbook.
thus making it read $1,000.
During the week il was announced that
the firms of Ffoulke & Co. and Bloomer
& Co. the last named of 1881 + Street,
had effected a consolidation. 1t followed
that all of the accounts would, therefore,
be carefully checked and the business of
affiliation Monday morning under the
name of Bloomer & Ffoulke, with offices
in the F Street building.
Supplee saw that discovery was certain,
as he was unable to replace the money he
had already secured. On Saturday he
took the railroad bond and left the place.
never expecting to return. He made no
use of the bond until Tuesday. when he
That evening 1t was sent to New York to
the main office of the brokers.
In the meantime the accountants in the
employ of Mr.. Ffoulke had discovered the
shortage, and an investigation was be-
gun. SUPPLIES absence at once caused
him to be suspected, and the matter was
reported TO the detectives. Tuesday
afternoon a warrant was secured, and
that evening it was placed in the hands of
Detective Hartigan for service.
The detective was informed that Sup
plee was aware of the fact that the detec-
tive was after him, and that the latter
had remarked to a confidential friend that
i,e had bought pistol and that he would
kill himself rather than undergo the
shame of being placed under arrest. The
detective was accordingly prepared for
this development, and started out In his
hunt for the man. Hartigan was on his
trail all OF Tuesday night, but was un-
able to catch up with him until yesterday
afternoon. about 2:30 O'Clock, when the de-
tective caught sight of him at the corner
of Eighteenth Street and Pennsylvania
Avenue northwest
Why Supplee had remained In the city
and not attempted to effect his escape is
a mystery.
Hartigan recognized his man at once.
and walked quietly along until abreast OF
him. Without warming the detective
seized Supplies hand and had withdrawn
a shining new revolver from his hip pock-
ct before the young man realized the sit
uation- Supplee displayed extreme ner-
vousness as he accompanied the detective
to Police Headquarters. He was soon
closeted with Captain Boardman, Detec-
tive Hartigan. and Horace Ffollke.
He is said to have broken down and
told the entire story of his transaction at
this time. A telegram was at once sent
to the New York police notifying them to
secure the stolen railroad bond An an
swer Is expected this morning, announc-
ing that they have compiled with the re-
quest
Supplee was placed in a patrol wagon
and sent to the stationhouse, where he re-
mained over night. This morning he will
be measured and photographed for the
gallery, and will be arraigned In the Po-
lice Court for preliminary hearing.
In view of his alleged determination TO
end his life precautions were taken to
keep a watch on him during the night.
He is deeply affected by the humiliating
position in which he finds himself and