The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-11-17
THIEVING TELLER ARRESTED.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY ACTS WHEN
BANK OFFICIALS DON'T.
~ZoIinhofcr Arraigned for Larceny Of
81 200. but Other Charges WIN Fol-
iow-MadeP Plea OF Guilty. but Changed
H-HOw the savings Bank was Looted.

IOw-Made Plea OF Guilty, but
It-H0w the savings Bank Was Looted.
The confession mnde by George Collin
hofer. a receiving teller in the Williams
burg Savings Bank, that he and the late
Harry T.. Corbett, a paying teller in the
same institution. had stolen about sec, 900
from the bank. was followed yesterday
by the arrest of Z~ollinhofer on a charge Of
grand larceny. Tho failure Of the bank
officers md the two surety companies to
move criminally in tho matter led District
Attorney Clarke TO act on his own RESPONSE
bility. After q consultation with Magls-
trate O'Reilly OF the Leo avenue police
court, Mr.. Clarke went 10 the bank accom-
panied by Police Inspector Druhan and
Roundsman Duffy and saw Gen. Meserole.
h President. in the latter's private room.
1t Is understood that Mr.. Clarke expressed
his indignation at the failure Of the bank
n sureties officials to move criminally
against ~Zollinhofer. Mr.. Clarke had blank
with him. signed by Magis-
trate O'Reilly. which were intended for
certain Of the bank officers, TO compel them
TO go to court and institute proceedings
against the former receiving teller. Mr..
Clarke served ono Of the summonses on
Victor A. Loversen, q clerk. 1t was the
intention OF Mr.. Clarke to induce Gen.
Meserole TO go to court, but the latter
asked 10 be excused.
MIR. Clarke and Inspector Druhan then
went down into the basement Of the bank.
where Z~ollnhofer was helping the &C
countants straighten out the books and the
police Inspector arrested him. Zollinhofer
was arraigned before Magistrate 0'ReiDy
on the specific charge Of stealing 81 900 from
the bank on June IA, 1901. and he pleaded
guilty, but changed II 10 not guilty on Mr..
Clarke's advice. Bail was fixed in 5000
and the hearing set down for Tuesday morn
ing. Zollinhofer had a friend who he
telephone, but was unable to get him.
District Attorney Clarke then told him that IL
he succeedod in raising - 200 bail. he would
at once move to have the amount increased,
as he wanted Zcllinhofer TO stay in jail
until after the hearing on Tuesday. Zol-
linhofer replied that he would ms ke no
further effort TO got a bondsman. He was
taken TO police headquarters and later to
Ray mond street jail.
Concerning how the accused tellers
worked in Collusion Mr.. Clarke said that the
bank has n great many deposltOrs who
cannot read or write and who made de-
posts under their name, but signed the
record with a cross. The receiving teller
wrote their names for them. Both COrbett
and Xollnhofcr had access to these records
and they knew which ~accounts were inactive.
After finding tho account Of IA maj who
had drawn out no money for several ear
COrbctt would make out a draft, signing
the depo-itor's name and making the GUS
tornAry cross. II this way there was no
suspicion regarring the signature upon
the draft. Zolliu hofcr would then cash
the draft and enter il upon the regular
cash cCoun Of the day. il seems hat
both mon also had access TO the semi-an-
nual computation of interest which is re-
corded in the pass books of the depositors.
Having kept account of all the drafts which
they had made they We're able TO compute
the interest in accordance will the amounts
which would have been on deposit to the
creditors II their accounts had not been
tampercd with.
1t was said that Xollinhofcr a few years
ago inherited a legacy Of several thousand
dollars and that IL was all lost in peCula-
ZION. On Tuesday when he is %arrsigned
ia court additional charges. including
probably one of forgery will be made against
him. Gen. Mes-role informed a SUS re-
porter Yesterday THAI Il might be- fully
two or three weeks before the experts have
finished their WORK and the exact amount u
tlc de'alca'iOn mad" knOwn