New-York tribune., 1903-10-03
SAY SHE STOLE $4,000.
ARREST'ED IN FIFTH-AVE.
Former Pirate Secretary Of Z. s.
Playing Card Co. Locked Up.

Mrs Marie Layton Johnson twenty-nne
years old, OF Larchmont, was arrested last night
on a warrant issued by Magistrate Pool charg-
ing her with the grand larceny Of s., 900. The
total amount of her defalCatiOns may, il is said,
amount 10 $4,000. The woman is the wife OF
DR.. Albert NJ. Johnson. a dentist who has Offices
at No 463 Fifth-ave. She was walking with
him in Fifth-ave. when arrested by Detective
Sergeants Carey and Morris, of Inspector Nc
Cluskys staff.
The conplainants IN the case are officers of
the United States Playing Card Company with
home offices in Cincinnati and a branch at No.
$50 Broadway The officers are John Omwake
president; R. H. McCutcheon. secretary and
treasurer and manager Of the New York branch
and r. J. Morgan, manager Of the Cincinnati
office
Mrs Johnson, whose maiden name Marie
Layton, bookkeper in the New-York office.
and in addition acted as private secretary to
Mr.. McCutcheon. She was married TO DR.. john
son in 1901, but did not give up her place after
the marriage. In April of this year discrepan-
cies are said TO have been discovered in her ac-
counts. according to the story given out by
Inspector McCIusky, and an examination is retd
TO nave disclosed a shortage OF $4,000 between
January and April -, or at the rate of about
$4,000 month This shortage was in the ac-
counts of the New-York office
The womans method is said to have been as
follows: The accounts of the concern were kept
in the Hanover National Bank, there being
New-York and a Cincinnati account there. Gin
cinnati would send bill of goods to New-York
which would be sold for $1,000 and that amount
would be placed to the credit of the Cincinnati
account. Mrs. Johnson, it IS alleged, would
charge the New-York office account with 5000
taking the difference herself. To make the ac-
counts balance, she would then raise a small
bill of goods shipped from Cincinnati from, say
50 TO $1,000.
Mrs johnson was discharged from the employ
Of the company In April, when, Inspector Nc
Clusky says, she admitted defacatons OF
S1OJ0O. It was thought at that time that her
husband. DR.. Johnson, who has a lucrative prac
tice, would make up the loss. but this was not
done. Later further Investigations were made
into both the New-York and Cincinnati ac-
counts. with the result that it is said. the de-
falcations now amount to $33,O00 with posi-
bnity that they may reach $4,000.
The detectives went TO Larchmont Thursday
night 10 arrest Mrs. Johnson. but they found
the Johnson home locked up, and from neigh
bors it was learned that all the furniture had
ben packed, apparently ready for removal.
Failing to find her there. the detectives watched
Dr. Johnsons office in Fifth-ave yesterday, and
were rewarded in the evening by seeing her
was followed to Forty-frst-st., where the arrest
was made. At first Mrs. Johnson denied her
identity but the officers of the United States
Playing Card Company were with the detectives,
and on their identification she was taken to Po-
lice Headquarters under arrest. From Headquar-
ters Mrs johnson was taken to the Mercer-st.
station, where there is matron.
After having seen his wife locked up. Or.
Johnson went home. He refused TO say any
thing about the case, nod would any of the
officers of the card company talk. 1t is said
that Mrs Johnson had speculated in Wall
Street and had lost considerable money there.
DR.. and Mrs johnson have lived at Larch-
mont Manor since last May They have been
occupying the Cook cottage in Linden-st..
the fountain and not far from the fashionable
ST Johns Church. The cottage is a twelve
room structure. 1t is ordinary one for the
manor Three o. four servants were kept.
While the Johnsons have moved in good
cietv there. they have not taken any especially
prominent part. The rumor of the arrest,
which reached there last night was a great
surprise.