The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-20
CHENEY'S STOLEN SECURITIES
THE OWNER SAYS THAT THEY
AMOUNTED TO S2SJ,O0O.

Taken FROM lin box IN Nioset w bs
Home Near Bosten--Oniy $1,000
We're Nssotiabie-Expects 10 Recover
Them without the Aid Of tho Police.
BosroS, Feb. 1s.--The report telegraphed
TO THE SUN hte last night naming Herman
N Cheney OF Southbndge an the man who
had either lost or had stolen from him
t25s 900 In securities was verified to-day
by Mr.. Cheney ut his home. Mr.. Cheney
says that his loss Ia s7a5 600 instead OF the
first named sum. Only about $4,000 OF
the fecurities are easily" negotiable, Mr..
Cheney says.
There were persistent rumors in this city
last night that Mr.. Cheney had called upon
a well known law firm In Boston to under
take TO recover the papers. but it was not
until very late thai the reporters were able
to ascertain 10 a certainty that their infor-
nation was correct The loser hopes to
recover the documents and says he does
not suspect any one in bis house Of being
the thief.
Mr.. Cheney made this statement to-day:
1T IL true that have either mislaid or
there has been stolen from me tin box
containing bonds stocks. notes and mort
cages amounting to sass 900. The box
containing the securities was In a closet at
my home on Jan. II. but few days later
when visited the closet the box was gone.
Il brought the box from my safe deposit
vault in Boston to my home here in order to
go overthe securities and make an inventory.
as is my annual custom. In the box was
about $4,000 In unregistered bonds and
notes which might readily be used by any
one who had them in his possession, but the
securities included no other easily negotiable
paper.
Upon discovering the loss / consulted
my attorneys in Boston. MACPHERSON.
Hyde & Damon, and we decided TO engage
a force OF private detectives with view
to recovering the property without I'M
necessary publicity. The detectives have
worked on the case without any result and
as some of the notes we're coming due
permitted the fact Of the loss to become
known. / still, however, hoped to avoid
personal publicity.
AS my connection with the loss has be-
come known / see no reason for withhold
ing any Of the facts which may lead TO the
recovery of the property. Up TO the pres
ent time the local authorities have not been
consulted by me, az my lawyers and myself
still believe that we may be able TO secure
all the property without legal proceedings
/ will add that no one having access to
my house Is under suspicion
The list OF bonds, notes and mort cages
which are missing as given out il:
A prorissory note signed @. Henry Whit
comb 10 his own order and indorsed In
blank. IS. 900. due on Feb. 81, payable at the
offios Of the American Loan and Trust
Company; note on the Shaw Stocking
Company for 5000, due on May 20, pay
able at the Office OF the American Loan
and Trust Company; note OF the Wachu-
sett Shirt Company for 5000, due on May
IL. payable at the Wachusett National
Bank, Fitchburg
Bonds-Keene Electric Railway Com
pany. Nos i2l to 40 inclusive. $500 each,
SIC, 900; Office 4o7 John Hancock Building,
Boston. coupons payable at International
Trust Company. Boston: bonds Of Norcross
Properties. incorporated, Worcester. Nos.
591-2-3. 81 600 each; Noroross Properties,
Incorporated. Worcester. Nos. 404-5-6-7-S,
81, 600 each; a paper for $4,000; American
Writing Payer bonds, numbers unknown,
worth $4,000.
G. Henry Whitcomb, whose note for IS, 900
is included in the list OF missing securities,
il the former envelope manufacturer OF
Worcester. He and his wife left Worces-
ter on Friday on a trip 10 Seattle, Wash,
The note is said to have been taken up last
Wednesday because OF Mr.. Whitcomb' s
intended departure. Harry Whitcomb,
son Of C. Henry Whitcomb and manager
of the Whitoomb Division Of the United
States Envelope Company, says he docs
not know Just how his fathers note with
the Boston bank was taken UP, but thought
that a check was mailed from this city.
The Wachusett National Bank at Fitch
burg has been notified Of the theft Of note
of 5000, signed by the Wachusett Shirt
Company Of Leomlnster. and asked to stop
payment.
Mr. Cheney is a son OF the founder OF the
American Optical Works and was until a
year ago the third largest stakeholder in
the concern. He is said TO have sold his
holdings about year ago and since has
devoted his attention 10 dealing in stocks,
bonds and mortgages. His wife's father
is A. L. Claflin cashier OF the National Bank
at Southbndge.
TRAILED HOLD-UP GANG G MILES,