Los Angeles herald., 1905-10-03
CONFESSES He
STOLE s35s,00O
HENRY LEONARD ROBBED THE
NATIONAL CITY BANK
Declares He Took the Securities Just
to Show How Easily the Trick
Could BE Carried
Out
Rv Associated Press.

| NEW YORK, Oct. BY the confess
sion of Henry A. Leonard. a young
clerk in the employ of Halle & Steis-
litz, brokers at 80 Broad street, the
mystery of the robbery on wednesday
last of 1859, 900 worth of securities from
the National City bank was cleared UP
today.
Leonard, who lives with his parents
at $50 East 136th street, was arrested
yesterday and kept in close confne,,
ment while the detectives continued
their search for the missing securities,
every dollar of which was recovered
today.
The prisoner, who is only twenty-tour
wears of age and who has previously
borne the reputation of an industrious
and thoroughly reliable clerk, made the
astounding statement in his confession
that he had planned and carried out
his scheme of forgery and robbery not
from any criminal motive, but solely 10
show by what simple device the elaD-
crate safeguards of New York banks
could be set at naught That this
statement is true is in measure cor
roborated by the facts in the case, ana
is the belief of the young man EN-
ployers, by whom he was highly es-
teemed.
Soon after the theft Leonard mailed
a package containing 100000 in securl-
ties to the residence of Dyer Pearl
senior member of the firm of Pearl &
Co.. by whom they were owned. The
rackage was received by Mr.. Pearl yes
terday Today Leonard's father
turned over to the police the remaining
S5g. 900 in stocks and bonds, which he
said had been found in wardrobe in
his house, where his son had said after
his arrest he had secreted them.
The first clew that led to Leonard's
arrest was obtained when the detectives
traced the rubber stamp maker whom
Leonard had employed to make the
imitation certification stamp used in
the check he presented at the National
City bank. AS a model for the stamp
he gave the maker an old certified
check bearing fragment OF the sig
nature of Halle & Stieglitz and also a
memorandum in his own handwriting,
which was identified by fellow clerks.
Leonard was held in the Tombs po-
lice court in $4,000 bail for further eX-
animation.
on leaving the courtroom on his way
to prison he said in response to
question:
Il did it on a bet"
Theft Carefully Planned
Leonard told the police today that
he conceived the idea of the theft
some three or four months ago and had
been planning during that time to eX-
ecute 1t and show how easy such a
scheme could be practiced on the banks
of New York. On the 26th day of Sep
tenber he said, he found four blank
checks on the Hanover National bank.
That was in the forenoon. Later, In
the same day. he said he was in the
corridor of the National City bank and
among the men waiting in line he saw
a man holding in his hand an envelope
marked 100000 4 IL per cent on the
envelope. He said he heard the loan
clerk tell the messenger that the in
terest was 1-2. then he said the mes
senger departed. Leonard then had
his cue, and went to the Bowery and
there ordered a rubber Certification
stamp, but before doing so he cut out
the certification of an old check from
which the stamp was to be copied.
When he secured the stamp he filled
out the body of the check drawn on
the Hanover National bank. Then he
said he went to Wall street and hailed
passing boy and asked him If he
knew where the National City bank
was. The boy said he did not.
Leonard said he told him: Take
this check to Number 50 Wall street
and hand it to the loan clerk
Leonard then stood opposite the GUS
tom house and saw the boy take the
package and come out with the securi-
ties. Leonard said he took the securi-
ties to his house at $50 East 136th
street and with no delay put them in
wrapper. affixed the necessary stamp
and took it to a mail box in the neigh
borhood of West Ninety-second street
and mailed them to Dyer Pearl of 81
West Seventy third street, who is a
member OF the firm that owned the Sc
curities.