Evening star., 1905-10-02
Young Man Held for Big
Forgery in New York.
S350,O00 IN SECURITIES
SECURED BY MEANS OF FORGED
NATIONAL CITY BANK CHECK.
Employers Believe That the Act Was
Not Done Dishonestly-Regard-
ed Trustworthy.

NEW YORK. October 2.-Henry Leonard
twenty-four years old, a clerk for Hall <
Steglitz. brokers, of 80 Broad street con-
fessed today that he is the man who robbed
the National City Bank of $3.50, coo in Sc
curties on Wednesday last. He was ar
rested yesterday and kept in close confine
ment until today. Leonard lives at 5S6
East 136th street. He looks younger than
he really is, and from his general appear
ar-ce never would be suspected of such a
crime as that which he confessed today.
The strangest part of the young mans
story as told to the police was his asser-
ton that he carried through the forgery
and theft just to show how easy 1t would
b. to outwit the safeguards of a New York
bank. After the theft Leonard mailed
100000 of the securities to Dyer Pearl,
senior member of the firm of Pearl & Co,
the owners of the securities. He addressed
the package to Mr.. PEARLS home, where it
was found yesterday. The other securities,
to the value of $4,000. have not been re-
covered.
Leonard was arraigned in the Tombs po-
lice court and held in $4,000 for further
examination. He was not represented by
counsel. As he left the court room he said
to a questioner: II did it on bet"
Leonard told the police today that he con-
ceived the idea of the theft some three or
four months ago, and had been planning
during that time to execute it and show how
easy such a scheme could be practiCed on
the banks of New York. On September 26,
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
man holding in his hand an envelope marked
3'D0oO-i4 per cent on the envelope. He
said he heard the loan clerk tell the mes
senger that the interest was AZ per cent
and not 4H. Then, he said, the messenger
departed.
Young Forger's Methods
Leonard then had his cue and went to the
Bowery and there ordered rubber certif-
cation stamp, but before doing so he cut out
the certiflctaion of an old check, from which
the stamp was TO be copied After he Sc
cured 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 to
him: Take this check TO No. 81 Wall street
and hand it to the loan clerk" Leonard
meanwhile stood opposite the customs
house and saw the boy take the package
and come out with the securities. Leonard
said he took the securities to his house at
$50 East 136th street, and with no delay
put them in a wrapper, affixed the necessary
stamp and took them to maiI-boX in the
neighborhood of West 92d street and mailed
them to Dyer Pearl of "a West T3d street
who is a member of the firm that owned
the securities.
There were, however, only 10000 worth
of securities in the package, which We're re-
ceived safely the next day by Mr.. Pearl
There were $59, 900 worth of securities miss
ing, and Leonard explained that by saying
that to have enclosed them all in a package
by mail would have made the package too
bulky, and he therefore kept them out and
mailed only 100000 worth. In this con-
nection it was noted by the police that only
negotiable
Employers Statement.
August Stieglitz of the brokerage firm
that employed Leonard, made the follow
ing statement concerning him:
Henry Leonard or Harry Leonard as he
was known in our Office, has been In our
employ three or four years. He Is twenty
TO twenty-three years old. He has always
behaved well and we always regarded him
as thoroughly honest and trustworthy L
believe ii will be found that this thing was
not done dishonesty. but rather that the
young man wanted TO show how easy il
was to perform such a trick"
Mr.. Stieglitz declined to say more. From
other quarters, however, it was learned
loan department of Halle & Stieglitz, who
Leonard is said to have been at the office
are depositors in the National City Bank.