New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-31
TELLER'S LOOT $4,000.
STOLE FOR Il WOMAN.
j. Il. Turney admits Theft from
National Bank of North America.

The arrest Of Joseph A Turney, note teller Of
the National Bank of North America, at No. 40
Exchange Place, on Thursday evening, was fol-
lowed yesterday by the announcement that he
had stolen $4,000 from the bank and had con-
fessed his guilt He was held for examination
at the Tombs police court and was locked up in
the TOmbs without bail
Turney has been employed by the bank thirty
three years, beginning as a messenger. and has
been note teller six years. He has lived with
his wife and son in a modest way in an apart
ment at No 81 Montague street. Brooklyn. He
is ffty-one years old. His salary as note teller
has been S2,3OO a year.
Information obtained by w ". Lee. vice
president of the bank, last night left little doubt
that Turney had spent all of the money he had
stolen in maintaining, in the Tenderloin. a
woman from whom he had received many let
ters signed Edna" Mr.. Lee heard that Turney
had kept in his locker at the 22d Regiment Ar
mory a mass of papers and he sought the aid
of Captain Langan at the police station in West
6Sth street. Captain Langan sent two detectives
with Mr.. Lee to the armory, and Colonel Thur
ston permitted a search Of the locker.
There were found many letters from Edna"
written from more than one address in the Ten
derlOin over a period of three years. containing
hints Of expenditures Turney mad made on her
behalf There also were notes. written on the
! banks own paper referring to checks which
Turney had used in stealings from the bank
Letters written by women signing themselves
May" and Edith" were also found evidently
written more than three years ago.
HAD RESIGNED AS CAPTAIN
It was ascertained that Turney had sent to
the adjutant of the 22d Regiment his resignation
as captain of Company F on Monday. pleading
illness as an excuse. He had been a member Of
Company since 1877 and had been promoted
through all grades. becoming captain Of the
company in January. His associates in the
regiment said las; night that he did not spend
much money in entertaining friends at the ar
mory. They said he was close -mouthed about
his own affairs.
The Consolidated Gas Company yesterday sent
to Turney's address at the bank a bill for S1S
for gas burned in "Ednas" apartment Later
Pinkerton detectives tried TO find the woman.
but they were informed that she had disappeared
from her apartment No trace Of her had been
gained by the detectives last night
TUrney's method of stealing was similar to
that employed some years ago by Alvord. the
cashier of the First National Bank. who got
away with about 100000 before he was de-
| tected As note teller he had charge Of the
banks accounts with out of town banks, and
handled about 100000 a day in checks and
cash, in company with an assistant who worked
beside him. Turney would take in cash the
amount of a check received by mail from some
bank in Western or Southern city. count the
amount of the check in the days regular cash
receipts, but fail to enter the amount Of the
check on the books until the next day. thus
keeping his account straight Next day he
would have 10 count checks for the same amount
and not enter them ON the books. to prevent
discovery, and he would have keep doing the
same thing day after day unless ne restored the
amount first stolen.
PRESIDENT FINDS CASH WRONG.
With his account short $4,000 on Thursday
afternoon, Turney had checks for $4,000
counted as cash, which were not to be entered
on the books until yesterday. He probably in
tended to take $1,000 cash to make his account
appear right, but, before he could take that sum
from the cash drawer. the fact that the cash
account was over i'm that amount was dis
covered by Albert H. Curtis president OF the
bank
Mr. Curtis was told by Turney's assistant late
/ in the afternoon that check for s.. 100 on
/ Chicago bank had not been entered on Wednes-
day, the day it was received at the bank Just
about the time Turney was making up his cash
! account for the day Mr. Curtis went TO his desk
and made inspection of the books. Then he
asked Tuney why the check had been entered
On the books a day late, and Turney said he
could not explain
Turney was taken into an inner office and
| questioned by Mr. Curtis and by w w Lee
yice-president; Edward b. Wire. e.. shie.. and
J. +. Sweasy, assistant cashier Mcaawntla
/ Turneys cash and checks were COuut-d tlr tae
day, and il found that his account sppar-
emily $1,000 over" Turnev hsG refused
to admit anything until confrontsG win this
/ discrepancy, and throughout the ordeal he kept
cool
why, YOU don't think I'm short iu my ac-
count, do YOU Mr.. Curtis2' he asked.
Yes said Mr. Curtis. Il think YOU are a good
deal short and IL would De best for>yOu 10 eN-
plain the whole matter now and save trouble all
around"
Without the least sign of nervousness Turney
Continued third page.