New-York tribune., 1906-04-03
TURNEY'SFATHER THIEF
STOLE FRCGI SANE BANK.
Crime of Defauiting Teller's Parent
a Secret T5ceRty-niae Years.

officers of the National Bank of North Amer
lea were surprised yesterday by information that
Joseph A. Turney. the note teller who stole $34-
600 from the bank. had repeated on a smaller
scale the example set by his own father. who
was paying teller OF the bank twenty-nine years
ago. The late William DOwd president of
the bank in 1877 and one day in that year he
was shocked by the confession of the paying
teller. TUrney. that he had been stealing funds
of the bank for years. and had lost all the stolen
money in speculation, The total amount of the
thefts from the hankl was S106.OOo
The paying teller has been in the service Of the
bank for years. and his son. Joseph A Turney.
was then employed as messenger in the bank
The elder Turney made fun confession. impli-
eating an assistant in the bank. and the two
managed to raise enough to make partial restitu-
ton in the sum Of $4,000 leaving the banks loss
100000. The directors of the bank decided not
to have Turney and his associate in the robbery
arrested. because of the possible effect of a pub
iicatiOn Of the banks loss. and the facts were
kept from the public. Turney left the bank and
found other employment. leading honest life
and holding the respect of his neighbors IN
brooklyn up 10 the time OF his death a few wear.
ago.
ELDER TURNER'S THEFT LEARNED.
me directors who made up the banks loss "a
SIUUOoO In 1877 and saved the elder Turrav
from disgrace are all dead now. but the fact.
IN tne case became known TO one of the later d.
ieetors OF the bank who remained a directors
u"''i the consolidation of the bank with another
institution several years ago. This former d.
rector yesterday gave the information about thss
elder Turney's thefts and added:
Before the discovery of the aefs,ca,,o, NJ. -
ney son had been employed by the bank ss hI IL
sr m was ttnought unfair and unjust to make Iig..
and grew up in the bank He becaroe & teseinsd
cspscI, most s valued clerks He had remarkabio
. Inc officers always said that IL any work nasssst
it. having the gift Of worKegy was b the man e 40
mat he would often accomplish more thanS w.
are grieved to learn that this young man 1
lowed in the footsteps of his fatS years has fol-
ds @ oeen detected In defalcatiOn. though OF much
1t was ascertained yesterday that Joseph A.
Iurney mad been friend and adviser of Miss
Edna NJ Leonard, who keeps a boardips. bora.l
at No S5s West 46th street and that she ba1
written many letters TO him signed eFsn, -
She sent one of her boarders 10 see T,rnav t,
the Tombs yesterday morning and she sata
later; 1T is true that am the Edna referred
10 In the case Of Mr.. Turney. but il is unfor-
tunate that so many false surnises have bean
made concerning me have known Mr.. Turnev
for years but know nothing whatever Of hfs
dealings with the bank
MISS LEONARD ExONERATED
Mr. Whitley. one of Miss Leonard's boarders
said Miss Leonard bought the furniture Of tha
boarding house about year ago with bar ovr,
money The house itself belongs to the Aston.
estate. and the agent of the property said ves
terday that Miss Leonard was a good tenarr
and had paid the rent of $1,000 year promptly.
1t was ascertained yesterday that an ofic,aI
M National Eop Of
representative of the Pinl1ertons had talked with
Miss Leonard and had become Convinced an
parently that she had not received any nart
| of the money which Turney stole fron, tbe
| bank. She had consulted him freouentIy aho,,t
her business affairs. it said. and had even
! with him. ''Si'is 60 'aik
Turney was arraigned yesterday morning IN
the TOmbs police court on the charge OF forg-
cry IN the third degree He waived examination
and was held for the grand jury having no
counsel The charge Of forgery was based on
his false entries in the banks books to conceal
grand larceny also.
The affidavit on which Turney was heh by
Magistrate Moss for the grand Jury was made by
Edward B. Wire cashier OF the bank Walter
w. Lee. vicepresident of the bank. was IN court
When asked why charge OF grand larceny had
to drag any one else into this case
EXAMINATION WAIVED.
When Turney was asked why he had no coun-.
sci. he replied Il don't need one at this stngs
Of the game"
After reading over the complaint Turnsy
asked; us any one else named IN the complains
except myseIf?"
NO" the reply.
rs any one else concerned by implication La
the complaint?'
NO"
Then" said TUrney, II am willing 10 waive
examination"
Bail was fixed in $4,000. and Turney was sene
back TO the Tombs in default of bail His wffs
in court. but did not speak to him IL u be-
lieved that Turney will plead guilty TO an In
d.ctment in few days and get off with as llghE
a sentence as the court can properly infict-