The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-05-02
AND SON ROBBERS
Same New York Bank Looted by
Both Turneys.
CONCEALED IN FEAR OF PANIC

Joseph A. Turney, Who Has Now Stolen
$4,000, Was a Clerk There at the
Time-Onicers Made Up the Loss and
flushed Up the Case - Edna Leonard
Held BIameless For the Sons Thefts.
New York City.-After Joseph A.
Turney. the embezzling note teller of
the Bank of North America, had
waived examination in the Tombs Po-
lice Court and had been held in $4,000
bail, it became known that his father
had stolen 100000, with the conniv-
ance of another clerk, from the same
bank in 1877. The father restored
$4,000 to the bank, and the directors
made up the loss and hushed it up
rather than have the safety Of the
bank imperilled by a run. The elder
Turney died about three years ago a
respected citizen.
The name of the young woman who
has figured in the sons case also be-
came public. She is Miss Edna NJ.
Leonard, who keeps a boarding mouse
| Mt 1853 West Forty-siXth street. The
bank officials say that their investiga-
/ tions show that Miss Leonard is entire
Iy blameless for Turney's stealings,
and they are convinced that his rela-
tons with her were solely those of a
business friend. Miss Leonard ad-
mitted that she knew Aurney, and said
she had been unfortunate enough 20
have her name mixed up in the affair.""
but she declared most positively that
she knew nothing of the mans steal
ings and had not shared in them. The
bank officials are satisfied that she is
| telling the truth. They say that her
house is respectable and that they have
dropped that side of the case.
In 1877 Turney's father stole $10G,-
600 from the bank. and that he acted
with another employee in taking the
money. The elder Turney returned
$4,000 of the alleged stolen funds to the
institution and he was not prosecuted.
The officials of the bank covered up the
case, and it would never have been
made public if it were not for the de-
falcation of the son.
The elder Turney was paying teller
of the institution TIVE. ty-nine years
ago and his son was employed as er-
rand boy. One day it became known
that the bank examiners were about to
go through the books of the bank, and
Turney went to the President and con-
fessed, it is alleged. that he had been
using the funds of the bank for sew
eral years and had lost much of the
money in speculation. He said also. it
is said, that one of the clerks of the
institution had helped him, and got a
small share of the money. Turney
turned over $4,000 to the President Of
the bank, which was every dollar he
had. He was permitted to resign his
position, and then the Board of Direc-
tors of the institution discussed what
was to be done with the son. 1t was
decided that it would not be fair to
make the boy suffer for the alleged
crime Of his father, and lie was re-
tanned in the employ of the bank.
So clever was the son, that he was
promoted from time to time. When
the bank was changed from a State
to a National bank, be was made as
sistant note teller, and then was made
note teller. The officers Of the insti-
tuition changed and the trouble Of the
father was forgotten. 1t was only
after Turney's arrest that II Of the
former directors Of the bank told the
story to the President Of the institu-
ton.