New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-26
DOUGLASS'S LAST HAUL
HAD STOLEN ALL YEAR.
Wanted Immunity for Return of
SLO0,O00 Taken on FridGg.

r,,rities TO the value of $4,000. for the return
= which he sought to obtain immunity for his
-revious thefts. William F. Sheehan. Of counsel
<or the trust company. said yesterday that he
,,nserstood Douglass had sought the legal aid
- Josiah Quincy. ex-Mayor OF Boston.
7. was rumored yesterday that the mysterious
.4b,rd man" in the case is Boston financier
he is said to be a friend Of former First Assist
ant Postmaster General Perry Heath.
OfBcials Of the bank were hard to get to yes
.eraay and when found were extremely I'M
communicative They denied that there was a
.Ybird man." and insisted that they had recov-
.rad most Of their bonds, and that the only men
they wanted were already in custody. But the
evtreme activity of every one connected with
the case the strict pledge OF secrecy placed on
avery one who had anything to do with It and
sbe general mystery that was shrouded about it
showed that there was something OF great i'm
,ovtance that had not come out II is under
rood that everything possible IS being done to
settle the case up without there being any more
publicity than necessary. It is hardly thought
Dossble however. that this can be done much
longer. SubpPnas were issued yesterday for
the investigation begun by the District Attorney.
STREET AMAZED AT EASE OF THEFT.
Each day adds TO the total OF the value OF
she bonds taFen from the vaults OF the trust
ooYnpany by their assistant loan clerk in the
course OF a year or a little more. AS the
facts have become known through the financial
district bankers have been astonished at the
apparent ease with which Douglass had been
able to use the bonds from the trust company's
vaults FOR private speculative purposes It has
resulted IN the checking up OF bonds held as
collateral in a number OF institutions and 10
some talk OF an improvement IN the method OF
keeping account OF such securities.
Although the various statements and various
6snials OF those connected with the trust COM
pany have caused considerable confusion. It is
now thought that the total amount OF bonds
taken By Douglass from time 10 time amounts
70 more than 100000. In addition TO the s4oO.000
taken on Friday. 81 seems that Douglass took
$4,000 the Saturday before he disappeared The
latter were the Rock Island Pacific SIS. The
statement OF a lawyer representing the trust
company gave the impression on Tuesday that
they had recovered the physical possession OF
all the bonds. Oakleigh Thorne, the president
said on wednesday that $4,000 worth Of securi-
ties were stin being held by broker who re-
fused 10 give them up.
Il IS understood that the greater part OF the
100000 haul was also recovered, as Oliver NJ.
bennett, the broker. who IS being held for the
grand jury on a charge OF receiving stolen goods
did not have time 10 dispose Of them before tho
descent on his room at the Manhattan Club on
Monday morning. II was also reported yester-
day that Assistant District Attorney Murphy
had found bundle OF bonds under the floor in
Dennett's diminutive offices the ninth floor
Of No. ~ Wall street. Assistant District At
torney Murphy, who has been placed in charge
Of the case, refused 10 confirm this rumor. AS
a matter Of fact, he declared It would be abso-
lu;ey impossible for him TO talk of the case
UNUSUAL EFFORTS FOR SECRECY.
In reply TO a number OF questions after he had
returned from spending several hours IN Den
nett's Offices. he said he was in no position 10
speak Il has been long time since such abso-
Lutte secrecy has been maintained about a case.
Il was learned, however, that number Of sub
penas were placed IN the hands OF detectives
for service last night II is believed they are re-
turnabe to-day and that the case will be taken
up by the grand jury at once. The grand jury
does not sit on Saturday as a rule, and the April
grand jury win finish its work not later than
Tuesday.
Mr.. Thorne was present yesterday while the
search Of Dement'S offices was going on as was
Forbes J. Hennessy, counsel for the broker
Late in the afternoon Mr.. Thorne visited Dis
trict Attorney Jerome IN the Criminal Courts
Building Assistant District Attorney Murphy
taking part in the conference Mr.. Murphy &C
cOmpanied Mr.. Jerome to the latter's home IN
Rutgers street and they went over the entire
case thoroughly.
When they were seen there together the Dis
trct Attorney said: II think Mr. Murphy is
perfectly capable Of taking care Of this job so
Far as the newspapers are concerned. There are
certain phases Of the case OF which neither he
nor ] speak present"
In reply to a question about the rumor that
large amount of bonds had been taken from
under the floor in Dement'S Office. Mr.. Murphy
said:
IF anything OF moment had been found.
could not tell you. II large amount OF bonds
had been found, no person would be more pleased
20 know II than myself. So far as the Office is
concerned the case IS stil IN unfinished con-
dition. but We hope TO accomplish something"
According 10 the story learned yesterday.
Douglass. after having successfully specuIated
with the collateral Of the trust company for
more than year. had reason to believe about
two months ago that his actions were suspected.
he replaced the bonds he had then and the sUs-
picion was removed But he that the
checking up 81 all the securities which was
about 70 be started a preliminary to tho
merging OF the Colonial Trust Company with
the Trust Company Of America would inevi-
taoy reveal the game he had been playing.
That is, il would unless he was able TO replace
al the securities. That impossible. So a
plan was thought out which is believed tn have
included what done last week Douglass
decided 10 take large amount Of securities. one
50 large that its presence would probably be
missed almost Immediately. Then the assistant
loan clerk was TO disappear and negotiate for
The return 81 the collateral on condition that he
should not be punished either for that theft or
the previous pferings.
On Friday night after the securities had been
turned over 10 bennett SO the story runs Dong