New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-11-18
Maze of "a Don't Remembers"
Confronts Union investigators.
SCHLESINGER FORGETS ITEM
Finally Admits Reluctantly That
Signature on Check Paid to
E. r. Thomas Was His.

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Ii was remarkable how the important de-
tails Of certain '1oans" made by the defunct
Union Bank had entirely slipped the mem
orv of some Of the former officers and d.
rectors who appeared as witnesses at the
resumption of the investigation of the al
fairs of that institution yesterday before
Edward l.. Dodge. Deputy Bank Superin-
fendent in the Borough Hail. Brooklyn
James c. Cropsey. District Attoney-elect
OF Kings County. who examined the wit
nesses, wandered through a maze OF
cont remembers in an effort to obtain an
explanation Of some of these transactions
Leo Schlesinger. former president OF the
Mechanics and Traders Bank prior to con-
roldation with the Union Bank and later
81 yice-president and director of the Union
Bank. was entirely at loss TO explain an
item Of $4,000 which appeared to have
been paid to f. r Thomas on March ?
1906 through the Corporate Realty Assoc
citation. a subsidiary company Incorporated
hy the Mechanics and Traders Bank &c
handle its building loans. Mr.. Schlesinger
was vice-president OF the bank and manager
of the realty association at that time.
The fact that Thomas had ever got any
money from the company had entirely
,lipped his mind until Mr.. Cropsey pro-
duced the checkbook of the concern, which
showed that a $4,000 check had been made
out TO Thomas and Endorsed in the witness
own handwriting as manager, which Inc
witness reluctantly admitted.
The witness said r.. r. Thomas and his
brother controlled the Mechanics and Trad
ers' Bank at that time. II appeared that
a number Of checks of the realty company
had been signed in blank by its officers dur
ing that period and that Schlesinger had
been left TO fiji out the body of the checks
as he saw fit. The witness admitted that
tn the case of practically all the checks
except the Thomas check. he had noted on
the stubs the purpose for which the money
was used.
well. here is $4,000 handed out" said
mir. Cropsey. land It is up TO you to ex-
plain this Thomas check"
There was some change in the company
some transaction for which Mr.. Thoma;
received that check. but 1 can't recall If
now" said Mr. Schlesinger.
The witness said he would endeavor to
refresh his memory and give Mr.. CropseS
the information he desired later on.
There were other checks paid 10 certain
officers Of the bank marked dividends.
amounting in some instances TO more than
$500 a month, for which the witness could
offer no satisfactory explanation. 1t ap-
reared that the company was making these
dividend" payments about every three
weeks, according 10 the books. The Cor
porate Realty Association later went out OF
business. and some Of it's stock which had
been put up with the bank for various
loans became worthless, Mr.. Cropsey
showed.
W. c. Damron, former president OF the
Home Bank. before II closed its doors. was
examined at length regarding loan OF
350.S75 made on September 16. 1907. by
his bank 10 one Charles Foreman who
(, alleged TO have been a dummy. Mr..
Damron admitted ne had never seen Fore
man. and all he knew was that he had
heard of him through some one in the
Union Bank. either from Mr.. Sullivan. the
president. or MIR. Ashley. the cashier. He
didn't remember seeing the $50 shares of
Hamilton Bank stock which was said TO
have been pat up as collateral for this loan
The loan had been made at the request of
the Union Bank for a snort period only, ne
said.
A score or more Of stockholders of the
Union Bank We're examined at the after
noon session for the purpose Of tracing
their stock. The hearing will be continued
Monday at 10 a. m.