New-York tribune., 1912-01-09
THIEF TELLS HIS SECRET
Payinu Teller Goes to Police
Headquarters Instead Of Bank.
LOST $1,000 IN GAMBLING
Stopped Stealing Ten Months
Ago and Tried to Pay the
Money Back.

Ernest Fromer left the house at No. 2O5
Fas. list street Yesterday morning and
took Third avenue elevated train TO 20
street There he got off and walked over
toward the Hungarian American Bank, at
Fifth avenue and 2lst street where he had
been employed for three years, first as re-
cciviug teller of the savings deposits dl-
vision and later as paying teller
Rut he did not go there directly, for
when he reached the subway station, at
I'd street and Madison avenue, he asked a
policeman what subway station was near
est to Police Headquarters. Then he bought
a ticket and rode to the Spring street sta
ton. arriving at Police Headquarters al
$50. the time he usually reached the oanK.
''I am q thief" he almost shouted when
he stopped before Lieutenant Funston
desk. II have gambled away about ZOO
of the banks money. How good 1t is TO
tell some one at last"'
The lieutenant looked at him. He saw a
tall, distinguished looking and we'll dressed
man. He asked his name, his occupation
his address and his age which was thirty
and Froner added he was unmarried.
"Uho Is the woman in the case?'' asked
the lieutenant next
.cyyonan? There is none. Just gambling.
"Horses?"
mo lust. little social games of cards with
friends
Detective Williams was summoned
Froner was turned over to him. The de-
tective called UP the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Bank on the telephone. and when ne IN
formed them that their paying teller was
q prisoner. self-accused of embezzling the
banks funds, he had TO assure them ne was
not joking.
What a surprise it was" said one oi
Fromer's associates at the bank. So
punctual and accurate. And always merry
and smiling. 1t seems Impossible
Fromer told the police he did not intend
to steal The sight of so much money was
a new sensation to him. OF the eight years
that he had been in this country the hrst
five were spent as a clerk in big express
company. When he became an empioye Vi
tbs hank the money charmed him. and one
night he took $50 Of the banks money home
with him. He gambled and lost IT,
That was the beginning. Almost every
dav for two years and two months he took
some amount His method was simple
and the amazing part of II is that II was
not detected Even now the bank canhoI
saw that Fromer stole one cent, ana VIII
not be able TO do so until after an expert
accountant has gone over the books.
Fromer would receive, say, 80 from
savings depositor. This he would pocket
entering II in the passbook, but making
no entry in the banks books. Had any
one of these depositors whose savings FRO
mer embezzled withdrawn his account dls-
covery would have followed Immediately,
Why the annual balances did not re'eai
his peculations is also mystifying'
Ten months ago he stopped stealing. But
be continued to gamble. this time with
what he could spare from his salary IN
homes that he would win back what ne
had lost. But he seldom won.
His only fear when held in $1,000 bail for
further examination by Magistrate Apple
ton IN the jefferson Market court was that
his widowed mother in the little town ot
Temesvar. in Southern Hungary would
hear of his disgrace. His friends in this
div believe his mother, who is well to do
viii make restitution
The bank will not suffer loss in any event
as Fromer is under a bond Of $4,000, fur-
riehed nv the United States Fidelity ana
Guarantee Company.