The Washington herald., 1912-07-28

| torney. who Is In charge of the office
during the absence Of United States At.
tcrney Wilson. said yesterday afternoon
that the case had not been brought for
niaiiy as yet to his attention. He de-
ciined to state whether or not the ONCE
would take cosnizance Of the matter.
| II am unauthorized to state at the
present time" he said whether this Of
nee will conduct an Investigation or not.
All that / have to say on the matter Is
that the ONCE Is always ready TO take
up questions which involve violations of
the law coming under our Jurisdiction IL
the circumstances justify Investigation
| Il have not yet seen my client" said
Mr.. Worthington. attorney for the young
man. last night. About two weeks ago
his father came to me and told me the
story Of the forgeries. asking me for
advice. I have done practically nothing
SO far. and do not intend to, unless steps
are taken to prosecute my client He
was bonded by three companies, and
the bank itself will stand no loss. Two
of the bonds were In connection with the
Commercial National Bank and the third
was in the old National City Bank"
shame to Publish Name.
When Mr.. worthington was told that
the name had leaked out, he was greatly
shocked
1T would be shame to make that
name public" he said TT would break
the heart of the poor boys mother"
The father Of the young forger Is a local
retired merchant. He is well known here
among merchants. and owns considerable
property. The young man himself In part
owner Of several motion picture thea
| ters here.
| The case doesn't amount to much, in
my opinion" said W. A II. Church. chair
Il 90
| bank, last night. THE bank is fully
protected. The bonding companies are
the only losers. and steps are now be-
ing taken. according to rumors, to re-
| imburse them"
Ashton G. Clapham. president of the
bank. Is out Of the city on weekend
trip. Before closing the bank yesterday
other officials gave out a formal state
ment to the effect that the forgeries were
committed by a former trusted employe;
that the worthless notes aggregated near
| ly 5000, and that the bank was fully
protected by its fidelity bonds.
Forged well-known Names.
The young clerk was transferred to
the Commercial National Bank with
several other employees of the National
City Bank when the two institutions con-
solidated in April, 1911. At the time of
the consolidation he deposited with the
Commercial Bank a large amount of
forged paper. The names of weIl-known
persons and firms were used in the forg-
cries, so that there would be no oue,-
| tion as to their credit The signatures
were almost perfect. Remarkable skill
was shown in forging the autographs
and even the private initiating of the
president of the bank was placed on the
notes.
The clerk lost the money which he took
from the bank by speculating In Wall
street. In an attempt to make good the
| losses he continued the forgeries and
the speculation. Realizing that notices
would be sent to the firms and prominent
| persons whose names We're signed to the
notes. he withdrew them about ten days
before they were due and substituted In
| their place new bogus paper.
The discovery OF the embezzlement was
made as n result OF the young clerk add
ing to note on a big firm the word.
and per cent interest" Suspicion
was at once aroused, because OF the fact
that the firm in question was in the habit
OF having the interest taken out at the
time the loan was made.
Start investigation.
Bank officials at once started an in
vestigat!on to learn who was respon
sIbls for the embezzlement The young
man realized that he would soon be
found out, so he confessed his guilt, II is
understood. He at once left the bank.
but no attempt was made to prosecute
him,
The matter would have remained quiet
had not a report of 1t been sent to the
Treasury Department.
The young mans severance Of connec-
ton with the Commercial National Bank
has always until now been a mystery TO
his closest friends. After leaving the
bank several months ago he kept the
fact that he was no longer employed
there a secret. For about a month even
his best friends believed that he was still
an employe OF the institution. When the
fact did leak out the circumstances sur
rounding his quitting remained a puzzle.
Detectives in the employ Of the bonding
companies are keeping strict surveillance
Gyer the farmer clerk the