New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-14
WOMAN FORCER LURED
BY LOVE FOR OPERA
Graduate of Bedford Reforma-
tory a Rebel Against Dull
ness of Workers Life.

Harriet Cohen's skilful fingers and
nimble brain have led her into trouble
again She pleaded guilty to forgery
I'm the second degree yesterday before
Judge Mulqueen. IN General Sessions.
Judge Mulqueen is In doubt as TO
whether this keenwitted capable
young woman is an incurable criminal
or whether some weakness in her moral
nature may yet yield TO proper treat
ment.
II is the second time Miss Cohen has
pleaded guilty to forgery. on August
Il. 1908. she was sent To the Bedford
Reformatory by Judge Grain, in Cen
eral Sessions, upon her plea of guilty or
forgery In the second degree. At that
time she was employed as a stenog-
rapher by the United Hebrew Societies.
The offence TO which she pleaded guilty
was the passing Of a worthless check
for Sl6 upon Peter c. Lorenz. OF NO.
3J3 Second avenue. The police alleged
at least fourteen forgeries.
Miss Cohen is small woman,
twenty-nine years old, a skilful stenog-
rapher and a capable executive. She
commands a good salary. Unfortu-
nately. she has IA temperament which
is not satisfied with the life OF work
INK woman. She loves music ana art and
the atmosphere that goes with them.
Her strong, assertive. capable person.
allty demands that she satisfy her
longings Her moral fibre is not strong
enough TO resist, and her fingers and
her brain yield obedience.
Up 10 last July she had place as
bookkeeper for the Standard Steam
Specially Company. at No. oi2 West
Broadway. Then the president OF the
company. Norman G. Brisze. discovered
that her accounts were thousands Of
dollars short. so skilfully had she
covered up her work that even now II
f. not known whether the shortage is
1000 or $4,000.
Her alleged method was simplicity
Itself. She is said to have simply
forged Endorsements on checks which
came into her hands. The offence al
legged in the indictment TO which she
pleaded guilty Ia the forging Of the in
dorsement on a check for $50 &C. This
check was cashed at the Broadway
Central Hotel last January.
She has been in the Tombs since Au-
gust 26, and has spent a good part OF
the time weeping. When she appeared
before Judge MulQueen she was pale
and wobegone.
Under ordinary circumstances she
would undoubtedly be sent 10 state
prison at Auburn for from one to ten
years. Miss Catherine Bement Davis,
head OF the Bedford Reformatory, how
ever. believes that Miss Cohen - not
thief in the true sense Of the word and
that II she is sent 10 Beford again she
can be cured. She has urged Judge
Mulqueen to send her there rather than
to Auburn.
Miss Davis said that IL would be
great loss TO the world II the young
woman were sent TO state prison.
She is a woman Of talent and extraor-
dinary ability. Miss Davis says. Dur
ing her first term In Bedford she acted
as secretary to Miss Davis and assisted
in the administrative work Of the office.
Judge Mulqueen is greatly interested
in the case and is having 1t thoroughly
investigated. So far as he can learn
Miss Cohen's sole use for the money
she obtained by forgery was TO get |
glimpse OF that other life which she |
craved. Judge Mulqueen has learned |
that she frequently took her friends to |
the opera, that she hired automobiles |
and that she entertained lavishly at ex-
pensiye restaurants.