New-York tribune., 1917-06-01
Loss May Reach $500, 900,
Robert Moore's EN-
ployers Allege
Gambled in Grain,
Defendant Says
Son of Ex.City Chamber.
lain Said to Have Lost
Clients Profits

Robert Moore, thirty-four years old,
son of former City Chamberlain Rob-
ert R. Moore, Of 125 Riverside Drive,
was arrested yesterday charged with
stealing s65,OOO from w. r. Craig &
Co.. cotton brokers at % Broad Street.
Moore was a sales manager for the
firm.
The police believe that the losses in
Cured by Moore may run well above
S5O0,00O. In the presence of detec-
tives Moore confessed to William r.
Craig, senior member Of the firm, that
he lost between s5O0,000 and s600,00O
on his ventures, it is alleged, and then
tried to conceal his losses by making
false entries of profits in the accounts
Of the firms customers.
Mr.. Craig refused TO give the exact
amount Of the concerns loss last night.
He said, however, that he believed
Moores estimate Of his defalcations to
be too low by at least 100000. Other
members of the firm have placed the
loss at between s750,000 and Sl,o0O,o0O.
For the last two years Moore has
occupied a $4,000 residence at Ruth
eriord, n. j., and owned two expensive
automobiles. He took his arrest coolly
and declared that his only concern
was his wife and two children.
IL had salary of 800 a week for
several years" he said yesterday. Il
began to speculate about two years ago
and bad luck pursued me. | used up
most Of my savings, mortgaged my
home, and in trying to recoup my for
tunes on speculation in wheat l used
my employers money.
Says He Juggled s65,OOO Account
81 was at the head of the commodl-
lies department and had charge OF sew
cral of the accounts of the firms best
customers. In some cases | had the
power of attorney from customers TO
buy and sell for them. The specific
transaction for which I was arrested
was for the purchase of 5000 bales OF
cotton. on May p. for F. c. Zabriskie'
of 10 South William Street"
Moore said that Zabriskie's account
showed a profit Of s65,O00. This he
said he used and lost in wheat specu-
lation. To cover the transaction it was
necessary 10 juggle the zabriskie ac-
count, and on Monday, by mistake, he
entered figures that were below the
market figures
The error was detected by one Of the
firm and when Moore was unable TO
give a coherent explanation expert ac-
countants were called. Moore worked
with the accounts until midnight of
Wednesday, and then admitted, the
police said, that the books were hope
lessly muddled.
Detective James J. Cook, Of the First
branch, was assigned TO the case.
Meanwhile agents for the American
Surety Company, which bonded Moore
for $4,000, were shadowing him. He
was placed under arrest at noon yes
terGay by Cook, who arraigned him be-
fore Magistrate Krotel in the Tombs
court charged with forgery in falsify-
ing the books OF the concern to con-
ceal a larceny. Moore waived exam
ination and Assistant District Attorney
Colnon asked for $4,000 bail.
W. W. Cunningham, attorney for the
Craig Company, assured Magistrate
Krotel that Moore's embczzlement
would amount TO more than 100000.
The magistrate, accordingly, set bail az
$4,000, and held the prisoner for the
grand jury. Mr.. Cunningham said the
amount stolen would by no means "cm-
barrsss the firm"
The defendant refused the services
OF q lawyer, and said that he wanted
his case disposed OF as soon as possible.
He was remanded % the Tombs. Mean
while the news Of his arrest had reached
his mother. She was weeping when she
answered telephone call az her home
and asked 70 be excused from talking
about her boy. The father Of the prls
oner is president of the Commercial
Trust Company, Of l45l Broadway.
Robert r. Moore Indicted
Robert Z. Moore was indicted in
Pittsburgh last month for alleged con-
spirscy in connection with the wreck
ing Of the Pittsburgh Life and Trust
Company and the theft Of Sl,400,000 Of
It's securities. II was alleged that Mr..
Moore, as president Of the Commercial
Trust Company, extended $4,000
credit 70 Clarence F. Birdseye and
George Montgomery without security
with which Birdseyc and Montgomery
went 70 Pittsburgh and effected their
initial purchase Of the stock Of the
Pittsburgh Life and Trust Company.
Mr. Moore was Democratic candidate
for Controller on the ticket with Mayor
Gaynor in 1909. lie was defeated by
Controller Prendergast. In 1911 Mayor
Gaynor appointed him successor 70
City Chamberlain Charles II. Hyde and
he served until the close Of the Gaynor
administration.
I'D Engineers Now