The sun., 1917-06-01
BROKERAGE FIRM HIT
Son of Ex-City Chamber
lain. Tammany Politician
and Banker Accused.
CONFESSION is REPORTED
Cotton and Grain Concern
Charges Looting Has Gone
On for Six Years.

The reckless desire for sudden riches
By speculation in war wheat landed Rob-
srt Moore. sales manager for William r.
csis L Co. cotton and grain brokers, of
Broad street, in the Tombs prison
y \fyDterday, charged with forgery and
ls6nd larceny.
XThe young man, who is charged spe-
Hhcally on the basis of one detected
Transaction OF stealing $4,000 from the
Craig concern and whose total defalca-
uons. according to the police that ques-
toned him, will amount to upward OF
100000, is a son OF a well known Tam
many politician and banker. Robert r.
Moore, now president of the Commercial
Trust Company and himself under IN
tactment in Pittsburg for conspiracy in
connection with the spread eagle oper-
etions Of Clarence Birdseye in the Pitts
bursh Life and Trust Company.
Robert r. Moore, the father, succeeded
Charles Hiram Hyde as Chamberlain of
the city by Mayor Gaynor's appointment
1911. Two years previously he had
sun on the Tammany Gaynor ticket for
dty Comptroller. with William A. Prem
6ergast as his opponent. Although Gay
eer was victorious the rest OF the ticket,
Moore included. was badly defeated.
Always an active and prominent figure
IN Tamnlany. the elder Moore has had
some prominence as financier. He re-
tired from the presidency of the Bank
New Amsterdam in 1906 to participate
b the organisation Of the Commercial
trust Company. Of which he has con-
dn1ed 10 be the head.
News shocks the Father. -
With the necessity upon his shoulders
N combating the conspiracy indictment
growing out Of the Grand Jury's view of
the purity Of his intentions In financing
Bfrdseye, the news that his son was in
grave trouble with the firm OF William
X Craig Co. struck Mr.. Moore with
the force OF terrible shock. He said
hst evening TO a reporter for THE SUN
4 had no intimation until last night
mat my son was in difficulties. The in
formation has overwhelmed me. There
little can say now. My son Robert
IS years Of age, but have had no as
ISOLATION with him for a number Of years
no association whatever. He has lived
ever In Rutherford. n. j., with his wife
and family. I never saw him.
proceeding from the theory that Rob-
ert R. Moore is well to do, there was
wall Street gossip yesterday afternoon
Immediately after the newspaper and
ticker announcement that young Moore
had been arrested in the Craig Offices
detective sergeant from Police
HeadquarterB, that the father would
make good a considerable part OF the
eefalcation. When asked about that Mr..
Moore replied:
u don't know how much was taken.
haven't got SO far as to say what /
an do about making good the loss. That
svaits on further information"
discovered by Chance.
Although young Moore for a long
period had been defrauding the cotton
and grain brokerage concern for which he
vorked-he says for two years and the
srm says for six-and although the total
u the stealings had risen to an immense
sum the discovery came by chance. Last
monday night William r. Craig, head of
he concern. was minded to look through
recent records Of transactions by GUS
0mers who dealt largely.
ne happened to note that the account
VT {. Zabriskie exposed a deal In cot
.oh az a price per pound which was a
Hactlon lower than the actual market
Sriee for the day in question. This
aroused Mr.. Craigs suspicion. He in
vesugated. The result, after account
nus had pored over tangled books. was
the exposure Of complex classification by
trusted employee. Robert Moore
Moore was questioned. According to the
pohce he made a written confession. His
arrest arraignment in the Tonbs police
eourt and Incarceration in the Tombs
Prison followed.
detective Sergeant James Cook went
the Craig offices at noon yesterday
Nntered young Moore's room. and tap.
PED him upon the shoulder. Cook told
tne rest Of the story as Moore, he says
gave It to him.
Played the wheat Market.
When ! touched him on the shoul.
yer, said the detective, Il said to him
i've got to take you: / guess you're In
Srety deep, aren't you? He said righI
sway Well. there's nothing I can dc
now; l took a chance and I've got te
pay the penalty I asked him how
much he had taken from the firm and h,
sald he couldn't tell. I've been so reck
.sss playing the wheat market that !
amply lost track; got in SO badly
sldnt know where i WAS at
lie explained to me-" Cook continued
now he had been abI ITO get away with
much money. lie got, a Job with tht
sm OF w. r. Craig & Co. thirteen year
Sso and worked his way up and finall,
.ecame sales manager at q salary o
sioV week. Several years ago ht
n'aae the acquaintance OF +. c. IA
Sfiskie' Hollander Of large means. wht
member Of the firm of Kitchings I
nn,,os,knen, wool merchants nj IS Soutl
william street Mr. Zabriskie took ,
sreat liking to the young man. placot
extraordinary confidence In him. 81.
nnahy instructed him to buy AM col
.ot,on and other commodities according
=" ms own judgment. giving him powe
VI attorney and requiring no bond o.
.hy sort OF security Zabriskies opera
uons were on big scale. and this gav'
Souhg Moore his opportunity.
=, lie says that he began TO dabble II
~e wheat market two, years ago. max
~ - c0ssSaEsd o. Hkrtk PaG6.