The New York herald., 1922-11-21
BANK BOOKKEEPER
And DEPOSITOR HELD
FOR $4,000 THEFT
Third Man Sought in Lar
ceny at Columbia Bank at
Canal and Broadway.
LOSS MAY BE S121,OOO
Overdrafts Said to Have
Been Covered Up by
John A. Haas, %.
AUCTIONEER DENIES 1T
PeculatiOns Believed to Be Gov
cred by Insurance-Some
Restitution Promised.
AUCTIONEER DENIES 1T

Two depositors and young book
keeper, who juggled ledgers in their
favor, have been able to swindle the
Columbia Bank. 415 Broadway. out OF
from $4,000 to s121 900 in the last
twelve months, 1t was announced by
the police last night. Bank officials
say the loss is covered by insurance.
William Friend. 35, OF 81 Bennett
avenue, Brooklyn, of the auctioneer-
ing firm of J. & w. Friend, 81 Lis
penard street. and John A. Haas 23. of
10,0os Eighty-ninth avenue Richmond
Hill, for five years an accountant In
the Columbia Bank until his discharge
about a week ago, have been arrested
on suspicion Of grand larceny.
The arrest of Joseph II. Friend,
brother and partner of William Friend,
has been ordered.
According to information received by
the Assistant District Attorney. Mr..
Hastings, Haas was induced by some
man to make false entries in his books
These entries gave false credits to the
mans account and enabled him to over
draw since last December 1921. 900. by
the police estimate. or $4,000 by the
banks.
Denies knowledge of Wrong.
William Friend is said by the police
to have deposited some OF the stolen
money elsewhere for the thief. Stanley
C. Fowler of 115 broadway. his attorney.
said William Friend would be able to
satisfy the authorities that he had no
criminal connection with the swindle.
The robbing OF the bank might have
gone undiscovered for months had not
Haas gone home one day without finish
ing up his work, according TO H. Q.
Becker. assistant cashier His books
we're found to be in such condition that
he was discharged. A bank examiner
discovered $4,000 shortage and the
balance was unearthed when Pinkerton
operatives took up the investigation for
surety company.
Maurice Lemkln, 16. OF 17s Nostrand
avenue. Brooklyn. messenger for the
auctioneers, will be an important wit
ness for the prosecution. according to
Mr.. Hastings. He will be called on to
describe his cashing of checks.
The bank is the Broadway branch of
the Columbia Bank. at 507 Fifth avenue.
which is capitalized for $4,000. 600. has
surplus of even more. and has deposits
of upward of s34,000.000 A Bronx
branch is at 1860 Southern boulevard.
Eli ". Bernheim, president, at his
homo last night said the bank would not
lose a dollar. He said most OF the busi-
ness OF the Broadway branch was with
the dry goods trades and the jobbers
and machinery houses In the nelghbor-
hood.
d. J. Fox. general counsel for the
Columbia Bank. said he had been in
formed that Haas had profited little,
and that he had started out to oblige
the depostors on assurance that they
would make good. When they failed, he
found Il too late 10 stop. Mr.. Fox said
negotiations were under way for a large
restitution.
Offcials OF the bank besides Mr.. Bern
helm are Mortimer J. Fox, James Mac
Donough and Edgar II. Lee. vice-presi-
dents. and Guernsey r. Jewett. cashier.
Directors are Sylvan NJ. Barnett, Hy-
man Bauman. Eli II. Bernhein, Morti-
mer J. Fox, Simeon Ford. Walter S.
Griffith. Samuel X. Jacobs. Robert r.
Simon. Joseph Steiner John =. Stevens,
Oswald w. Uhl. George r. Bernhelm.
Sidney Blumenthal and James Mac
Donough.