The evening world., 1922-01-24
Former Boss Presses Charge
as Example, but Is Willing
to Take Him Back.
MANY PLEAS FOR HIM.
Indictment Kept Secret as
EX-SeCretary Starts to
Pay All Back.

News OF one of the biggest dctalca-
tions in the history of the financial
district came to light in the Court OF
General Sessions to-day when Harry
T.. Gihney. thirty four, assistant to
the president of United Barber Shops,
Inc, No. 24l Fifth Avenue, with an
income of $780, a year and steadily
increasing, pleaded guilty before
Judge Grain TO stealing $780, 900 from
Sidney u. Mitchell, President of the
Electric Bond & Share Co.. No. II
broadway
Mr.. Mitchell, while expressing The
highest regard for Gibney and offer
ing to employ him again when re has
completed n prison term. and admit
ting thut Gibney has paid back S21
900, asked that sentence he imposed
as an example to secretaries and con-
fidentiaI clerks in Wall Street who
handle millions of their employees
dollars in confidential capacities.
Gibney, while admitting responsi-
bilty for the loss OF the money, sets
out in confession which was pre-.
sented to the court that he did not
profit n penny He blames u relative
who, he says, speculated in the stock
market without his knowledge with.
Mr. Mitchell's securities. THROUGH
his counsel, Samuel FurStenberg, Glib
ney presented to the court a number
of letters from business and profess
sional men asking that he be kept
from prison that given chance to
make full restitution.
The gist of Gibney's confession is
that no was employed by Mr.. NItchen
as confidential secretary at $500 a
year. He had power of attorney To
tuy and sell securities in his own
Eame and he entrusted the bulk of lI5
transactions to his brother-n-law,
Wesley +. Dafeldecker. who was COY.
pected with a brokerage house
Dafeldecker, GibneY charges. sank
$3.50, 900 in the stock market This
was in 1920. When the shortage was
discovered, Gibney says, he assumed
responsibility. He was arrested and
the Grand Jury found an indictment
against him on Feb. IL, 1921. The
matter was kept secret by the District
Attorney.
"I have offered to prosecute my
brother-in law" says Gibney in his
| confession, but Mr.. Mitchell has re
fused to consent to that course of
action. I intend to repay every cent
of the shortage and have already re-
turned 100000. l expect to be able
to repay 100000 within two years,
If am allowed to continue my present
activities"
- 1t appears that after his indictment
| Gihney obtained employment with
Salvatore j. Florentine OF No. 1850
| Pearl Street, an investment broker
who was about to launch a project 70
establish chain Of barber shops, Mr..
! tlorentiDe knew Gbney was under
indictment and why the indictment
was returned
/ Gibney hustled tor the barber shop
chain and the indictment dragged
along in the courts until to-day, when
he was called for trial. lie pleaded
guilty to two specific thclts on "nlcn
the indictment was based
Mr.. Florentine wrote a letter o the
court in which he stated that Gncy
is a remarkable organizer and eGecu-
tive. United Barber Shops had on
shop when Gibncy took up the work
of organization, Now the company
has chain OF shops and IS rapidly
growing. Under Gibnoy's direction,
according to Mr., Florcnune' th'
scheme will yield large returns.
Gibney appears to have logIoLs OF
friends. His personality Is engaging
He is married and lives at the Hotel
Touraine in Brooklyn. His parents
EC3 ~ No. 2604 Bedford Avcnu"