Evening star., 1923-05-26
Bench CANDIDATE
ACCUSED IN FRAUDS
Harry B. Bachrach Arrested
in Connection With
Bank Case.

Harry b. Bachrach. local attorney
was arrested late yesterday after
noon in his office, In the Munsey
building, on a warrant charging con-
splracy to defraud in the case Of an
alleged shortage of $4,000 from the
Chatham and Phoenix National Bank
OF New York. He was released this
AFTERNOON in the office Of Commits
sioner George H. Macdonald upon
placement of $1,000 bond.
The arrest completed the operations
OF the Department of Justice investi-
, gators, John Il. Cunningham, Depart
| ment of Justice operator, said today
lie refused to make public details OF
the case.
LOSS Is Heavy.
lie said, however. that the con-
sptracy charged against the quintet
had caused the loss of a considerable
sum from the New York band and. on
being asked about the $4,000, said
the neighborhood OF the exact
amount"
Auditors going over the books of
the New York bank discovered the
shortage several months ago. This
shortage was believed to be the re-
accounts
The accusational affidavit sworn to
before Commissioner Macdonald al
legged conspiracy to defraud against
section 81 of the criminal code and
section 020S Revised Statutes. The af-
tidavit charged that Bachrach did
with intent TO defraud, conspire with
Charles Bernstein, Leonard s. Meyers,
Louis Feldman and William PERL
man" and did cash certain checks
at the Chatham and Phoenix banks in
the city and state OF New York
well knowing said checks to
be drawn against an account which
did not have sufficient funds to cover
said checks"
Two arrests were made in Chicago
and the others in other sections OF
the country.
On the police headquarters book
Bachrach is listed as thirty-three
years OF age and 4 native of Russia.
The entry on the book charges fugi-
tive from justice and the Department
or Justice is named as complainant.
his address is given at 1894 = street.
Bachrach told police he knew moth
ing OF the alleged conspiracy and
that he was positive the charges have
been placed against him to kill his
chances Tor appointment to the bench
or the Police Court. He could not be
seen today. He was held overnight al
the hrst precinct station and received
II number OF long-distance telephone
calls. An effort to obtain an Inter
view with him was fruitless Bond
mad been fixed at $4,000. and inability
10 raise this sum last night was the
cause OF his detention in a cell at
the fist precinct
Issues Statement.
Following his release on bond Mr..
Bachrach requested an examination
= n orr
for June 19 before Commissioner
Macdonald. He issued a supplemental
statement early this afternoon
The absurdity of my arrest IS ap-
parent, he said, when it Is realized
that l have been practicing law In
washington and have appeared be-
fore the bar openly for the last three
years. L understand that this case is
based upon the commission of crime
in June of last year. l cannot under
stand why 1 could not have been
easily found Immediately If wanted in
such a case. while the authorities
were reported to have been searchinR q
for me during the interval between
the date mentioned and today
Il am sure that this is nothing
more Than a political move directed
at me to ruin my chances for appoint
ment to the bench of Police Court"
Specific Charges
1t was learned this afternoon that
the Department of Justice agents en-
tered the case simply at the request of
the district attorney OF New York
city. request was filed with the
local agents by the United States dis
trfct attorney of New York to appre-
hend Bachrach. In the complaint that
was sent TO Washington, IT was
charged that on July 5. 1922. Bach
rach had deposited a check in the
Bank of the United States in New
York city in the sum Of $4,000, drawn
upon the Chatham Phoenix National
bank. This was the specific charge
made against Bachrach here
Bernstein, who Is mentioned on he
information from which the warrant
was sworn. Is declared in the COM
plant from New York to have been
employed as bookkeeper in the New
York bank, and the conspiracy is al
legged against other defendants
through aiding, "abetting. counseling,
procuring and inducing the said
Charles Bernstein as such book
keeper to make false entries"