Salesman’s Swindle In Department Store Raises Large Sum

Grey River Argus, 12 November 1949, Page 5

Salesman’s Swindle In Department Store Raises Large Sum

But Ends In Court At New York (Rec. 10.10) NEW YORK., Nov. 10 A salesman who took fifty thousand dollars over a number of years, in a well-planned swindle, from his employers, Macys Department Store, and who invested it in Macys Shares and the Savings Bank Accounts, gave all of the money back when he was arrested. He is a mild-mannered man, Hugh Hickey, aged fifty-eight years. He was charged to-day with taking money in driblets from the store, where he has continuously been employed for twenty-six years. The prosecuting lawyer told the Magistrate that Hickey wrote: “Fake refund requests, from fake customers, for non-existent goods, returned with fake complaints.” He sent these through the store’s pneumatic cash tube end when refunds came back he pocketed them. The prosecutor alleged that Hickey obtained from fifty to 250 dollars daily. He did not spend the money. He invested it in gilt-edged stock—Macy’s shares —and savings bank accounts. Detectives investigating shortages arrested Hickey when he entered one of the banks to make a deposit. Meanwhile, Hickey lived in a most frugal way in a cheap flat in a drab area “saving up for old age.” Hickey was remanded until November 16.