Maria Layton
The Arrest
On October 1, 1903, New York City Detective Sergeants Carey and Morris arrived at the home of a New York dentist Dr. Albert M. Johnston in the upscale resort village of Larchmont. They find the twelve room house locked up and the furniture ready to be moved to another location. The maids are not home and the neighbors have not seen them. Fearful the doc and his wife are aware of the arrest, they returned the 20 miles back to the city and head for his dental practice.
Approaching the office at 453 Fifth Avenue they find the couple leaving together. After following them to 41st Street they approached quickly and ask Mrs. Johnston if she is Mrs. Albert M. Johnston to which she denies. They tell her they are there to arrest her and she admits she is indeed Maria Layton Johnston. The officers immediately took her to the Mercer Street Station, where they have a Police Matron on staff, and lock her up on charges of embezzlement.
Her charges are for embezzling $37,000 (about $1 million today) from the United States Playing Card Company’s New York office. Her bail is set at $10,000 (about $250,000) which her husband does not come forward with. He leaves and returns to his office where he is living with his widowed mother.
Her charges are for embezzling $37,000 (about $1 million today) from the United States Playing Card Company’s New York office. Her bail is set at $10,000 (about $250,000) which her husband does not come forward with. He leaves and returns to his office where he is living with his widowed mother.
Maria's Life
Maria Layton, born in Kansas in 1874, moved to New York City at a young age when her father started a dairy and butter business there. At age thirteen she left school and went to work learning to be a bookkeeper. She told people that she was saving part of her money to help her younger sister get an education. By the early 1890s she was working in the NYC office of the United States Printing Company. In 1896 she got a great recommendation to go to work in USPC’s NYC office. There she becomes the Private Secretary and Bookkeeper for the President Robert H. McCutcheon.
Now things soon change in her life. By late 1899 she had met and married Dr. Albert Mix Johnston. He was described as a tall, well proportioned, successful 32 year old dentist that is taking care of his widowed mother. By 1902 the family had moved into the brand new Dorilton Apartment Building at 171 West 71st Street. (Shown of the left) Architectural historian Andrew Dolkart called it "the most flamboyant apartment house in New York," with its striking "French-inspired sculpted figures and an enormous iron gate it is reminiscent of those that guard French palaces”.
The building had separate elevators for tenants and servants, French paneled rooms, filtered water and a facility to recharge tenants’ electric motor cars. The monthly rent at the time was $1,000 plus a month. ($35,000 today). By late 1903 the couple moved to the swanky resort village of Larchmont and had a staff of four working for them. They traveled into the city every day for work.
The Johnston’s were known as a well-to-do couple that spared no expense wining and dining friends and took carriages everywhere they went. Maria even took one back and forth to her job. The doctor was said to have a very successful practice.
The Truth
While in jail awaiting her meeting with the judge, she admitted to reporters that she never actually married Dr. Johnston. Reporters had found out the good doctor was already married and had a young daughter. In 1896 he had been introduced to the good looking 21 year old Helen Pulis. Helen was the daughter of a very well off business man in Patterson, New Jersey. They married July 14,1897 and had a baby the next year. But by the end of the year Albert walked out and moved in with his widowed mother in New York City. Shortly after he met Maria and she moves in with them. His mother was actually aware of the situation, but strangely approved of Maria and the situation.
Doctor Johnston was really not an average dentist. He only makes about $10,000 ($250,000) a year. But, he is really pushing the envelope to live his lifestyle. Maria was making $25 per week ($750 today) which was at the high end of her profession’s wage scale at the time. But, earlier in the year Marie lost her job when USPC discovered she was diverting company funds to a secret bank account. At that time she admitted to embezzling $10,500 (over $250,000 today) and promised to have her husband pay it back. So her boss, Robert H. McCutcheon, let her go and awaited payment. During this time the main office in Cincinnati had become suspicious and discovered it was actually between $30,000 ($830,000) and $50,000 ($1.4 million). It was time to get all their money back.
USPC said her “modus operandi” was said to have been as follows: The accounts of the concern are kept in the NYC Hanover National bank, there being a New York and Cincinnati accounts there. Cincinnati would send a bill of goods to New York, which would be sold for $3,000, and that amount would be placed to the credit of the Cincinnati account. But, it is alleged, Mrs. Johnston would charge the New York office account with $5,000, taking the difference herself. To make the account balance, she would then raise a bill of goods shipped from Cincinnati sufficient to meet the amount abstracted.
The Johnston’s were known as a well-to-do couple that spared no expense wining and dining friends and took carriages everywhere they went. Maria even took one back and forth to her job. The doctor was said to have a very successful practice.
The Truth
While in jail awaiting her meeting with the judge, she admitted to reporters that she never actually married Dr. Johnston. Reporters had found out the good doctor was already married and had a young daughter. In 1896 he had been introduced to the good looking 21 year old Helen Pulis. Helen was the daughter of a very well off business man in Patterson, New Jersey. They married July 14,1897 and had a baby the next year. But by the end of the year Albert walked out and moved in with his widowed mother in New York City. Shortly after he met Maria and she moves in with them. His mother was actually aware of the situation, but strangely approved of Maria and the situation.
Doctor Johnston was really not an average dentist. He only makes about $10,000 ($250,000) a year. But, he is really pushing the envelope to live his lifestyle. Maria was making $25 per week ($750 today) which was at the high end of her profession’s wage scale at the time. But, earlier in the year Marie lost her job when USPC discovered she was diverting company funds to a secret bank account. At that time she admitted to embezzling $10,500 (over $250,000 today) and promised to have her husband pay it back. So her boss, Robert H. McCutcheon, let her go and awaited payment. During this time the main office in Cincinnati had become suspicious and discovered it was actually between $30,000 ($830,000) and $50,000 ($1.4 million). It was time to get all their money back.
USPC said her “modus operandi” was said to have been as follows: The accounts of the concern are kept in the NYC Hanover National bank, there being a New York and Cincinnati accounts there. Cincinnati would send a bill of goods to New York, which would be sold for $3,000, and that amount would be placed to the credit of the Cincinnati account. But, it is alleged, Mrs. Johnston would charge the New York office account with $5,000, taking the difference herself. To make the account balance, she would then raise a bill of goods shipped from Cincinnati sufficient to meet the amount abstracted.
Maria In Court. Her Mother in the Lower Right.
Facing The Judge
The New York World Newspaper
November 2, 1903
When Sentenced Self-Confessed Defaulter Becomes Unconscious.
CARRIED TO THE TOMBS BY COURT ATTENDANTS.
Prisoner Expected Clemency After Her Confession, Which Could Not Be Corroborated—
Imprisonment Indeterminate
“Maria Layton, the confessed defaulter of $37,000 from the local office of the United States Playing Card Company, dropped from her chair to-day as if shot when sentenced to an Indeterminate term of not more than five years nor less than one year by Judge Foster, in the Court of General Sessions. She was carried from the court-room to the Tombs by court officers, and it was nearly half an hour before she recovered consciousness under the care of the prison physician. When the young woman entered the court-room she expected clemency. She had made a confession of guilt implicating officers of the company, had turned over what cash she had left and her jewelry in the way of restitution and had promised to make further amends. Lawyer Kirachberg and Llmberger, of her counsel had made long pleas for her. But District Attorney Sandford told the Court that her confession, in which she alleged that certain officers of the Company were responsible for her embezzlement, could not be confirmed and she should be confined.”
The New York World Newspaper
November 2, 1903
When Sentenced Self-Confessed Defaulter Becomes Unconscious.
CARRIED TO THE TOMBS BY COURT ATTENDANTS.
Prisoner Expected Clemency After Her Confession, Which Could Not Be Corroborated—
Imprisonment Indeterminate
“Maria Layton, the confessed defaulter of $37,000 from the local office of the United States Playing Card Company, dropped from her chair to-day as if shot when sentenced to an Indeterminate term of not more than five years nor less than one year by Judge Foster, in the Court of General Sessions. She was carried from the court-room to the Tombs by court officers, and it was nearly half an hour before she recovered consciousness under the care of the prison physician. When the young woman entered the court-room she expected clemency. She had made a confession of guilt implicating officers of the company, had turned over what cash she had left and her jewelry in the way of restitution and had promised to make further amends. Lawyer Kirachberg and Llmberger, of her counsel had made long pleas for her. But District Attorney Sandford told the Court that her confession, in which she alleged that certain officers of the Company were responsible for her embezzlement, could not be confirmed and she should be confined.”
The implication of company officers were a group called “The Cinch Club”. The object of this club, of which Maria said she was appointed secretary, was to pay certain directors' larger dividends than those received by other directors. There, under the tutelage of an officer of the company, she was taught the manipulation of accounts. Later she commenced an unfortunate relationship with a person connected with the company and shared her knowledge with this man who was in financial trouble. Most of the time he took loans from Maria and accepted presents from her, while all this time he knew that she was not receiving a salary of over $25 a week. (The man was later found to be Dr. Johnston) She also admitted she had speculated on Wall Street and lost heavily. When the larcenies were discovered last April she freely confessed her part in them and gave her note for $10,000, which she intended to pay. She had arranged a connection with a patent-medicine firm and would have been able to pay back the money she claimed.
After asking the company officers about “The Cinch Club”, and hearing their denial, the District Attorney ended his investigation. USPC said they were just happy with “... Just seeing Maria goes to jail.”
Did The Cinch Club Exist?
Maria’s boss, Robert H. McCutcheon, was one of the founders of the National Card Company, on the board of the United States Capsule Company, of Detroit; the Perfection Playing Card Company, the United States Playing Card Company, the United States Printing Company, the Security Conduit Company, of this city, and the New York National Exchange Bank. He was quite a businessman in his day. But I found this interesting article in the American Druggist and Pharmaceutical Record, Volume 40, January-July 1902 page 114…...
GREATER NEW YORK
Robert H. McCutcheon, well known in drug trade circles here as a manufacturer of capsules under the name of the American Capsule Works, at 255 Greenwich street, is in trouble. Deputy Sheriff Campbell recently received two executions, aggregating $6,398, against him, one for $3,311 in favor of Henry and Charles E. Spruck, of Richmond County, and the other for $3,087 in favor of the Chatham National Bank on a note to the order of Charles A. Boynton, against whom also attachment was issued in favor of the bank. (A total of about $400,000 today)
Plus there was also a newspaper article in 1903 that his house was in foreclosure. Surprisingly by 1904 McCutcheon is living in a newly built home and his wife is mentioned as a mover and shaker in society circles. Quite a businessman. He was also the son-in-law of the famous card maker Victor E. Mauger.
(For more about McCutcheon you should visit his page on my National Card Company website)
The Aftermath
Maria served only about two years in Sing Sing. In the 1905 New York City Census she was living with her parents and is listed as a bookkeeper. Her father was now a merchant, but by 1910 he was a broker and she is a bookkeeper. No record of her has been found about her after 1910.
Albert still lived with his widowed mother in 1910 in NYC at 39-41 West 67th. She passed away shortly after and in 1920 he was still a dentist, but living as a boarder at 130 West 70th. He disappears from the records after this.
In January 1904 the real Mrs. Johnston files for divorce. When going before the judge Dr. Johnston was asked why he did not contribute toward the support of his wife and child and he replied 'Helen is too proud to accept anything from me. Mrs. Helen Johnston is a clever musician and I believe this talent permits her to earn sufficient money for the support of herself and daughter”. This was exactly what she was doing while living with her parents. The Judge then ruled that Helen would be able to marry again, as if Albert was actually dead, but Albert would not be able to during Helen’s lifetime.