Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-11-06
From Ballou's Dollar Monthly.
A Night of Peril.
BY A NEW YORK DETECTIVE.

the lot OF all detective othcers, and havt
been no exception to the rule. In th
course of my life | have been subjected
several times to extreme peril. In th'
following pages | am about to give al
instance of such peril, to the reader.
One day | was sent for by the presi-
dent Of the Bank of Commerce. Whel
| arrived there l found the whole banl
in a state of CONSERVATION. The saft
bad been broken into during the night
and all the specie abstracted. l imme-
diately proceeded to examine the safe
and found that the locks had been forced
but single glance was sufficient to show
me that it had been forced after it had
been opened, or in other words, that who.
ever had taken the money bad wished tc
convey the impression that it had been
forced open from the outside. Oh course
l came at once to the conclusion that
some one connected with the establish
ment had taken the money. While ex-
aminng the spot, ! found on the ground
single leaf of white Provence rose
1t is the observation Of small things that
makes a good detective, for it is often the
most trivial circumstance which supplies
the first link in the chain. did not pick
up this rose leaf, nor indeed appear to no.
tice it. After the scrutiny was over, /
went to the apartment of the president,
Mr.. Cameron.
Well, Brampton, said he, what do
you make out Of it?
DO you suspect anybody connected
with the bank P / asked.
Certainly not! It is impossible that
any body connected with the bank could
have committed the robbery; it must
have been the work of burglars. Did
you visit the cellar where the robbers en-
tered ?
'Yes, and found that tho bars had been
fled from the inside
Indeed but what do you make out
about the safe?'
That the lock was forced after the safe
was opened
What do you infer from that?'
That some one connected with the
bank is guilty of the robbery, and be has
endeavored to make it appear that it is
the work of professional burglars. But
he has done his work very bunglingly.'
'You must be Mistaken replied the
president 4 would answer for all in the
employ of the bank with my life.'
4 am afraid you would lose it, I re-
piled, with a smile, for there can be no
doubt about the truth Of my assertion
But how will you prove J."
That remains to be seen. How many
have you in the employ of the bank ?
Twelve, including the porter
who has the care of the safe 2
Mr.. Charles Munsel.'
Have any of your clerks a special
1ondness for flowers ?
That's a strange question. But since
you ask it, | remember that Munsel gen.
orally has a flower in his button hole.
'Who is this Munsel?'
"A very worthy young man. You
surely do not suspect him?'
4 shall be very much surprised if he
loes not turn out to be the robber.'
You astonish me! He has the repu-
alton of being very pious.'
well, we shall see. Where does he
ive?'
No, - East Broadway
What time does he 60 to his dinner"
'At two o'clock.
Just point him out to me as 1 go thro'
he bank, and | will see you again to
morrow morning.
Mr.. Cameron did as requested. The
'oung man / suspected was about twenty
i've years of age. He was quite hand
ONE; it might have been my fancy, but
thought there was a hypocritical look
bout his face. 1 glanced earnestly at
i'm, so that might engrave his counte-
ance in my memory, and then passed
nto the street.
l. directed my steps at once to East ,
Broadway, and calling at the clerks res
lence, / found that it was furnished in
orgeous style, far beyond bis means
The door was opened by shrewd old !
roman. i asked to see Mr.. Munsel, but {
7as of course told that he was not at {
ome. But my purpose was answered I
y my visit, for in the hall | saw guam |
ty Of choice flowers in pots, and among
hem a fine ProDence rose. employed t
ha raSt Of the dav IN making inouiries nc