The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-10-07
STORIES BY A DETECTIVE.
The Latimer Robbery.

SsnNE day, some years ago, MIR, Lat
" inner called upon me. He was a
wealthy man, land owner, engaged in
several kinds Of business and among others
in the sale of real-estate. He said that on
the previous night the sum of $7,255 had
been stolen from a room adjoining his bed
room. He had left it there in the evening,
because it had been too late to deposit it
at the bank. l asked him where, from
whom, and in what sums the money had
been received, and / ascertained from him
that he had been collecting house rents, a
sold in Jersey City, and another sum had
come to him from the country At my
request he gave me specification of each
of the separate payments, also the names
of the parties who had paid them, and the
considerations. ] also asked him whether
any other persons were present when he
received the money. In reply to this ques-
tion he told me when he took the money
for the hay several persons were standing
by, some were customers, others working
people, few we'll, but rather flashily
dressed young men. Latimer had taken
out his pocket-book in which there was
already a considerable sum of money, and
opened it to put in the amount just re-
ceived. He had put this back into an in
per pocket of his waistcoat, and as soon as
he reached home, he put it away in the
safe. After this interview Mr.. Latimer
left me and promised to visit him another
surroundings.
On the same evening my duty took me
into several gambling houses, and in one
of them fell in with young man who
had plenty of money, from whose appear
ance could not divert my mind of the idea
that this money was part of that which
had been stolen from Latimer. But, un-
fortunately, did not yet know the denom-
nations Of the notes belonging to the stolen
money, otherwise would have looked into
the matter little closer, and have arrested
the man forthwith if my suspicion had
been confirmed.
On the next morning called ON Mr..
Latimer. asked him about the members
of his family and his servants. His children
were not in New York, the boys being
away at college and the girls at boarding
school. He, his wife, and their servants
were the only persons residing in the house;
and even his wife-as he remarked-had,
as it happened, not been aware that he
had the money, or that it was deposited in
the safe. l examined the servants, in
whsse honesty, by the way, Mr.. Latimer
said he had the utmost confidence, None
of these could give any information. Only
one had heard on that night slight noise
the others had slept well and heard moth
ing. Since the safe stood in room adjoin-
ing their bedroom, Latimer and his wife
must also have slept very sound that night,
otherwise they must have heard something.
! saw at once that very skilful thief must
have been at work here, and again could
not help thinking of the young man
whom had seen the evening before spend
ing SO much money, and who, it certainly
seemed to me, must be the man who had
committed the robbery. But there was
one question could not answer to myself
satisfactorily. How was the thief able to
open the safe He must have been ac-
quainted with the interior of the house
and the safe. Ms
Perhaps he had key for it, or that he
had in his possession several safe-keys, Of
which one might have opened the lock.
If otherwise he must have used Mr.. Lat
imers key "a very small one) Mr.. Latimer
had II in his vest pocket, and his clothes,
during the night lay upon chair at