The New York herald., 1873-08-31
A SHREWD GAME.
An Insurance Clerk in Philadelphia Robs His
Employers and Pretends that He Has
Been 0verpowered and tho Money
Stolen by q Stranger.
PHILADELPHIA, August 80, 1873

PHILADELPHIA, August 80, 1873.
This morning, at an early hour, a gentleman,
named +. M. Nichols, connected with the New York
Life Insurance Company, went to the Central Head
quarters OF the police and stated that a daring
robbery had been committed in the Philadelphia
agency Of the company. the MAN points Of which
were as foIlows:-He said that there came man to
the Office this morning and asked OF Mr.. Walter
Snowden, the only clerk IN the building at the
time, that he would give him, in exchange for $50
in small notes, single $50 bill. Mr.. Snowden said
that he would do so, and went to the till
for the bank note. The stranger passed
over the amount In ones and twos, and
then, according to Snowdens statement raised his
arm and dealt MIR. Snowden furious blow. Pur-
SUNG this story It is alleged that the stranger,
walking over the senseless and inanimate body OF
his victim opened the cash drawer and ex tracted
all the money thereirOm- 1t was said that the
rand boy then came in, found the room deserted
and Snowden lying senseless on the floor. Some
what alarmed the boy made frantic endeavors to
arouse him, and finally succeeded assisting him to
reach lounge in q near apartment. When the
members of the nrm reached the ONCE
they at once notified Captain Helms OF the
affair, and an investigation was Immediately
begun. The young man detailed 70 the
detective the facts as they occurred before
he was knocked senseless and gave the following
description OF the man who committed the rob-
bery:-Rive feet eight ten inches In height, dark
hair either dyed or else wig, dark moustache and
chin whiskers Was clad in q dark coat and light
vest light pants and light hat with black band and
wore blue necktie. Mr. Snowden was unable to
state the kind OF instrument with which the blow
was inflicted. A wooden rest used by book
Keepers which is heavier at one end than the
other. was beyond on the counter. and Il was
thought he was hit with Is. From the character Of
the wound, however, which would indicate that
I'm n mt ode I'M Cf fpvuv1n mt
detectives doubt that it was done with the rest.
Cagtaln Helms at once put offcers Tryon and
were deducted the following remarkable acts:-
The ofiicers found Snowden resting his bead upon
hts desk, and a. lifting him up up carried him into
On examining his body the only wound they could
find was slight lump on his forehead, whereupOn
the suspicious OF the detectives were Immediately
aroused, they not thinking that such q blow could
have caused any one to lie insensble for the space
himself Arousng him, they began to question
him. his story was poorly constructed. and con-
tradicted itself in many particulars. He SAID that
his head was bent down, and yet this blow had
been evidently squareiy dealt upon his forehead.
spasms suns Rom
the beat OF his pulse was iirm and regular. Upon
inS i wrong, and upon rubbing the bump Violently
the man Snowden complained OF no pain. The
officers then left him ana reported to Cap
tain Helms The latter, along with Detective
Wood, visited snowden and corroborated the Opin-
ion OF Detectives Tryon and We'll that Snowden
was simply playing game OF his own and that no
trust whatever should be put In his statements.
This fact was made known to the members of the
firm, and the young man SnOwden was taken to
his home. Upon examining the place they found
beneath o mass OF stovepipe under Snowdens
desk all the money which he alleged had been
stolen by the stranger purported to have come in
the office this morning, rolled up in kind
Of paper peculiar 70 the interests Of the
insurance company, torn from q piece which
the detectives carried OF with them upon their
first visit The officers then made up their minds
that Snowden had really stolen the money, and
that as he had duplicate keys he would return at
some hour for the purpose OF securing the treasure
hid away. They waited until eight o'clock to-
night, and then Snowden returned. The officers
arrested him, and wrung from him the following
story:-He confessed that as he wassdeepy In debt
he had stolen the money and hidden 1t away. and
that at the time Of his arrest he had returned to
get II from under the stovepipe beneath hts desk.
He confessed that he had put II there he also said
that he had struck himself In the head with
dumb-be and purposely feigned inconsistencies
ana spasms. At this hour he Is locked up In his
cell, and will have hearing before Alderman
Butler on Monday