The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-07-25
Mrs. Mestre's Lost Cash.
VIZ THOUSAND DOLLARS DRAWN FROM A Saw
INGS BANK.
from the New York SUM-

mus DAMN
from the New York SUM-
About ten days ago Mrs. Rosina Mestre,
of lat Wooster street, was visited by slen-
der stranger about thirty years old. She
knew him a. "Louis." lie repeated his
visit, and talked much about his life In
France. He said he had been restaurateur
in Lyons, where he left his two children.
He did not speak English in her presence,
saying that he was unacquainted with the
lang uage. He said no boarded in the Marion
House, in Blocker street. On Thursday
last he invited Mrs. Mestre to accompany
him to Central Park, and while they were
waiting ut Broadway and Blocker streets
for Stage short, fieshy man crossed Broad
way and accosted them in French, inquiring
clad to meet persons who could speak his
own language, and after some talk be was
invited to accompany the couple to the Park.
THE BLACK LEATHER yALIsE.
The short man carried black leather va.
lise which seemed so troublesome that Mrs.
Mestre asked why he carried it. He said it
was very valuable, and he did not dare en-
trust it with others. In the Park the party
sauntered while, and at length sat down to
take some lemonade. The fat man insisting
upon paying the bill, unlocked bis vaise and
took a roll of what he said was $40 gold
pieces. He exhibited several other rolls.
Mrs MeStre rcbuked him for carrying so
much gold in that careless way, and for eX.
hib,ting it where hundreds were passing.
She noticed that Louis paid for the drinks
after all.
On their way down the fat stranger talked
much about his native place, Savoy, his occu.
patton there, and his money, which he con-
yerted into gold when be arrived in America.
He added that he held many bonds of rail-
roads in Spain, Italy, and France.
5On their arrival at her house Louis and
the stranger offered to sell Mrs. Mestre some
of the gold, telling her that the premium on
1t would realize more than the 6 per cent. in
terest that she was drawing from the bank
where her money was deposited. After the
fat man went aRay Louis repeated the talk
about the gold, and the next day talked
about 1t again and again.
At length Mrs. Mestre gave Louis half
promise that she would purchase some of
the gold. What puzzled her was the mems
knowledge that she had 3
M0NBYIN THE BANK. 81
On Saturday morning Louis was at her
house early, but he remained only a short
time. The burden of his conversation was
the strangers gold, and the profit which she
might reap fromsit by buying it. AT noon
Louis returned to the house with the stran-.
ger. He still carried his yalise. Att O'Clock
they started for the Manhattan Savings In
stitution, at Broadway and Blocker street.
The stranger asked permission to leave his
yalise In Mrs. Mest1e's room. She thought
1t would not be safe there in her absence,
ard in her simplicity she told fthe stran-
ger that he was very credulous to
trust her with his gold on such short
acquaintance. BE protested entire conf
dence 10 her, and thrust the palise under the
bed. Then the two men and the woman
went to the savings institution, and Mrs.
Mestre drew her money 50, f43-all she had
Ola deposit there. She said she had some
money in the Bowery Savings Bank, and as
she needed some for other purposes than
buying gold, she asked the two men to ac-
company hert0 that bank. On the way Louis
noticed that she carried her money in her
open hand, without wrapper or other dis
gIlise. He said to her: /" Let me carry it for
Sou. Somebody will steal 1t from you"
Mrs. Msstre handed the rollto Louis, tell
ing him to lake good care of it until they
reached the bank. AL this time the fat man
hsrped upon bis coin.
THE HsaEy OFT OF TEE BANK.
Ia the bank Mrs. Mestre was compelled TO-
await her turn with several other deposltors.
She and her two iriends.sat down. The fat
man complained Of the heat and went out
tide. When Mrs Mestre's .name was called
By the teller, Louis stepped to the door and
n0pped bis face with his handkerchief.
When Nrs., Mestre handed her hank book to
he clerk and asked for q oertaiR amount of
money she said she intended TO buy some
,oId. The clerk asked her where she was
,oing to buy The coin, accompanying the
question. with the suggestion that she ahould
,e very careful 10 such Transactions, and
hSt she should have the gold examined by
n expert. An unpleasant suspicion en-.
sre6 her mind, but IL did not seriously dis !
nrb her. While the clerk was getting her
loney she stepped to the door and asked
.ouis where his friend, the owner OF thel
old, was. Louis replied carelessiy that no
guessed he had gone across the street tof
et q drink. z,
THR; FINAL GATAsraopHE.
sAs Mrs. Mestre took her money from the i
lshier no also eauti0ned her to be careful jnt
IL fn 0Oir. At this renttiftnn of in. i