The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1877-09-06
Instead Of answering. | took the di

Instead of answering, took the d.
rectory to see the list OF officers of that
bank.
"Wen," asked the chief, "what does
that signify?"
alt signifies that 1 can give you the
name of the murderer"
"The deuce you can! And who-T
Bratic."
"You are out of your senses."
Ten minutes after this fattering re-
mark the director shook my hand, say
ing, "You are lucky fellow eangratu-
late you"
Bratic was sent for, and came with
out delay. | met him with the words,
II arrest you as the murderer of Mr..
Melcher"
One outcry,and he sank. fainting to the
floor 1t was long before he recovered
sufficiently to answer questions. He
confessed without reserve, even to the
motive of his terrible crime.
Bratic's son had appropriated to his
own use some $4,000 in bonds. Discov-
cry was at hand. The guilty, thought
less youth appealed to his father for help.
What blow for the father, with his I'M
bounded affection! His property was not
sufficient to make good the defaleation,
and with despair he looked forward TO
the day in which he must see his son
branded as criminal At this critical
time he was commissioned to watch
Melcher's villa He was often in Mr..
Melcher's company, became familiar with
all parts of the house, with the habits of
its master, and-with the contents of the
safe. The thought entered Bratic's
mind that he could avert disgrace from
his son by himself becoming thief.
The idea gained full possession of him,
and drove him on to the act. He feigned
illness, and sent notice of it so late at
night that he knew no other officer
would be put ON guard before morning.
For keys, he had that of the park, and
his remarkable collection. He wore
large, over felt soles, in order to leave
nothing resembling footprint. 1t was
not his intention to harm Mr.. Melcher,
but while he was in the room Melcher
made a sudden movement, and Bratic,
seized with fear, snatched up the dagger
that lay upon the table, and drove it in
to the hilt. He then opened the safe,
took therefrom no more than enough to
cover the deficit in the deposits, and left
the house as silently and carefully as he
! had entered.
He gave the papers to his son, who
had no knowledge of his fathers crime,
and who placed them at once with the
other deposits, so that even had the num-
bers been known, discovery would have
been extremely improbable. Since Bratic
! himself was intrusted with the affair, it
was not difficult for him to prevent any
effectual search. If he had permitted
me to make my report, and hand over to
him the label, number 2l-if that false
notice had not appeared in the papers,
reminding the treasury officials of the
case-who knows whether the crime
would ever have been traced? Only a
chain of trifiing circumstances brought
the whole to light. The deed had evil
IDENTIFY pressed with fearful weight upon
Bratic; he had endured intoIerable
mental agonies. But for his son, his
first thought and his last, it seemed as
though his detection was to him a relief.
His only entreaty was that his son
might be forgiven for his unfaithful-
ness. The directors of the bank regard
ed his wish so far that they did not dis
miss the youth, who had shown himself
much improved in habits, but employed
him in a position involving less trust.
Bratic, with one interview with this
son, for whom he had sacrificed his up
Brightness, hanged himself in his cell.