The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-07-27

IiOw THE CRIME WAS TRACED TO THE ''TEN
TRIED TRAVELLERS"

One dark, rainy night in Nuvembcr 1853.
the Flint Rock Bank, tha, nestled beneath
the sleepy elmS shading the principal
streets of u quiet New England village. WAS
entered aud robbed of large of
money.
The situation was peculiar. i large and
remarkably intelligent black maStiff with
white feet. called Silver stocking," made
the bank his home, always sleeping there
at night. If "a stranger came around he
would howl like park of artillery but he
WAS never known Io hs.l X al one wiIil " hom
he WAS familiar. Everything in The bank,
the .unruiun after the robbery, Was found
Just aS il had been left the afternoon PIE
ViutIs. The safe was locked nothing had
been dis,u. bed. "uly-the money was gone.
President Strand aud Cashier MOIetOu,
gcnI leucn of unbiemished Ieputatiou, had
gone III company that evening To attend Il
9olil icai meeting i'll an AL jacent town, and,
uu account of tie storm, remained there
over might. They drove home the next
mnIniig to find that the bank, whose re
! ability in every respect was the pride of
their hearts, had been robbed in their ab
seucc. AS is Often he case with country
banks whose business is not large or com
pljcated. the president and ciSl:ier alone
attended to Tie clerical du.iesef Flint Rock
Bank, no other person being employed III
il.
Various efforts were vainly made to fer
ret out the thieves. Al! suIts of rumors
were dfinat concerning suspicious charac
tcrs that had been seen in the village few
days before the robbery, aud it was said
that a carriage had been heard driving
through the streets that same night. Pop
ular opinion finally settled down to the be
lief that the nurey was taken 10y II gang of
New York burglars; bul the robbery and
the different means used to trace The per
pelraturs formed the chief topic of conver-
satiuu among the villagers during the en-
tire winter. Miss Ethel Moreton, the
beautiful young daughter of the cashier
had been made Ill by the excitement AMI
uy nervous fear lest her father should be
blamed in some way for the loss, and had
not lift hex room since the chine was dis
covered.
One evening il, the following April, Mr..
Wihercll, owner of Il Store III the village,
called ou Nj. Strand. the bank president,
at his residence, aud showcu him a bank
note which both the gentlemen agreed was
the same one that Mr.. Witheicll had de
posted in the bank on the afternoon pre-
cy,iing the robbery. The note had been
torn and mcnded III such way that 1t was
quite noticeable. and was Icmai kcd upon
by the two gentlemen at the time. rho
note was in one of the packages of money
hat had been taken. Ne. Wi.herell, on
being asked now IL hdu again COiiic iiito
his hands. said :
..MtS, Remington gave it TO me this af.
teluoon, in laying Il bill which her hus-
baud contracted soon after they came To
town last autumn, about n fortnight before
the bank was robbed. They bought Cash
Ter Noretou's Elm street house, moving
Intu it, vou kew, when he took possession
Of his new hCase aruAud ne corner"
After some further Conversation upon
the subject, the two gentlemen went TO-
peth,.r to call on Mts. Remiu2!o ION. They
fou,.d that her husband had just returned
from a Two weeks business trip. On MAX
ing known THEN errand, MIS-. ttcnlihgton,
IA quiet. lady like little woman, SAid
'.When We purchased t!is house Mr..
MoTetOU. the fuImcr occupant, proposed
that we should take the furnishings Of the
iron: hail that had been made 10 order IN
suit lie rather curiously shaped room. I'm
antique chair its the curve OF the stait-way.
the mirror hat.rack just suits the ,niche
made by the chimney flue. and the oarpo',
of course WIS cut to fit the floor
Thinking that we should he unable to
suit ourselves better, we b0ught the aFti-
cles, not .iioviuG them AT all the pas: winter.
, This spsiug. while my husband Was absent
o, his receut trip, | thought | would clean
honsI,. and accordingly began the front
haH found the bat rack ta hc on Gas
t0,~. easily rnllcd ont oi itS hiohe, ana be-
gas, wit b brush aud dust pan 10 clcan-whrre
il stood, when, far back in 'io Garner, with
:. few autumn leaves covered with dust, |
fouud thai bank note.
Il had no idea how it came iheie. and
,loughr would not mention the finding To
any one until my husband = reiurn. when
I I would advise with him about il. This
morliing Mr.. Witherelrs bill was sent in.
We had promised to pay tue bill tho irs.