Sharp County record., 1878-03-08
A Young Bank Clerk Steals $4,000
and Starts Out to See the World.

There arrived from Santa Fe, New
Mexico, last night, by the Atchison, To-
peka and Santa Fe Road, says the Kan
sas City JGarnal, two men who were
pointed out to a journal reporter as fit
subjects for an item. The reporter en-
tered into conversation with the larger
and older of the two men and found out
that his name was Henry H. Ashton,
and that the young mans name was
Harper. Both were from Montreal,
Canada; one Il detective and the other
q prisoner. Ashton was the detective,
and the story he told was as follows;
In June, 1871, the Bank Of Montreal was
robbed OF $4,000 by George Harper,
Private Secretary to the President. He
was young man of splendid connec-
tions, but was addicted to strong drink,
and had been on big spree at the time
the cash was missed. He entered the
bank the morning of the rob-
berry, and passed through the counting
room into his Office, and was at work
there, when Ashton, the detective, en-
tered to talk to the President Of the
bank about the theft. The detective had
said but a few words when
Harper got up and left the room, and
calling a carriage, drove to the railroad
station, in time to catch fast train for
the South. He was missed in q short
time, suspected of being the thief, and
Ashton put upon his trail. He was first
tracked to Chicago, and from there to
San Francisco. The detective was only
three days behind him at Frisco, but
there he lost the trail, and was on the
point of returning East when the news
was received that young man answer
ing Harper's description was living at
Panama and throwing his money about
with a liberality of a "Monte Christie"
The first steamer for Panama carried
out an old bald-headed man as a pas
senger, who was none other than Ash
ton, the detective. On his arrival at
Panama, it was ascertained that Har-
per had left for the City of Mexico, Oct.
18th, in the company of a young En-
glish nObleman, with whom he became
acquainted on the steamer between San
Francisco and Panama. The detective
followed the pair, it being much easier
now, as there were two men in the par
ty he was after, and Harper had given
up all idea of anyone being on his track.
The young men spent some time in
Mexico visiting the diftereut towns and
cities, and at last started
for the United States by stage,
expecting to spend the winter in Den
ver Ashton followed them with the in
stinct of blood hound, and on the 10th
of January arrested his man in a house
of prostitution at Santa Fe, New Mexi-
co. A more surprised individual was
never seen than Harper when Ashton
came in and clapped the darbieS on his
wrists, He gave up at once and said he
would 90 back to Canada without the
formality of extradition papers. When
arrested Harper had upon his person
$4,000 in cash, the balance of the
amount stolen having been sqaundered
in the eight months, since he ran away.
Ashton felt highly elated over his cap
ture, and related the story of the case
and final ending with delight. He kept
Harper continually in sight and retired
to sleep every night hand-cutfed to the
prisoner. When the pair left the cars
last night the prisoner was leaning on
the arm of the detective, and in that
way walked through the crowd and en-
tered the North Missouritrain. Harper
is young man only 26 years of age,
and has lovely wife and three beauti-
full children in Canada. His punish
ment will be from 10 to 20 years in
prison.
Gnmmprcn OF the World