Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-08-19
FORSMAN'S BONANZA.
He WORKED THE WINDSOR HOUSE
SAFE IND GOT CAUGHT.
How q Former Clerk in tho Hotel Fell
Making an Excuse to Stay In the Office
The Safe Opened While the Night Clerk
was Absent-A Watch Set Catches tho
Perpetrator in tho Act.

Making an Excuse to Stay In the ONCE
The Safe Opened While the Night Clerk
was Absent-A Watch Set Catches the
Perpetrator in tho Act.
One of those cases of "who could have be-
lieved it, came to light yesterday. Albert
Forsman, for several years night clerk at the
Windsor hotel, is the person about whom
the surprise is expressed, for yesterday
morning about 2;3O o'clock he was detected
in attempting to rob the safe of the hotel.
He was captured in the act of committing a
robbery and it all. came about in this way:
For several months the cash at the hotel has
been discovered to be short. The nights
reckoning could not be made to tally with
what was supposed to have been taken in
during the day. Suspicion futtered around
promiscuously but didn't settle down on
Forsman. He had been in the employ of
the firm, Summers g. Baugh, for
over three years, aud implicit con-
fidence and trust was imposed
in him. From time to time the discrepan-
cies in the cash were found, and duly re-
ported by the cashier, Mr.. Jones, and a kind
of monotony, wholly inexplicable, set in.
Messrs. Summer & Baugh couldn't &C.
count for the shortage, nor could cashier
Jones understand the often re- occurring
item of loss.
TOO FAST.
Only one thing could be done
in the premises, and that was to
establish systematic and careful
watch. Soon the hotel proprietors learned
that Forsman was living beyond his means.
At any rate they discovered that instead of
the sedate and quiet youth they supposed
him to be he was living double life. In
doors he was all attention, industry and
watchfulness. Outside he was given to sport
and free handed disbursement of more
money than his salary surely to meet his
luxurious pleasure.
Thus and for the first time suspicion
seemed to attach to Forsman, but it couldn't
be fastened upon him. However about May
1st, Summers & Baugh thought they could
dispense with Forsman's services, and so
Informed him. He quit, accordingly. Not
withstanding Forsman's discharge, odd
sums of money. at very regular intervals,
continued to disappear.
THE POLICE CALLED.
So late as last Thursday $40 was taken
out of the safe. Finding all their remedies
inadequate to the occasion, Summers &
Baugh Notwithstanding they should
have done long before-to report to the po-
lice and invoke their assistance. This assist
ance was promptly extended, and served a
purpose in the discovery and arrest of the
thief in the act. For four
days or nights Officer Baer
has been watching the hotel. Yesterday
morning his watch was rewarded in the cap
ture of Forsman. When captured he had
the safe door open, and was making ready
to open the money drawer and supply him
self with funds to defray the expenses of
luxurious living.
Forsman's surprise was great, and his ar
rest was made under his vehement protest.
The appearances were against him which were
further confirmed by search of his person.
There were found on him the safe key, others
to fit the inside drawers of the safe he had
open and also the safe used as a depository
for valuables belonging to guests.
There was nothing else to be done under
the circumstances Albert Forsman was
taken to tho police lookup. Yester-
day morning he was arraigned
in the municipal court, and
at his own request the case was continued
until tomorrow. In default of 5000 bail
he was committed to Jail.
IN JAIL.
There few minutes after the iron had
shut him out from the world-that world
in which he formerly held a respectable
place, GLOBE reporter called upon him,
Forsmon declined to make any statement,
He had none to make.
His statement, he said, was reserved for
the ears of the court, and would be made by
his attorney. He had ssnt out Tor Mr.. w,
w. Erwin to help him bridge over the chasm
gaping at his feet.
Forsman thoroughly realizes his situation.
And now that it IS done, he'd give worlds had
he left it undone.
Forsman is young man OF "a TO 26
years of age, and is widely known to
the travelling public from his long connec-
ton with the Windsor hotel. There he has
been employed as night clerk, and has been
fully trusted. Since his discharge, May LIST,
he has been permitted to make the hotel his
home, and has jointly occupied room with
Mr.. Jones, as he did when at work. The
trust imposed in him has given him ample
opportunity to extend his pilfering
or thefts over long time. He had
the safe combination, was given
access to it, and requited his employers
confidence and betrayed his friend, Cashier
Jones, by having duplicate keys made for
the inside drawers, with which he has been
enabled to touch wealth whenever he felt so
inclined. When discharged no intimation,
out of kindly feeling to him, was
given to the other employees of the cause.
Forsman accordingly has had a run
OF the office, as it were, when he'd come in
late of nights AT times he'd watch for the
new night clerk, when he was around the
house. At such times he got in his work,
and at such time Officer Baer caught him,
yesterday morning.
Forsman is Swede by birth, and has no
relations in this country. Up to this time
he has enjoyed the good opin-
ion of the public, and has
made friends in the city who are sincerely
grieved at his fall.
Messrs. Summers u Baugh are unable to
accurately determine the extent of their loss
es, as Forsman's thefts may have extended
over long time, first in small sums and
then later in such amounts that detection of
the loss was no longer avoidable. At
rough guess it is estimated
that $500 or thereabouts, likely less sum,
will cover the losses. To partially secure
themselves, Summers & Baugh, late yester.
day afternoon, attached horse belonging to
Forsmon, which he has in Woodmansie's
stables at the Driving park.
A Find or Steal.
An exceedingly brash young man named
Theodore Smell, was arraigned at the police
on0rf ~, u