, 1881-05-27
4 Detectives Story.

The wholesale produce and commits
sion store of Mr.. Purvis, on Delaware
avenue, near Vine street, Philadelphia,
was ,robbed on the night of October II g,
1865. - .
The safe had been opened apparently
by false keys, and upwards of 1900 in
greenbacks were abstracted. A package
of bonds to the amount $4,000 more re-
maired untouched.
Two clerks, both young men, usually
slept in the store. August Yerkes had
been in the employ of Mr.. Harrison Pur-
Wis about four years, and enjoyed the
confidence of his employer. Pembroke
Sharon, the other clerk, had only re-
Gently been taken, but the manner in
which he took hold of the business i'm
pressed Mr.. PurVis so much in his favor
that he predicted a successful future for
the young man as q very able salesman
and ultimate prominent merchant. Under
this impression he placed implicit trust in
Sharon, and selected him as a compan-
ion for Yerkes in the store at night.
Both of these young men were in the
store on the night the robbery occurred; ;
but when the place was opened in the
morning Sharon was missing and
Yerkes lay on the floor near the safe with
q severe cash on the side of his head,
which had been bleeding profusely,
Judging by the amount of blood on the
floor. = 49,
The unfortunate young man had evil
IDENTIFY endeayored to staunch the blood,
for both his hands were stained as also
were his clothes. BY the disorder at the
office, and the numerous stains both on
the floor and walls, it was evident that
AaI-a
1t was conjectured from this that Sha-
ron. having provided himself with false
keys, had opened the safe AMI had been
surprised by his fellow clerk in the midst
of his,Work, who in turn dealt him the
blow near the temple. and then, after
severe struggle between them, Yerkes
tainted from loss of blood, and the rob-
Der fled with his booty.
Varnoe, the detective, and physician
were at once sent for, and while DR.. Ed
son attended to his patient, the detective
examined the premises with his usual
carefulness, particularly the second
floor, and returning to the lower floor,
found that Yerkes had recovered, and
sat in. an armchair with u bandage
around his head.
well, Mr.. Varnoe, what have you
discovered?" asked Mr.. Puryis.
AZ find that the robber has been to the
second Aoor," replied the detective;
possibly he has taken some valuables
from there as we'll" ...
The merchant hastened up stairs, but
presently returned, saying nothing had
been disturbed or removed as far as he
could see.
Whatever his object may have been, |
am positive that he visited the second
floor after the bloody struggle had taken
place"
Then Yerkes gave the following ac-
count:
He awoke suddenly and found that Sha-
ron had left his bed, and fearing that
some mishap had overtaken him, he lit a
paratine candle by the small gas Jet in
the room and began TO search for him
Not finding him on the second floor, he
descended to the first floor before the
open safe.
They saw each other at the same mo-
ment. and Sharon was spellbound at be-
ing discovered in his criminal act Then
began the struggle, the evidence of
which was so plainly evident. Sharon
being the stronger OF the two, soon over
powered his opponent, and threw him SO
violently ON the floor that he became in
sensible.
Varnoe listened with wrapt attention
to the end, and then made few notes
in his book, after which he walked out
OF the store with his eyes bent on the
floor before him until he reached the
street; then after casting his eyes
saarehingly around on the ground, he
walked over TO the dock and gaZed for
a few minutes into the water in a
thoughtful manner When he returned
to the store and rejoiced the others in |
the office, it was with q grave counte-
nance,
'Mr. Purvis, the robber has evidently |
escaped by the way of the river, as the |
blood tracks reach to the dock"
All eyes were now directed toward the !
wounded man. who had suddenly grown /
very pale. He opened his mouth as
if TO say something, but fell back |
in his seat with a groan and tainted
away.
While the doctor was applying restora-
tives to his charge the detective drew
Mr.. PurVis away 10 the rear of the store