The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-08-16
FISHING FOR GREENBACKs.

How Too InkehIohs bank Janitor Con.
Quoted SystemStFc Peculotian-Dl lrcctora
Puzzled, ne ectives Bamcd-rhe Plan DfsA
covered hy Accident.
As far back as January last the Ma
donal bank OF Elizabeth, N. j., of
which Mr., John Kean is PRESIDENT seAe
TOR ex-Ohief of Police John heron and
instructed him to discover il he could
who had beeA systematically robbing
the bark since the previous July. Chief
keron worked hard on the case and
associated with himself the present
chief Of police, William d. 5enkins,
The only conclusion the two could At
rive at after most thorough siftsnE was
that the robberies were committed by
some one connected With the institution.
The bank being solid one, and not in
the slightest way incommoded by the
ioas OF the money stolen, she officers
and directors were much dis
turbed Al the possibility of such
things happening, Notwithstanding
every precaution, and nothing seemed
to be left them to do but quietly dis
miss the clerGs upon suspicion. These
twn young men we're Edward Sherwood,
the paying teller Of the bank, and
Joseph MCGUIRE, the bookkeepeE, Mt.
Sherwood was an estimable and very
popular young man, who, thrown on
the world when q mere boy, had worked
his way up from office boy in the bank
to the place he then held. Mr.. Mcclure
was brother to James Mcclure, who
was then and is still the cashier OF the
bank. The two young men worked
aim pst side by side, and in the tenn
porsry absence of Sherwood Mcclure
for the time being always took his
place. They we're on the most friendly
terms, and though between them stood
the dark mystery as tc who Was robbing
the money drawer, neither was ever
known TO throw a doubt upon the
others character.
Mr.. Sherwood had, of course, from
his position as paying teller, charge of
the moneys of the bank for each days
business, and these moneys we're placed
as they were received in large drawer
beside the paying teller's window, and
this drawer, for the erk's con vonience,
was separated into several compart.
ments, beginning with one for one
dollar bills and running up progress
lively to tifties and hundreds. 1t was
from this drawer that the money was
stolen-alwsys in titties and twenties-
and the robbery was always committed
during banking hours. At no other
time was there money in this drawer,
and at no time during the day was
either Sherwood or MCGUIRE absent
from that portion of the office. The
two young men protested that they
could not explain how the money was
abstracted, and declared their inn@
cence of all knowledge OF it. She's
wood was under bonds for
considerable amount to secure fsu
bank, and after the first occasionere
failed in being atle to balance hisi "
counts for the day he notified =
cashier of that fact, expressing his etil
wonder at the occurrence. The caslbs
could make no better hand of the; r
count. This was on the 18th Of ] Nc
1881, and the first money that mys dor
ously disappeared from the drawer
1900. Sherwood's bondsmen pror. =
made the loss good and expressed N' l"
willingness to stand by the youH :
low, believing him not to be guilty, Q
September 19, 1881, it was found al 81
close of the day that he,,was $340 sle I
on November %, 1881, he was =,
short; on January 9, this year, he y a'
short $3.50, and on January 16 he Q bi
short $3.50. His bondsmen made alntio
losses good.
1t was at this juncture that ex-CO re
of Police Keron was called in and
private life of Sherwood and Meg
was watched and scanned with clo.,
scrutiny. Keron and jenkins kf'
every dollar that the two bank Gle.
had in their possession, how much tH o
spent of it, and where and with whons
and, in q word, "knew as much abou
them as they did themselves" B1
they failed to find a flaw in the daill
lives of the two young men, and 80 re
ported to the directors of the bank VIII
had employed them. Then a change
was made by the bank management, anC
Mcclure was transferred to the payinJ
teller's desk and sherwood to the book
keepers. This arrangement was onl,
to last for few weeks, however, until
reasonable time was given both to fnf
other employment and in order tina
the two should not leave at the sam
time. Strangely enough, not dollal
was taken from the money drawer Will
Mcclure was paying teller. The rob
berry was then in a very complicate,
condition. Mr.. Charles Halsey, wht
was then member of the commo,
council of the town, was made IRinl
teller. And then, from January 16 t,
June 10, there was not ruffis on th
bank directors faces. Everything ha
now quieted down, they thought, an,
not very much harm had been done
But again the mysterious agency wa
at work, and on June 10 $3.50 wa
spirited away, and nobody could eve
begin to form suspicion as to how
had been done. Not Vestige Of tn
track OF thief was left behind. Watch
full energy was redoubled. There wa
nothing new 10 be seen around an,