The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-01-24
THE MYSTERIOUS ROBBERY.


In the march of intelligence, which is the
grand march of the age, the dy Mantle fiend,
the counterfeiter, the bank robber and
wrecker, the incendisry and burglar, and so
on through the list. manage to keep abreast
of the scientist, inventor and thinker in all
departments of business affairs. Such re-
Elections are suggested by the disappearance
of package containing the snug sum of
IS. OO0 said to have been placed by the First
National Bank OF Indianapolis, in the custo-
DIV of the Adams Express Compa-
by, to be taken to Muncie,
distance OF abou sixty miles.
When the package arrived at its destination
it was not money-f5, 000-but mass oil
muslin. The money package did not 60 to
Muncie. Whyf That's the rub. Thereby
hangs tale That's the mystery. 1t is woR-
derfully fruitful of reflection. The bank
indorses its employees. The Express Com
pany with equal emphasis vouches for the
integrity of its clerks and agents. NotWith-
standing which one or the other of these
concerns harbors thief; an adroit villain;
acultured scoundrel. Where is he2 Who is
he? The bank has investigated, and so has
the Express Company, but the mystery Is
not solved. The thief, whoever he is,
whether employed by the bank or the Elk
press Company, has managed to win the
confidence of his employees. He is solid
with the bank or Express Company-not a
a shadow of suspicion exists, so far as the
public knows. If the money left the bank
then an Express Company employe stole it.
If it did not leave the bank then some bank
thief in the common acceptation OF the
term. 1t is safe to say that he has pleasant
social surroundings. Does not drink. He
probably is married-has an affectionate
wife and prattling children, and moves in
good society" Sill he is q thief
and if caught will go over the road"
Now, then, what interest has society in such
matters? Why should society shudder?
Who's hurt? The bank is rich, and the
same is true of the Express Company. They
can pay the S., 900 if required to do 80 by
the Courts. Somebody has got to lose. SuS-
likely to be solved. So far as known every
body is honest, and yet there is a thief in
the employment of the bank or the Express
Company. The history of the ease, as told
by the bank aud Express Company, forces
that sort of a conclusion. Is it to be be-
lieved for one moment that the thief, who
ever he may be, is living within his in
come? What is the history of bank wreckers,
who are occasionally caught and sent TO
Prison? They speculated. They were
ANXIOUS to become rich. They wanted the
golden stream to be quick and powerful.
Why? Well, they wanted romove in good
society,"" They wanted to own an aristo-
cratic pew in fashionable Church. They
wanted to be recognized by the Goldfish arts
tocracy. They wanted to be invited into
Struck ile'' circles, where the votaries of
vulgar ignorance riot like maggots in cream
cheese. To crafty these ambitions they
must speculate, and to speculate they must
steal The thief who has possession of the
So, 600 belonging to the First National Bank,
| it would be safe to wager anything
from pebble to palace, is bucket shop
speculator- puts" and calls, f"
"long," and shorts margins and
corners" and possibly drives fast horses
and dresses in purple and fine linen. $50
ciety" is very much like the whited sepul-
cheers we read about. 1t is particularly
pretty ON the outside, but within is full of
rotteness. Money unlocks its doors. Money
is passport to recognition. Money! Get
money; steal it, gamble for it, rob banks,
savings banks, benevolent institutions.
Money! Get it by forgery, perjury; get
money. Let mystery profound as death
obscure the methods, and society will bid
its possessor welcome.