The Democratic advocate., 1884-07-12
MY FELLOW PASSENGER
[coxrrSrEp FROM FIRST PACE

That circumstances were so shaping
themselves as to do away with the neces-
sity of eany action from our side, did not,
and could not enter into my calculations,
as, bitterly wondering when and how this
miserable suspicion would become sicken-
ing certainty, | fell into a dream haunted
and unquiet sleep.
We had breakfast, and were leaving the
house towards eleven o'clock the next
morning, intending, if VIC could sight him,
to interview the gray-coated sentry, when
station fly drove up to the door and de-
posted well built and gentlemanly look
ing person, who, slightly raising his hat,
said 'May I ask if either of you gentle
men is Mr. Peter Rodd?"
Casually noticing that the speaker wore
speckled tie, l replied, 'that is my name. !"
"Then it is my duty to inform you, sir,
that have warrant for your arrest on a
criminal charge, and at the same time to
caution you against saying anything which
may hereafter be used in your disfavor."
"What is the charger l asked, "with
the air, as Henry afterwards observed, of a
man who is in the habit of being arrested
every morning after breakfast.
"Suspicion of having stolen ON or about
the 23d of June sum of one thusand five
hundred and fifty pounds in gold from the
Alliance Bank, Cape Town, in which you
were an employee under the name of Per
cival Royston.'
"And what evidence have you that this
gentleman is the person for whose arrest
you have warrant ?" interposed my cousin.
''Strictly speaking, | have told you all l
am permitted to do" was the courteous
answer 'But it will not be very grave
breach of duty if l say that my prisoner is
known to have reached England in the
Balbriggan Castle, to have exchanged gold
for notes at Southampton, and to be in
possession of a quantity of luggage marked
p r., some of which has been found upon
examination to contain clothes, books and
letters bearing the name Percival Royston,
Alliance Bank, Cape Town, while in other
boxes were found similar articles with the
name Peter Rodd showing the adoption of
the alias.
'Would it be within your province to
release your prisoner upon undoubted proof
that he is not the person wanted p
The officer thought for moment, and
replied: ''If such proof could be confirmed
by magistrate after communicating
with headquarters
''Then, said my cousin, "will you be
good enough to bring your prisoner to the
manor-house, and ask the squire-who is a
magistrate three simple questions ?-The
name of your prisoner; how long it is since
they last met; what is to his knowledge the
total duration of the prisoners recent alb
sence from England ?''
This my captor readily consented to do;.
and after the three questions had been
answered by the squire-at whose house l
had dined Just year before-telegraphed
to Scotland Yard, asking whether it was
known how long Royston had been contin-
uously in the service of the bank. The
answer came speedily: ''Five or six years."
followed half an hour later by a second
message: "a mistake has occurred. Do
not arrest Rodd. If already done, express
regret, and return at once" There was
Just time for him to catch an up-train; and
after carrying out his last instructions with
great politeness, the detective drove off,
stopping, as | observed, at the end Of the
drive, to pick up man who was leaning
against the gate-post, his hands buried
deep in the pockets of gray dust coat.
The next post from London brought
very ample explanation and apology for
''the painful position in which | had been
placed through an exceedingly regrettable
mistake. This had arisen through the inn
perfect information furnished to the au-
thorities in the first instance as to the
movements of the real culprit, who, they
had unfortunately no room whatever to
doubt, was the passenger going under
the name of Paul Raynor. This person,
it was now ascertained, had taken passage
on board sailing ship for South America.
The similarity of initials, with other facts
of which | was aware, had combined to
mislead those engaged in the case; while
the discovery of Royston's luggage in my
possession had of course confirmed theirsus
picions.
'They were directed to add that the alias
under which knew him had of course been
assumed only after the Balbriggan Castle
by the next homeward- bound steamer to
Madeira and thence telegraphed to Eng
land, did not contain this important item
of information.
Opening the newspaper two or three days
later, read at the head of the column, in
conspicuous type, arrival Of the Cape
Mail Audacious Robbery from a Cape
Town Bank" then in smaller print, "a
considerable sensation has been caused at
Cape Town by the discovery of a robbery,
planned and carried out with an audacity
which it is not too much to describe as
unique in the annals of crime, The cir
cumstances are briefly these On the morn
ing of Wednesday, the 18th of June. the
mail steamer Turcoman arrived in Table
Bay from England, having on board some
five thousand pounds in gold for the ALI
ance Bank, to whose care it was duly de-
livered on the same day. A portion of
this amount, namely, fifteen hundred
pounds, was destined for the use of the
banks Diamond Fields branch at De Vries-
pan, where it was required with all expedi-
ton. The overland service between Cape
Town and the Diamond Fields is a BIZ
weekly one, leaving the former place at 6
a. M, on Monday and Thursday, and COW
ering the whole distance of seven hundred
miles in about five days nine hours. In
order, therefore, to ensure the despatch of
the case containing the specie by the mail
cart on the following day, Mr. Percival
Royston, the assistant cashier, was requested
to undertake, in conjunction with the senior
clerk, Mr.. Albertus jaeger, the duty of
counting and repacking the gold, after the
completion of their ordinary work at 6 or
o'clock. They had made some consider
able progress, when Royston remarked how
pale and tired his companion was looking.
Upon Mr., Jager's admitting that he was
feeling far from well, the other asked him
if he would not give un the work and 90