The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-06
BUTLER AND THE BANK CASHIER.
How the Foxy Old Lawyer Dealt with Dis
honest Official.

Leander Richardson, in Louisville Commercial.
Sinister Ben Butler is seen from time to time
on our Now York streets He now runs law
office in Boston and another in this city. and be-
tween the two he makes his living. 1t is pref
ty good living that old Ben Butler makes. / can
tell you. l suppose his income from his law
practice runs up somewhere in the vicinity of
$1O0, 600 year. l see him occasionally on rail
way trains between here and Boston, and also
run across him now and then, lounging about the
lobby of the Fifth avenue Hotel, where he
always stops when visiting the metropolis But
Ter is getting to be pretty old, and he seems to
be feeling the effect of years as to his physical
condition, though his mental activity is fully as
with cane nowadays, and wherever
he goes he is accompanied by the
stalwart negro body servant who has been with
the testy old General for number of years
The other day was told one Of the mos char
acteristic stories of Butler that has ever been re-
lated concerning him. He was sitting in his
Office in Boston, one day, less than three months
ago. when the cashier of one of the principal
banks Of the Yankee metropolis sent in his card.
General Butler admitted the cashier to his pres
ence and asked how he could be of service. The
official responded, without making any bones
of it, that he had misapplied $40 900 of the banks
funds. 1t was the usual story of speculation,
beginning with his private means, and getting in
SO deep that the only way out was to borrow the
banks money without asking permission. He
had now to face the possibility of
being being caught and he had come to Gen
couss to be er n aaJoe The az .v to old t1e e
sidered the matter moment, and then asked the
cashier if he still had access to the funds of the
bank. The official replied that he was fully
trusted up to the present time, and could do
what he liked. Every we'll, them" said General
Butler, ''go over and get $4,000. 1t is no more
to steal fortune than to capture loaf of bread.
Bring the money here and will talk the matter
over with you" The cashier had come for ad-
vice, and he determined, without asking any
more questions to avail himself of General But
lers judgment In half an hour he came back
with the amount of money required General
Butler put $40 900 of it in an envelope, which he
placed in his safe. He then folded up half Of the
remaining pile, and tucked it into his own pocket.
The rest of the money he placed in the hands of
the cashier saying simply: when you reach
Canada telegraph me of your arrival" The
cashier went over to the bank again, secured
leave of absence for few days, and started for
Montreal
AS soon as he reached his destination he sent
dispatch to his lawyer, and General Butler
Immediately opened communication with the
bank by sending over message to the effect
that ne would like to see the president. In the
Buffers law Office. The General began by say
ing: Your cashier, Mr.. Soand.so is de-
faulter to the extent of $4,000, which he has
invested in unlucky speculations At present
he is in Canada. You could not bring him back
want to, even if you could 1t would greatly
injure the credit Of the bank to have it appear
that $4,000 Of its funds had gone astray
That is something which you will do we'll
to consider. l am prepared to negotiate
for the freedom of my client in America
on basis of restoring thirty three and one third
per cent of the money that has been misapplied
Return to your Office look through the. books
and come back here to morrow to let me know
what you have decided on" The official did as
he was told, and next day he declared that the
officers of the bank had agreed to make up the
deficiency, release the client Of General
Butler, and say no more about it. The neces-
sary documents were at once made out the 3d.,
600 in the envelope were handed o yer to the pres
ident of the bank, and General Butler tele-
graphed the fugitive cashier that he might
turn to the United States He is now back in
Boston, apparently enjoying life, and altogether
likely to find position in some other bank
where the lesson he has learned may be profitable
to him. General Butler does not often appear
personally in court nowadays. He mostly con-
fines himself to the position of consulting law
yer, having enough of that to do to keep him
busy pretty much all the winter.