Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1886-01-28
A STOLEN BANK NOTE.
How It Was Traced Back to the
Perpetrator OF tho Thoft.

f6Tp0tr0tOE OI Cu0 Iu0II.
Some years ago was resident In
New York. One day gentleman, who
announced himself rs the British Con.
sui at tlla, port. entered my fathers
office, saying tina, he wished to speak
with Mr.. Nj.
THAT is my namc," Ircplicd.
pardon me" said the Consul; "but
! was under the impression that the
Mr.. M whom | am dcsirous Of sec-
Ing was nn older man than YOU are"
"Ah, il is my father, then, whom you
want. Unfortunately, he is, and has
been for some days past, confined to
the house by indisposi,ion. Can you
communicate to me the nature Of your
business, and il may be in my power
TO attend to ii in his abscncc3"
~ am obliged to you," said the Con.
sui. WELL" he added, after some
slight hesitation, II should like to
speak with you in private for a few min.
ltcs. IL convenient"
Certainly" and having shown the
old gentleman into an innerroom, re.
qucstcd him to be seated, Ind waited
for him to broach the matter concern
ing which he had sought the interview.
Without preface. the Consul took out
from u pockct-book twenty-pound
Bank Of England note, handed II to me
and said IL believe this note passed
through your fathers hands about w. o
months ago"
Very possih'y.'' ! replied. rather
surprised at the question. "But ! can
ascertain for certainty in amoment."
Then. summoning junior clerk, de.
sired him to bring me the rough cash.
book. On looking over its pages, I
soon came across the entry regarding
Bank of England note, the amount,
late and number of which correspond.
ed with those of the one before me.
L find" I said, "that this. note wds
in my fathers possession attife time
you mcntion.-But may l ask the OBJ
jcct of your making the INQUIRY"
II is this. Some fourteen months
since, this note was distracted from n
letter pos,cl at Glasgow for Aberdeen.
Nothing was heard Of the stolen money
until five weeks ago, when the note
was stopped, on being paid into the
Bank Of England by firm Of private
bankers. They stated that II had been
received by one Of their customers in
the ordinary course Of business. The
customer, when applied to, said that It
had been rcmittcd to him by Mr.. NJ
of New York. l have therefore been
instructed by my Government TO trace.
II possible, the note during the period
IL was in this country. Can you inform
me from whom your father had it?"
Easily" ! said, referring to the
book before me. 1T was bought of a
Mr.. White, who has an exchange Office
in Wall street. But fear" added,
"you will find It difficult, IL not quite
impracticable, TO carry the matter fur
thcr; since il is the usage with brokers
to buy English bank.notes offered for
sale without asking any questions, be.
ing aware that, even II they have been
stolen, the innocent holder can le-
gally enforce the cashing Of them"
That is true. l agree with you that
It is most unlikely that Mr.. White will
be able to let ME know who was the
person from whom he bought the note;
however, I Shall call upon Snim without
delay, since tits ustpossible that he may
have II in his power to afford the infor-
nation / seek" Then, after thanking
me for my courtesy in the matter. the
Consul took his leave; and 1 presumed
that I should hear nothing more Of the
affair.
However. some months later, / was
lunching at Dclmonico's one day, when
he Consul entered the room. Reoog-
nizing me. he came over TO the table at
which was seated and took chair
beside me. In the course Of CONVERSE
ton he said: "You recollect the cir
cumstance of my calling upon you,
some little time ago, with respect to
stolen Bank of England noteP"
Perfectly"
"Well, after all. wdS successful in
tracing the note"
"IIow was thatp" inquired.
81 will tell you. When / left your
Office. l went to that Of Mr.. White. He
referred to his books. and found that
he had changed the note for the man.
sger Of one OF the agencies OF the Con.
nal Railroad Company. I then called
apon that gentleman. He had no rec
ollection Of the individual from whom
be had received the money; and disap.
pointed, was leaving tho establish.
men,, when clerk interposed. and I'D.
dressing his employer, he said: Mr..
Suydam. we had the note In question
from a man who bought through.
ticket for Chicago. He came in to In
luire what was the fare to that city. I
aid him. He said tina. he would 60 by
CIV lire, h.: 'ha; he mus first change