The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1886-01-16
A STOLEN BANK NOTE,
How It Was Traced Back to the
Perpetrator Of the Theft.

Some years ago l was resident in
Now York. One day a gentleman, who
announced himself as the British Con-
sui at that port, entered my fathers
office, saying that he wished to speak
with Mr.. NJ -
''Thot is my name" 1 replied.
Pardon me-" said the Consul; "but
l was under the impression that the
Mr.. M whom l am DESTROYS of see
ing was an older man than you are"
"Ah, it is my father, then, whom you
want. Unfortunately, he is, and has
been for some days past, confined to
the house by indisposition. Can you
communicate to me the nature Of your
business, and it may be in my power
to attend to 1t in his absencep"
am obliged to you,' said the Con-
sui. SWELL" he added, after some
slight hesitation, II should like to
speak with you in private for a few min
utos, if convenient"
"~Certainly;" and having shown the
old gentleman into an innerroom, ] re-
quested him to be seated, and waited
for him % breach the matter concern
ing which he had sought the interview.
Without preface. the Consul took out
from a poeket-book a twenty-pound
Bank of England note, handed it to me
and said; II believe this note passed
through your fathers hands about two
months ago" ... .a. g..
VERY possibly" I replied, rather
surprised at the question. "But l can
ascertain for a certainty in amoment."
Theu,. summoning' a junior clerk, 1 de-
sired him to bring me the rough cash
book. On looking over its pages, l
soon came across the entry regarding
a Bank of England note, the amount,
date and number of which correspond
ed with those of the one before me.
Il find" l said, that this note Was
in my fathers possession at the time
you mention. But may ask the OBJ
ject of your making the inquiryp"
ut is this. Some fourteen months
since, this note was distracted from a
letter posted 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 a firm Of private
bankers. They stated that it had been
received by n Of their customers in
the ordinary course of business. The
customer, when applied to, said that it
had been RENTED to him by a Mr.. M
Of New York. l have therefore been
instructed by my Government to trace,
if possible, the note during the period
it was in this country. Can you inform
mt from whom your father had it?"
Easily" l said, referring to the
book before me. at was bought of a
Mr.. White, who has an exchange office
in Wall stteel. but l fear" I added,
''you will find it difficult, if not quite
impracticable, to carry the matter fur.
Their; since it is the usage with brokers
to buy English bank-notes offered for
sale without asking any questions, be-
ing aware that, even if they have been
stolen, the innocent holder can lie.
gally enforce the cashing Of them"
"That is true. 1 agree with you that
it is most unlikely that Mr.. White will
be able to let me know who was tho
person from whom he bought the note;
however, | shall call upon him without
delay, since lis justpossible that he may
have it in bis power to afford the infor-
nation I SEEK" Then, after thanking
me for my courtesy in the matter, the
Consul took his leave; and presumed
that should hear nothing more of the
affair, s... 81 .-
However, some months later, l was
lunchlng at Delmonioo's one day, when
the Consul entered the room. Recog-
nizing me, he came over to the table at
which l was seated and took a chair
beside me. In the course of converse
ton he said: 'You recollect the cir
cumstance OF my calling upon you,
little time ago, with respect to a
stolen Bank of England notea"
Perfectly" 40 sas 49, -ea
"Well, after all, ! wns successful in
tracing the note"
"How was thate" l inquired.
~ will tell you. When I 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. .
ager Of one Of tho agencies Of the Cen.
trail Railroad Company. ! then called
upon that gentleman. He had no rec |
election Of the individual from whom
he had received the money; and disap- ,
pointed, I was leaving the establish s
nsnt, when a clerk intcrposed. and ad- |
his employer, he said: Mr.. t
we had the note in question