Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-08
AMYsTERY TO THIS DAY.
Teller pitchers Brother once HAD
0ueer Robbery la ais Banh.

A Providence special says: Inc Anar OF
Charles j. Pitcher, the defaut'ng aud aO-
sconding teller Of the Union Bank OF tlils
city. has revived in the public mind an AFFAIR
OF a dozen or fifteen years ago, IN which
snatber member OF the Pitcher family was
involved. Very many OF the businessmen
NJ Providence well remember the gossip
which was occasioned by the affair to which
r,'ersnce Il here made, aud the solutions OIL
tered for the mystery involved were many
and various. but, despite all theories and
the most earnest endeayOrs OF the police, II
remains "a much 4 mystery to-day as 1t was
IN the beginning.
II will be remembered that after Pitchers
flight and bis arrival In Montreal he adj
dressed a letter to Andrew j. Pitcher. OK
Providence, his brother, which was given
10 the public. The name OF Andrew >.
pitcher revived in the minds OF many this
mysterious occurrence. II IL recalled that
along in the ,7Os he was the trusted and ac-
complished teller OF The Merchants National
Rank OF this city This IL one CT the largest
and most Influential banks OF Providence,
and until the organization Of the Clearing
House Association, few DAYS ago, has LOT
wears done large proportion OF the clearing
for the Providence banks. The president
OF the bank for many years has been Royal
G. TAFT, now Governor OF The state oil haoue
Island.
One day about the year 1874 or 1870 An
drew ! Pitcher rushed with much excite
ment into the room of the president. Mr..
Taft lacked up inquirIngly from his desk
and pitcher, in an agitated manner, con-
viewed the Intelligence th,t q large pile OF
hank hills which lay q short time before upon
tho counter had suddenly and mys'erously
disappeared. What amount OF money was
represented by this pile OF bills WAS never
diyulged to the public. According to rumor
IL was very large, mounting high In the .ens
OF Thousands. II was evident from the COM
motion which the loss created among the
officials and clerk, of the bank that the sum
WAS no insignificant amount. DIT. PHeher
announcement produced the most profound
impression upon the mind OF Dir. Ialt ana
OF al! in the bank.
II was certain that the money was on me
counter few moments before. There were
several who could testify to that. IL was
equally certsin that it was then nowhere 10
be found. II had utterly and totally disap-
peared. No one bad seen any suspicious
nersou, about the lobby OF the back. No
one had entered save few wel-known Gus
TONERS. whose characters were entirely above
suspicion. Pie police were communicated
with, aud the most searching inveslgation
OF The mystery was entered upon. Every
clerk aud official was closely and care
fully examined, but all 10 no avail. mol
the sli2ntest clue 10 the mystery appeared.
Tho detectives, after careful examination
oi tue pfemises, discovered what might pos
sibly serve as a partial explanation OF the
mvstery. The counter OF the bank ran
across ihs entire width OF the room and was
surrounded by lofty railing, as ~ Gus
tomary ia banks. One end OF this counter
and rail ceased at window, and tho detec-
tiyes discovered that 1t was possible Tor
thief to slip his hand and arrl
around between, the end OF tne
rail and the glass OF the window
md TINS obtain possession of the
money. II Il bad been placed near the end Of
the counter and within reach. To do such =
thing, in broad daylight, would have re-
ouired an exceedingly bold man, for II
would have been exceedingly difficult TO do
II aud escape detection. The city was care
fully watched for noted crooks or for sus-
picious.lOoking strangers, but AL In vain.
The money was gore, and from that day TO
| this. 30 far as the public has ever been made
aware, no clue to It's disappearance has ever
been found, nor has any portion OF II ever
been recovered. The bank could do no
thing but charge on us missing cash to the
account OF profit and loss and pocket ITS
| discontinue.
Every attempt possible was made TO keep
| the knowledge OF the mysterious less from
the public, but 1t leaked out. The public
had net ceased to discuss the mystery be-
fore II bad another sensation. The position
| OF teller OF the Merchants National Bank
suddenly became vacant. Andrew j..
| Pitcher. In whose charge the missing
| funds bad been, was given per-
maacut leave OF absence, and one OF
the clerks named Hall was dismiss
ed with him. No charge was ever made
against either OF these men, but the case OF
| Pitcher, being the mere prominent, and es-
peciaIly on account OF the fact that ne was
one OF the bfst known OF the Young banking
men Of Providence, Was nine DAYS cause
| OF eossip. Many and mysterious were the
| speculstions a. to the reason. The bankers
and merchants Of Providence have never
| ceased u wonder what became Of that. big
/ pile Of money which w As missed fyom the
1 Msrcbants Bank.
Pitcher bore the loss Of his position with
| great bravery. and soon alter bis di<nissal
be opened small ofice and established him.
SEN - I no(e-brokcr. He also announced
1 himself a an expert In haudwfiting. From
| time . tins he old mys1ory of tho rsissiaa
| ldIo a bank hIlla hao beon o6cu1se4 bal