St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-10-21

\SE f there is t mo afastsd
employees that have
so seldom sought the sheltering shadow
of Canada'S OutStretched arms. Every
day the bank runners handle fabulous
sums in hard cash and securities which
could be readily turned into money, but
one rarely hears of bank runner
fleeing from justice. The reason is
that most bank runners are taken i'll the
employ OF banks as Office boys, and
closely as they busy themselves busting
the gold-iaden shelves and the desks
buried in bonds. The lad is given
ample opportunity to display all his
good traits, and if he should prove eff
cient and honest he is pushed along till
he becomes a runner" This is the
case with nearly all the runners con-
nected with the Philadelphia banking
institutions. They have all proved
themselves honest beyond reprOach.
I'VE make study of our habits. man
ners and dress. and try to make our.
selves as little conspicuous as possible"
said one of the runners yesterday, "and
when we pass along the street, one who
did not know would not suspect that we
were laden with wealth." The runner
tlOtS oil bllt OubSluC UuSlilCoo VI lhC
stitutiOn with which he is connected.
and before he returns from trip he
often has his wallet stuffed with green
backs. 1t is often inadvisable for him
to make display of this, and dummy
wallet is sometimes carried by the run
ner in order that he may not be COM
PEELED to exhibit his temporary wealth.
His wallet is the runners constant
companion. and with single exception
every runner in the city carries one
which is almost identical with all the
others in use. 1t consists of a large
pOcketbOok firmly attached to a
heavy leather-covered steel chain
This passes around the neck
and prevents the theft of the
wallet without also carrying off the
runner. 1t is by no means rare for a
runner to have in his possession $4,000
in cash, and the runners OF the leading
banks frequently handle this much
money in a day, independent of the
notes and securities OF various kinds
that they have in their possession.
I'VE rarely go armed. L don't sup
pose there is a single man in the bust
ness who carries pistol or weapon of
any sort, and we rely more on our care
or watchfulness than on anything else.
The banks, however, are in a
combination to employ watchmen,
and there are several special
officers stationed along Third,
Fourth and Chestnut streets, who keep
their eye on the runners as they pass.
The runners themselves are always on
the alert, and when any suspicious
character is noticed on the street the
word is quickly passed from one to the
other until they are all on the lookout.
1T has been some time since any at
tempt has been made to rob runner,
and it requires a rather bold and daring
man to do it. Twelve years ago the last
attempt was made, when runner was
joStled against as he was coming out of
bank. He was quickly surrounded by
half dozen men, and his wallet was
taken from him. This robbery led to
the introduction of chains on the wallets,
and now most runners are required to
wear them.
'He must sometimes play the role of
an amateur detective, for often people
will resort to tricks to avoid visit from
a runner. Their affairs may not just be
in a condition to effect settlement, and
to avoid the runner is easier than to
make a plausible excuse. The man must
also keep the run" of all people of the
street. He must keep the financial rat
ing of every business man in his mind,
for the runner is personally responsible
for any worthless checks he may accept.
As the rating of firms is liable to eccen-
tric changes, this is no easy task. Be-
sides these qualifications, he must be a
pedestrian of no mean ability"