Wichita eagle., 1888-07-10
SHADOWING BANK CLERKS.
DETECTIVES WHO ASCERTAIN THE
HABITS OF TRUSTED EMPLOYEES.

There are few banks in New York that re-
gard their clerks as above suspicion. In these
days, when old and trusted employees are
making hasty trips to Canada, the banks
think Il they arc not able to lock the stable
door, the next best thing is to roll a big stone
against it. The stone in this case Is the de-
tectiva Most Of the banks employ detectives
to shadow their clerks and study their habits.
Il II the rule to keep detective On the trail
Of . clerk for about two weeks every six
months When q clerk has been but short
time In the employ OF q bank he is watched
even more closely than this. An old employe,
whose habits are known to be steady, il
Swallowed may be only once year. Then q
clerk may be Swallowed two nights in sacces-
sion, and not again for some time. Besides,
the clerk may come within range Of the de-
tective's eye when the sleuth hound is en-
gagged in shadowing some other clerk.
So . bank clerk cannot be too particular
where he goes and with whom he associates,
for be never knows when the eye Of the de-
| tective is upon him. just little too much
conviviality with ones friends may cost him
his job or prevent what was almost certain
promotion. There IL practically no chance
for him to explain or excuse his conduct, for
there ia probably not bank president in the
city who viii admit that he employs detec,
tives to watch his clerka
THEY GET USED TO IT.
While the system is an offensive one, aside
from the banks being Justified in adopting it,
It results In some good to the clerks On ac-
count Of 1t there are any number Of bank
clerks who could not be even induced to enter
q saloon or q place OF questionable reputa-
ton. Naturally, q person feels, to say the
least, uncomfortable when he thinks that his
steps are being logged. Particularly ia this
% II he Is going to call upon his sweetheart,
and he reflects that the detective win prob
ably not be contented until he finds out all
about the young lady, end In consequence
fmagines that his courtship may become COM
mon gossip about the bank.
"A person can get used to almost anything,
and we get 50 that we don't mind it much, !"
said q clerk in one Of the Broadway banks,
when speaking Of this system to the writer.
when ] first became a bank clerk and
learned that was to be occasionally 'shad-
owed I shuddered at the idea had been
given to reading detective stories and l i'm
agined all sorts Of horrid thingR What
worried me most was to think that SO far as
| the bank officials were concerned my char
acter was not above suspicion. Now, I
seldom give the subject a thought unless it be
to have some fun with the detective. One
night recently / discovered one was follow
ing me and kept the fellow walking over
| half the night"
There have been several cases recently
where detectives have attempted to black
mail clerks. One Of the worst cases of this
sort was that attempted in a bank on Fifth
avenue. The plot was a deeply laid one, as
the story shows The voung man was teller,
his father was rich and the detective ex-
pected to make e large sum. The teller was
model Of good habits and did not touch
liquor Of any kind. He was passionately fond
Of the theatre and liked the society OF actors
One night after the theatre he went to
Broadway cafe to have bite to eat He had
been seated at a table but a few minutes
when a young man, who had been seated at
an adjoining table with companion, came
over to him, introduced himself and said he
was an actor. BE mentioned the name Of q
gentleman who was a particular friend Of
the bank teller.
Il have heard him speak Of you, so that
feel that have known you for years." said
the stranger.
TWO JOLLY COMPANIONS
The teller invited him to sit down and Join
him, and gave him permission TO bring his
companion, who was introduced as a fellow
actor. They both proved jolly fellows, and
the bank teller was taken with them They
were together for two hours, and when they
parted the bank teller had promised to be
their guest the following evening at the
theatre He kept his promise, and after the
performance he accompanied them to the
cafe where they had met the night before,
and there another two hours were pleasantly
passed
A few nights after this a man accosted the
teller lste one night on lonely portion Of
Madison avenue, near Sixty-first street. He
said he was a detective employed by the
teiler's bank.
''lt's my duty to report tc the president
Of your bank that you are the associate Of
crooks and ex-corvicts," he said.
ATS lie" retorted the teller
"But can prove it. You have been seen
two nights In succession with two men whose
criminal history Is well known and whose
pictures are in the rogues' gallery"
The teller Immediately thought of bis new
acquaintances Could it be they had de-
ceived him and they were as the detective
explain to the officers Of the bank
III you have any terms to offer. might
neglect my duty" continued the man, willis
the bank official was thinking Of the plight
he was in
"This is blackmaI, and I won't submit to
II, - answered the clerk, eegaining bis courage
If those men are crooks You are in with
them" Then, turning Oh his heel, be walked
Oft. while the detective muttered a threat
Going home, the teller awoke his father and
told him the story. They were both con-
WINGED it IVES case Of black1nail The next
day the father Of the teller visited the presi-
dent of the bank AID laid the facts before
him The head OF the detective agency was
summoned to the bank and the president
told him he believed the teller, and the de-
tective was discharged. But what be bad
said about the Few acquaintance Of the
teller proved tue As there was only the
teIler's evidence as to the blackmail, the case
was not pushed against the detective.
All detectives are not hike this Many
good hearted detective has shielded bank
CLERKS guilty Of little indiscretions, which,
had the facts been reported, would have re-
suited in dismissaL-New York World
A Tr,Yv 6rntef,f Enftor.