The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-07-17
WHO WAS THE ROBBER :?
From the New YORK World.

the OXbridge bank had been robbed of amounts
varying from $4,000 to $4,000. On each occa-
sion the front door of the bank and the vault
door had been found open, although the cash.
Ter, Mr.. Nelson plumley, remembered that
each time he had locked both the nights before
the robberies.
About this time a stranger, who gave tho
name of William Smith, made his appearance
in the little city of Oxbridge.
He was neat as pair of new kid gloves, and
there was freshness in his clothes, their STYLE
and fit, that seemed to surround him with tho
atmosphere of a tailor's shop A diamond
sparkled upon his snowy shirt-front, like a star
of the first magnitude, and he was altogether
one of the best dressed and best looking men
ever seen at the age of thirty-fve.
lie did not go into society particularly, vet he
soon managed to form the acquaintance and
find favor in the eyes of Julia Redding, the
belle of OXbridge.
Julia had many alters of marriage, but had
persistenly rejected them. She was twenty-five
years old now and lovely as ever. The Tilted
persons and their friends pronounced her a
coquette. But she was not. She had merely
declined to marry-which, it would seem, any
woman has a right to do
Julia's father was wealthy. He was the
president of the OXbridge bank. His cashier,
Mr.. Nelson Plumley, was an admirer of Julia,
and strongly favored by her father. The
banker had even, i'll words, urged her TO receive
with favor the attentions of Mr.. Plumley; but
she had said she wouldn't, and there was an
end of it.
The robberies were noised abroad and began
to be town talk. Some wondered who tho
thief could he, while others entertained strong
suspicious; and when William Smith saunt-
Il. A. = \ A.
when he walked or drove through the streets
with Julia Redding at his side, he appeared
not to notice the suspicious looks that were lev
eled upon him.
A fourth mysterious robbery occurred. 1t
was discovered on a morning following a GER
tain day on which an unusually heavy deposit
had been made. Sixteen thousand dollars were
stolen. This was n startling affair. 1t might
affect the credit of the bank. An effort was
made to keep the matter secret, but it leaked
out and was known all over OXbridge in {. few
hours.
Mr.. Redding and Mr.. Plumley had a long
consultation in the private room that forenoon,
during which the door opened abruptly and
one of their depositors, Mr.. Hartley, came in
and carefully closed the door after him.
Good morning." he sad nervously. ''NIr.
Redding, why don't you and Mr.. Plumley
stop these robberies, by having the robbor
arrested p?
"If you will tell us who he is." said Mr..
Reddng with faint smile, tive shall only be
too glad to do so.'
'That can easily do" said Mr.. Hartly,
confidently.
"Who is hep" exclaimed Mr.. Redding.
"Why, | am sorry to have to say anything
against a friend of your family, but the sooner
the truth comes out the better The robber is
no other than the stranger, William Smith,
who stops at the Elm house"
"You astonish mel What reason have you
for suspecting him ?"
81 was returning homo about midnight last
night, and as passed through the alley in the
rear of the bank saw n man i'll the lot, near
one of the rear windows. / followed him
stealthily, and when he got into the street
discovered by the light of the lamps that his
face was mufiled up i'll the collar of large
coat he wore; but as he neared the Elm house
he allowed the collar to fall, and L got n
glimpse of his face Undoubtedly the face was
that of William Smith, and he quietly entered
the hotel. What could he have been proving
around the bank for?'
"Be tr have him arrested at once" said
Nelson Plumley eagerly, and at the suggestion
the three men arose to go to the magistrate $
Office
The trio had barely taken step toward the
door, when it opened abruptly, and ON the
threshold stood-Willam Smith
He stepped into the room with pleasant
smile, followed by two of the directors of tho
bank, of the names of Addison and Brown,
and, much to the astonishment Of several of the
party Smith locked the door and placed the
key in his pocket.
"What does this mean?" demanded Mr.
Redding.
mir Plumley," said William Smith, sud
denly assuming an air OF stern authority, "sit
down therel"
TO tho surprise of Mr.. Rodding and Mr..
Hartley, the cashier turned pale as death and
obeyed the command of the stranger.
"You are caught, Mr.. Plumley," said Will
liam Smith, "and see you are aware of it,"
Gentlemen" he continued, addressing the
astonished president and depositor, 81 am u
member Of the detective force of tho city of
P. i have been quietly employed by Mr..
Addison and Mr. Brown to solve the mystery
OF these robberes. They have suspected Mr..
Plumley OF being dishonest, but they kept the
matter from you, Mr.. Redding because they
knew that you were wrapped up in the man
and would never for one moment listen to O
word of suspicion against him.
"Now, however, | have succeeded in estab-
fishing his guilt He it is who has been rob-
bng your bank, but he never came in by the
front door. Did you, Mr.. Plumbley?"
The cashier sat wringing his hands neryously
but did not reply.
Stepping over to the wall, Mr.. Smith re-
moved large, old fashioned picture that had
hung there for years disclosing quite an aper-
ture in tile brick wall.
"Mr. Rcdding," he said, "herc is where your
trusted cashier has been in the habit Of enter
inc the bank after night to carry off the funds
He has n key with which he unlocks the rear
door Of the empty storerOom, and from there
it has been an easy matter for him to crawl
through this hole that he dug in the wall"
Seeing that the detective had established
clear evidence against him, Nelson Plumley
made full confession, acknowledging that he
was the robber Of the bank and that he had
performed the operation just as William
Smith said lie restored the stolen money,
and was allowed to depart from Oxbridge
without being prosecuted.
The detective whose real name was not Will
liam Smith by any means, married Julia Red
ding and returned with her to his home, in a
certain large city, in which he has since be-
come famous. He had confdod his true char
acier to her on first going to Oxbridge, and her
father who is still living, knows how faithful
ly she kept the secret.
An Unprecedented Career.
In It's career Of over third Of a century
SOZODONT has scored greater success than