Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-14

ne gave orders to buy various amounts OF
a diversity of bonds or other securities,
and in each case gave orders to another
set for the sale of the same. supplement-
ing it by polite request that the pro-
ceeds be handed him in cash when he de-
ivered the bonds on the ensuing day.
Westbury made his appearance about
noon at the Office of the first firm on his
carefully prepared list, and took posses
sion of his bonds, rendering in payment
check on his bank with the usual certifi-
cation scrawled on its face. After little
of his usual pleasant chat, he left, and
then few like the wind to the Offices Of
the brokers who had sold the same bonds
for him.
Having delivered the securities and re-
.eived his money, which he carelessly
thrust in his pocketbook, be departed
unly to carry out the like programme with
two other houses to which he had in
trusted his precious orders. In short, by
this ingenious plan of obtaining bonds
and securities, paying for them with his
certified checks and Immediately receiv-
ing cash for them from the houses which
he had directed to sell them, he became
possessed within a couple Of hours of
something like 100000 in United
States notes; and although he was tread
ing on a volcano, and was liable to de-
struction at any moment, it was after
ward a subject of remark among the vic
TINS that Mr.. Westbury's manner was
never more charming and friendly, nor
did his blue eyes ever wear more honest
look and wholesouled expression.
He had almost completed his round,
and was In fact delivering to the last Of
his victims $4,000 worth of certain
issue Of bonds which he had but mo-
ment before obtained from another firm
in return for his check, apparently bear
ing the certifcation Of the bank, when
one Of those contretemps which some
times overtake the ablest strategists al
most upset his calculations.
The firm in question had but the pre-
ceding day sold precisely that amount Of
the bonds in question, and when Mr..
Westbury handed the head of the house
his package of bonds, the latter passed
them on to his head clerk for examination
before giving Westbury the proceeds.
Now the clerk was sharp youngster,
and as soon as his eyes fell upon them he
recognized from the number that they
were the identical bonds which his firm
had sold the day before to another house
in the street"
Without word he slipped out the back
door Of the Office and ran to their Office.
In answer to his hurried inquiry he
learned that the young stranger had but
few moments before taken the bonds
away, having paid for them with certi-
fed check. A messenger was at once dis
patched to the bank, and the clerk few
back to his own Office, full of suspicion.
Westbury, however, had already taken
alarm at the delay, and pleading that he
was late in keeping an engagement, ana
asking the broker to put the money to his
credit, he called q cab and drove away
just as the breathless clerk came back.
OF course the messenger came back
with the news that WeNbury had drawn
all his money out Of the bank the day be-
fore, and the news quickly went around
the street. Some of the firms which had
been victimized with the forged certifi-
cation kept silence with regard to their
loss, but enough was known to show that
the clever scamp had made away with the
sum of money which has been mentioned.
The last known Of Mr.. Westbury was
that he discharged his cab few blocks
away from Wall street, and the entire de-
tective force failed to trace him. 1t was
perhaps satisfaction to his victims to
learn that just prior to his appearance on
these shores, the confidential clerk of a
leading London banker had been dis
charged for dishonesty, and had only es-
capped prosecution by accident. AS he
corresponded in appearance with Mr..
Westbury. it was judged that they were
one and the same person.-Gavin Pen
dergast in Once Week.