The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-10-03
A VERY NEAT JOB.
How q Big Chicago Firm Was
Taken In.
TWENTY-S SEVEN HUNDRED GONE.
Oliver Logan Tells How Wilkie Collins
Wrote His Numerous and Popular
Stories.

Especial 20 THE HRRALD-Examiner Dispatchl
CHICAGO, Oct 2.-Eggleston, Mallette &
BroWnell, contractors and manufacturers
of crushed stone, occupy handsome OF
fee in the Royal insurance building. Sat
urday was pay day for their big force of
men. In order that the pay roll might be
got ready and the money put in packages
for distribution, Mr.. Mallette drew check
for the entire amount Thursday and sent
clerk to the bank to get it cashed. He
returned with s., SO in currency, and plac-
ing the amount on his desk, he sat down
with the pay roll to count out and put in
small envelopes the various sums due the
men. The only other persons in the
Office at the time were Mr.. Eggleston and
Mr.. Mallette; both were busy writing let
ters. Just as the clerk began counting the
money a well dresstd, good looking young
man came into the Office and engaged IN
conversation with Mr.. Eggleston. A min
ute later another young man came in though
a different entrance and spoke to Mr.. Nal
lette At that instant the telephone bell
rang. The clerk, glancing up and seeing
Doth members OF the firm talking to Stran-
gers, left his desk to answer the telephone,
which is hung in an adjoining closet The
irst stranger concluded his conversation
with Mr.. Eggleston and passed by the
clerks desk and went out through the en-
trance the other man came in at. Mr.. Egg
gleston went on with his letter writing.
Then Mr.. Mallette's caller withdrew. Both
members of the firm were scratching
away with their pens when the clerk came
out of the telephone closet and told Mr..
Mallette that Marshall, Field u Co. had
q package for him at their retail
store on which they had advanced
hoo ,.ol1aI tn iyuONu yE-harn
the package was to be delivered. MIR.
Mallette said he did not understand what
they meant and went TO the telephone him
self. There was no one at the other end OF
the wire and the connection had been
broken. The clerk returned to his desk.
The money was gone. His face grew pale,
his knees shook. and he could hardly con-
troll his voice long enough to ask Mr.. Eg
yleston if he had taken the money. That
gentleman replied that he had not. MIR.
Mallette stepped from the telephone closet
and also denied having taken the money.
Then the clerk began to laugh. He thought
his employers were playing joke on him
because of his carelessnesS i'll leaving so
large a sum of money exposed. But the
seriousness of the situation struck all three
when they realized that they were victims
Of one of the most remarkable pieces OF
sneak-thleving on record.
What did your man want3 asked Mr..
Mallett. turning to his partner.
He asked about the standing Of some
tirm that l never heard of. And yours -
He asked if we were figuring on paw
ing contract on the west side"
'He who rang the telephone was their
confederate" Clipped in the clerk. All
three rushed to the door and down on the
ground floor. There are two exits to the
building, one on Jackson and the other on
Quincy streets. Dozens of busy men arc
constantly passing in and out, and it was
not at all strange that no one could be
found who had noticed the two thieves
Up and down the street ran the two con
tractors and their clerk, but the search
awaited nothing. The thieves had escaped
with the big bundle of money.