West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-06-27
THE BANK DETECTIVE.

For FIVE years held queer place and
pursued n strange occupation. -Four
banks in large city made up a common
purse and employed me as a guardian.
was to look after the employees when de-
sired, see that the watchmen were faith
tul, hang about during business hours.
hunt up information regarding patrons.
and make myself useful in other WAYS
| was an old detective and almost every
bank robber or swindler OF that ace was
known to me by sight In those days the
banks were poorly equipped compared to
the inventions now in use. Not one Of
the four had a time lock, and, instead of
ehilled-steel vaults, they had big safes set
In recesses or brick vaults. Bank burglars
could get into any safe in three or four
hours, and the bauk cashiers weren't the
shrewd sort you meet to-day.
hadn't filed my place week before
made discovery to amaze me. Nv first
work had been TO look up the watchmen.
L found that the watchman at the Droyers'
Bank was an old man, lame and feeble.
lie came on duty OF o'clock p. NJ, and
went off at z in the morning. He had
cot in the corridor, and after a little
questioning he admitted that he always
went to bed about half-past and slept
soundly until after 6. He had been fur
nished with revolver, but the weapon
had been loaded for FIVE years. The
man had got his place because he was re-
lated to the cashier. The bank was so
situated that robbers who had once gained
admission could have worked several
hours without fear Of disturbance. z
seemed marvellous to me that none ,,f
1.-THE boys had caught on to the free and
easy Wa things were permitted to slide
along, and determined to keep my eyes
open very wide. Cosgrove, the watch
man, as soon learned, was in the habit
OF going to certain saloon near his home
every week day at o'clock in the after
noon, and he sat at certain table and
drank glass of beer ate sandwich. had
a smoke, and then returned home. y
timed him seven or eight times, and he
was as regular as clockwork. He had no
idea that / was connected with the bank
AS a stranger pumped him dry, getting
every point which burglar would have
cared for.
Ihe other watchmen were younger me.
vigilant and cautious, and / had no one
to worry about except Cosgrove. Every
week day at half-past four dropped into
the saloon, took a table near him and had
my glass Of beer, and remained until he
went away. / was dead sure that some
OF the gang would tumble to him, as the
saying goes sooner or later. In those
days there were but two ways to "do" a
bank. One was through the cashier by
forgery or other swindling, and the other
through the watchman, by ginning ad-
mission. Any one contemplating raid
on the Droyers' Bank would try the
watchman frst. Firmly believing this.
continued to keep an eye on him, but it
was nearly three months before anything
happened. Then, one day saw the
face Of fellow called English jack on
the street. He had done time for bank
work aud was known 10 the detectives rs
q fly man. He was not wanted Just then.
and felt that he had come 20 c. on
business, and that be would turn ui,
something sooner or later. gave every
cashier his description, and about week
later ] dropped in on Cosgoye one after.
noon 70 find him hobnobbing with Eng
lish Jack While the latter did not know
me, and could have no suspicion that
was connected with the bank, ] kept 20
the other end Of the room and did not
tarry long after drinking my beer. The
two met the next day and the next, and
it YVES plain 30 see that Cosgrove had
taken q liking to tho man.
On the fourth day, on hour before the
regular time, I entered the saloon in that
condition known ~ half full. ! sang o.
song, took p drink, and then sat down.
aud gradually rclapscd into that stupor
which was an excuse for dropping my
head and arms on n table and going 10
sleep. The barkeepcr had no thoughts
Of putting me out, as / was a regular Gus
toner, and I was apparently sound asleep
when Cosgrovc came in and took his scat.
fen minutes later English Jack entered
and sat down beside him was only
four feet away, and both took it for
granted that was drunk and asleep and
e nonentity. They had a glass, talked IN
a friendly manner for a few minutes. aud
then Jack said
81 cot eonc az the 1loort oyfne e.. .