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

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I had bottle ready to bring down, but
forgot it. II happen to go by the bank
this evening I'll just knock on the door
and hand it in"
II might be asleep" innocently re-
piled the old watchman.
Then I'll make it n point to come
early. II l should be passing at s o'clock
you'd have your eyes and ears open, ehG"
"Yes, but"
''Pshawl man, it will be no trouble to
me; none in the least. When I like "A
man I'm willing to do for him. The taste
OF that wine will give you five years more
OF life. IL it's agin orders for you to
open the door few inches to receive
present from friend, then it's time you
looked for another job"
l hoped to hear the old man declare
that he could not think Of breaking the
strict orders given him, but, after feeble
attempt to protest, he gave in, and when
they parted it was with the understanding
that the wine was to be handed in. i
l could have called ut his house and
opened his eyes to the game his friend
was playing, or blocked the scheme in
several other ways, but / hoped to ac-
complish more thbn that. went TO the
President with my report, and that after
noon, when the bank closed, i was left
behind the counters with three policemen
in citizens clothing, and all of us fully
armed. The janitor remained with us
until z, at which time Cosgrove came on
duty, and the old watchman was left
alone, as he thought, without the slightest
SIlgniClnp that f.tar H,ls,,..
ten feet from his cot There were two
gates by which the offices were entered.
These two stood open, but the old man
never even looked into the enclosure. He
sat down on his cot, smoked pipe, and
then walked up and down until o'clock.
1t was exactly that hour when there came
knock on the front door Cosgrove
waited moment before responding TO
1t, probably having struggle between
duty and appetite; but he finally tiptoed
to the door, turned the key and opened
II few inches. We could hear whispers,
but within half minute the door was
violently pushed in on him and three
men were in the bank. They shut and
locked the door behind them, and while
the old man was protesting and com
manding he was seized, bound, gagged
and laid on his cot. The work was done
neatly and rapidly, and as he was dis
posed of English Jacks voice was heard
quietly observing:
'Now, old gent, you just lie quiet and
you won't be hurt; but if you 70 TO
raising row we shall crack your skull
without any particular ceremony. Get
out your tools, boys, and get to work
Let's have a little moro light on tie sub
ject."
He lighted two more gas burners, and
we heard them opening their bags and Sc
lecting out their tools. Not one of US
moved a hand until the trio entered by
one of the gates. Then we rose up, re-
volvers cooked and leveled, and the viii
lains were so amazed that not the least re-
sistance was offered. / sent for the Presi-
dent, and he came to find the fellows
handcuffed, the watchman helpless, and
burglars kit laid out for work. There
was $3.50, 900 in cash in the big safe, and
the burglars would have secured every
dollar of il had i not dropped to the
scheme. Each one of the robbers got
long sentence TO prison, but there was
sorrow mixed with our elation. Cosgrove
had TO 90, Of course, but on the very
next day after giving his testimony in
court he committed suicide by hanging.
One other adventure / met with while
holding my place had queer inception
and a tragic ending. In those days the
cashier of bank carried the key TO the
safe or vault, and he alone. In the Far
mers' and Mechanics Bank, Mr.. Keller,
the cashier, often remained to fix up his
accounts after all others had departed.
He was a quiet, reserved man, very gen
tie in his speech and actions, and had
been with the institution seventeen years
He was never seen in society, and it
wasn't once in five years that he took
holiday. He did not smoke, chew, gamble,
bet, drink or swear, and he appeared Ut
terly insensible to the charms Of the fe-
male sex. He was held up rs a model OF
excellence and q paragon of virtue, and
the man who would dare suspect him OF
even failing would have been put down
pretty quick. While I quietly invest
gated the doings Of some Of the other re-
sponsibie employees, gave Keller no
thought The Board Of Directors would
have felt insulted had shadowed him.
had been in the employ OF the syndi-
cate about q year and a half when, one
afternoon as ! was going to supper, ] saw
Keller on the street half a square ahead
Of me. ] was hurying up to overtake
him when q woman turned in from side
street and almost halted as they met. ]
stepped into doorway, and / saw him
look after her sharply. When she came
along TO me was surprised to see how
homely she was in face and figure. She
was coarse in facial expression, had a
squat figure, and looked more like a
scrub woman out for an airing than
lady. It wasn't like Keller 10 notice
woman ON the street, and his actions
aroused my curiosity 7 was at the same
place at the same hour next day, and this
time the woman certainly bowed to him.
He seemed frustrated and confused. and
finally came 70 dead halt and looked
after her. When he resumed his walk
followed the woman to n second class
hotel and found her to be q boardor there
under the name Of Mrs. Ransom Pierce,
widow. She had been there a month.
seemed to have plenty Of money, and
was respectable SO Tar as anv one knew