Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-07-04
THE BANK DETECTIVE,


pursued strange occupation. Four
banks in a large city made up common
purse and employed me as guardian.
I was to look after the employees when de-
sired, see that the watchmen were faith
full, hang about during business hours,
hunt up information regarding patrons,
and make myself useful in other ways.
I was an old detective and almost every
bank robber or swindler of that age 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 time lock, and, instead of
chilledsteel 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 bank cashiers weren't the
shrewd sort you meet to-day.
hadn't filled my place week before I
made discovery to amaze me- My first
work had been to look up the watchmen.
found that the watchman at the Drovers'
Bank was an old man, lame and feeble.
He came on duty at7 o'clock p. M, and
went off at Z in the morning. He had
cot in the corridor, and after little
questioning he admitted that he always
went to bed about half-past s 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-
Iato 10 hov or
situated that robbers who had once gained
admission could have worked several
hours without fear of disturbance. It
seemed marvellous to me that none OF
"the boys" had caught on to the free and
easy W, y things were permitted to slide
along, and I determined to keep my eyes
open very wide. Cosgrove, the watch
man, as 1 soon learned, was in the habit
of going to certain saloon near his home
every week day at 4 o'clock in the after.
noon, and he sat at certain table and
drank a glass of beer, ate sandwich, , ,haG
smoke, and then returned home.
timed him seven or eight times, and ht
was as regular as clockwork. He had nc
idea that was connected with the bank
As stranger I pumped him dry, getting
every point which burglar would have
cared for.
The other watchmen were younger me-.
vigilant and cautious, and had no Or
to worry about except Cosgrove. Ever,
week day at half past four I dropped int
the saloon, took table near him and hat
my glass of beer, and remained until b
went away. I was dead sure that som
of the gang would tumble to him, as th
saying goes, sooner or later. In thos
days there were but two ways to edo"
bank. One was through the cashier, b.
forgery or other swindling, and the othe
through the watchman, by gaining ad
mission. Any one contemplating rai'
on the Drovers' Bank would try th
watchman first. Firmly believing this,
continued to keep an eye on him, sbut
was nearly three months before anythin
happened. Then, one day, saw th
face of fellow called "English Jack" o
the street. He had done time for ban
work and was known to the detectives ;
fly man. He was not wanted just thel
and I felt that he had come to c. @
business, and that he would turn Il
something sooner or later. gave evel
cashier his description, and about wee
later I dropped in on Cosgrove one afte
noon to find him hobncbbing with En-!
lish Jack. While the latter did not kno
; me, and could have 20 suspicion that
was connected with the bank, I kept
the other end of the room and did n
tarry long after drinking my beer. II
two met the next day and the next, az
} it was plain to see that Cosgrove hi
, taken liking to the man.
On the fourth day, an hour before t
regular time, I entered the saloon in th
condition known as half full. I sang
song, took drink, and then sat dow
e and gradually relapsed into that stup
: which was an excuse for dropping I
head and arms on table and going
, sleep. The barkeeper had no though
: of putting me out, as l was regular CT
toner, and 1 was apparently sound asle
Y when Cosgrove came in and took his Sc
1 Ten minutes later English Jack enter
:. and sat down beside him. was Oh
four feet away, and both took it
= granted that I was drunk and asleep a
a nonentity. They had a glass, talked
: a friendly manner for a few minutes, q
d then Jack said:
81 got sQRs ol the incest wins to-