The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-04-13
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VHYIWASSBNHTOPRIS


New YorE Sun,
1t was the invariable custom Of thu
night watChman OF the Merchants ant
Mechanics Bank at Clio to throw oper
the front doors and raise the curtains a
1880 O'Clock each morning, BY tina
time all the stores were open aud tht
the streets full Of people, From 1880 tc
8 heswept and busted, aud the bells had
scarcely struck the latter hour when the
bank officials began to arrive, Then the
watchman went home, the doors were
closed, and at 0 the bank was ready fol
business.
One September morning the cashier
teller, and two OF the clerks arrived ID
find the heavy front doors still closed,
Peter, the Waterman, had been in ser
vice nine years, and this was the ilrsl
time he had oversight his hour. The
grocer on one side and the shoe man on
tho other had pounded on the bank
doors ut a quarter to eight, and not get
ting any response, RerG certain that
something out ofthe way had Occurred,
There were nine OF us who entered the
bank as the cashier unlocked tho doors,
The curtains had not yet been raised
when We knew that robbery and murder
had taken place. When we got tho full
light we saw Peter lying on his back on
tho floor outside the railing. He was
fully dressed, and had been struck ON
the back Of the head; and the blow had
crushed In the skull. The body was
cold, showing that death had occurred
Some hours before,
Further investigation proved that the
door Of the vault had been drilled aud
blown open, and that the bank had
been robbed OF every dollar of its cash
on hand. Taking the loss OF bonds,
stocks aud cash, the aggregate was
about $4,000, about half Of which fell
upon the bank. Burglar tools, fuse, q
flask OF powder aud other articles were
lying about and on the desk we found
the loaded club which had dealt Peter
his death blow. When we came TO In.
vestigate as tO how the robbers had
effected an entrance everybody was at
sea. They could only have come and
gone by the front door, None OF the
windows had been raised, the back
door was heavily barred, and the door
leading TO the cellar had not been tam.
perGd with.
Peter had no key to the lock OF the
front door. He could open it from the
inside, but not from the other. The
cashier and book-keeper, both old and
trusted men and stockholders, alone had
keys. lie must, We concluded, have nd.
mitted the robbers to the bank, but the
fact Of his having been murdered was
proof Of his integrity. Had he put up a
job with them, they would not have fin.
ished him of. He was a sharp, shrewd
fellow, and what excuse they could have
urged to gain admission was beyond our
figuring. Detectives were put to work
on the Case, but not the slightest clue
could they get for weeks. 1t seemed as
II the robbers had taken wings as they
left the bank. Three months later two
men, who we're suspected Of being good
fellows" were arrested at n point 200
miles away, and in another State, for
stealing a horse and buggy. In follow.
ing this case to q conviction, 1t was
proved that they had arranged to do a
bank in n country town, and that the rig
had been stolen us a part OF the pro.
gramme. One OF the men was recog.
nized as n person seen In ourtown about
the timO OF our robbery, and the bank
people became satisfied that both OF
them had a hand in ii. They had no
proofs, and the matter would have been
permitted to drop but for me,
The loss Of cash was only about SILL.
900, About $4,000 securities belonged
to dCpositors and the balance was the
loss Of the bank. None OF the securities
had been negotiated thus far, and II was
my theory that the robbers had them 80.
Curely hidden away somewhere. While
/ could not be positive that either OF the
men arrested for stealing the horse aud
buggy was the party wanted for our job,
two citizens were 80 positive In iden-
flying one OF them that l was ready 10
chance 1t, The bank had offered a big
reward for the arrest Of the robbers and
murdererg, and after due ~deliberatlon
with myself and several consultations
with friends, / determined on a plan.
The men had been sent TO prison for
three years apiece. When arrested they
made a fight and burglars tools were also
found IN ther possession,
visited the prison and learned that
ono had been assigned to the boot and
shoe department, while the other had
gone 10 the chair works. / walked
through this department and saw hin
engaged in chair painting. The two
were 80 widely separated that there wal
no possibility OF a meeting except in The
chapel on Sunday. The one In the
chair department was the younger BY
several years.
One day, when l had my plans all laid
| entered a jewelry store In the city frou
which the men had been sentenced aut
asked to look al some watches. A tray
OF them was set out, and | grabbed ont
valued ut $40 and ran out. 1Could have
got clear Off as we'll as not, but my OBJ
ject was 10 DO arrested. On my examin
uNlOh icAue GullbY Nuu WIS UUuul
over. When tho Clsc came up To Thu
higher court a lawyer was assigned me
and had ] worked with him the jur,
! would have cleared me. l refused L
: answer any questions, admitted my gull
/ and was. regarded by some as ltgtt II
the head. The iewCler did not deBlr,
my conviction, aud but for my impudencI
\ l should have failed In my purpose, /
: verdict Of guilty was finally reached, AM
his honor gave me q year In the prison
though | believe he was ready 10 stig
! pend sentence In case hruke down AM
Z promised reform.
When l arrived at tho prison l CAV
I my occupation rs q chair hnisheF, and
! 10 my great satisfaction, l was assignee
Z 10 that work, and soon found mysel
alongside the man VINO after, HeSyA
: recorded on the prison hooks 40 JorioI
Hatch, No. 9,1S0. Twas down as ChaFle
Merritt, No, 2,lsS. We were al leal
thirty feet apart for the FIRST three week
and / had been thOre q full month bC
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