The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-28
CUNNING THIEF ALBERTsoN.
Stole 100000 in Securities to Hold az
Guarantee of Safety.

Guarantee OF Satety.
TACOMA, Aug. 27-(special IA highly sensa-
tonal story in connection with the absconding
OF Teller Albertson, of the Fidelity Trust Com
pany's bank. was told a correspondent of the
PosTINTELLIGENcER tonight by a gentleman
Claiming to be conyersant with the facts. And
the point OF his narrative is the alleged fact that
AlDerison got away with $780, 900 in securities in
addition to the 80 600 i'll cash.
1t is said that representative of the trust
company approached an Old Tacoma police Off :
Ger about O'Clock Monday morning and asked
TO be shown a trusty boatman who would row
him to Browns point, across the bay to the
north. The stranger was directed to a boatman
at the Old Tacoma boat-house, and while the
boat was being made ready the stranger said he
would return in minute. He did not return,
but III his stead there came another man, whom
he rowed over to the point. The boatmans
passenger said he did know just where he
wished to be landed, but said the point would
be designated by white handkerchief tied to
pole set on the bank.
Presently as the boat passed along bluff
medium-sized man halloed from the bank. At
that point the man was put ashore and in about
an hour returned with package, which the
boatman thought from the manner in which it
was handled contained books, papers, or perhaps
opium. The opium idea struck the Old Tacoma
officer as plausible, but as the man whom he
directed to the boatman was not the man who
him, and the bOstman, who was TO have gone to
the Portland train to point out the supposed
opium smuggler, having been awake most of the
previous night, fell asleep in the boat t-house and
neglected his engagement
At all events, il is said, another boat was en-
gagged Tuesday by a representative of the trust
company, the boat house people being instructed
to take two men who would call at Browns
point and return for them at ) p. IN. The two
men were recognized as Thiel's detectives. The
boatmaD returned for them at the appointed
hour, but could not find them. They returned
later, however
Now, it is believed that Albertson, having
access to the vaults, took the 100000 in secur-
tiles, and then while in hiding notified the
trust company that he would return the same
provided his theft of $4,000 would be overlooked.
Louis ID. Campbell, attorney for and one of
the most influential directors of the trust CON-
pany, was seen by a correspondent of the Posi-
INTELLI6ENCER aud asked If there was any
truth in the above statements. He said:
The securities are all in the trust company's
vaults, therefore Albertson did not get away
with any We are not negotiating with him,
and will not let up on him when we catch him.
This story probably grew out OF the rumOr that
Mr.. Wallace, OF our company, went to Old Ia
coma on Monday to meet some parties. can
say that our own securities are all right, be-
cause 1 myself counted and compared every
one of them on Monday.
1t WAS also rumored that Albertson some
time ago got away with $4,000. Mr.. Campbell
denounces this latter statement fabrication.
President Wallace says that none of the
banks papers missing. Not a scrap OF
paper is gone. Under the arrangement now
perfected it will require three men, each having
a combination of one of the three fire and
burglar proof vault doors, to get into the bank
safe Each of the doors is equipped with a
patent combination time lock and it Will be
absolutely impossible for the doors to be
opened by less than three of the banks officers
and even then not until after banking hours.
Albertson was a trusted official and a very
capable man. Some are confident that he was
influenced by people outside of the bank, who
planned the robbery.