The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1891-05-05
A MISSING CASHIER.
Queer Story of Robbery and Sub
sequent Disappearance.


day the robbery of the
Farmers and Traders Bank, of
Montgomery City, Mo-, was reported
to the police of this city. 1t was re-
ported that SO, 800 had been stolen
from the bank vault. The circum-
stances connected with the alleged
robbery are peculiar, inasmuch as IL.
w. Covington, the cashier of the
bank, has been mysteriously missing
since last Thursday evening, the day
on which the robbery was said to have
been committed. On last Thursday,
at noon. Cashier Covington and his
nephew, a Mr.. Layel, left the bank
in order to get dinner. At 1915
they returned to the bank. About 4
o'clock on the evening of the same
day, Just as the bank was about
to be closed up, Cashier Cow
ington was engaged in max.
ing an accounting Of the banks
finances. When he had completed
his task he found, it is said, that there
was a shortage of $4,000. The short
age was at once reported, after another
consulting, and an investigation was
the safe vault had been tamPered #iIf::
Then the windows were examined, and
it was evident that rear window OF
the bank had been pried open. The
door of the vault in which the $4,000
was kept was found to have been only
slightly tempered with, and not SUIT
ficient force had been brought to bear
TO effect an entrance. Yet the money
was missing.
The matter was kept quiet, and on
Friday morning Covington did not
appear at the bank, nor were his
whereabouts known to his friends or
relatives. On Friday, however, Gov.
ington called at the Four Courts and
reported to Capt. Fruchte the rob
berry of the bank. His story was
similar to the one just related. he
stating that it was four or five hour
after the robbery that he discovered
the shortage. He told Capt. Fruchte
the amount of money that was miss
| ing, but as he said he was in a hurry,
further particulars were not solicited
Besides, Covington promised to he
turn again on Friday afternoon and
furnish the police with full Particular
of the robbery. Friday afternoon
passed and Covington was not seer
about the Four Courts, and his ad
dress had not been obtained nor wa
lit requested of him.
| Yesterday brother of cashier Gov
ington arrived in st. Louis and re
ported to Chief Harrigan that hi
brother, II. w. Covington, who he'll
the position of cashier in the Farmer
and Traders bank at Montgomer.
City, had disappeared from his hom
: there Thursday evening, and had no
been seen since. 1t was UNDERSTOOD
that he had come to ST. Louis an
was followed here by his brother. Tw
detectives were set to work on tn
case at once, and in company with tn
brother of the missing man tn
town was secured all day yesterday i
, the hope of finding some clew to Ri
whereabouts. The theory was tbs
Il he had been of unsound mind and ha
left home, and this theory was sub
lstantiated to a certain extent b
i the receipt of a letter from Mr.. &. L
e Faulkner, president of the banE
which stated that Covington was
. unbalanced mind and he feared SOM
thing wrong had happened him. Ii
theory that Covington's mind was III
o balanced was somewhat shaken b
: the statement of Capt. Fruchte, wh
q said that COvington was perfect
? rational and sober when he called @
s him and reported the robbery. i
/, was not bit nervous, and promise
to return later in the day aud giV
tho nolica oil the facts in the case