Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1892-11-24
returned from South America
Ha mentioned several eure things

returned 1rOm OOllGu 3AAoA Aoe
He mentioned several cure things
in the way of speculation, and
painted such a glowing picture of
the country that ] was excited
and impatient. The bank had
large deposits that fall and on the
|a6th day Of September we had
nearly $4,000 of what was called
outside money. This was cash tenn
porarily deposited by the County
Treasurer and by the cashiers Of
three or four manufacturing
establishments. Ihad been wait
ing for such an opportunity. ]
could have taken from $4,000 to
sS5, 600 and almost any day. but ]
had planned to- practically clean
out the institution.
Between the 4th and 18th Of
September I planned the details
of my fight. I knew the time
tables of the different railroads ]
should pass over, what day I should
take the steamer, and every detail
had been carefully worked out. ]
might be pursued, but I fattered
myself that I had laid my plans
too we'll to be caught. I planned
to go to the bank at 9 o'clock in
the evening and secure admission.
The watchmaniwould not hesitate
to let me in, I would chen assault
and overcome him. He could not
give the alarm before 1aorning, and
i would then be faf away. i
planned to make my escape on the
night Of the 18Th. st the close sof
business on, the ,aft ftern6on Of that
day lve had slos 900 ii greenb backs
iinS nStlle vault After q bank has
closed itado oora 70 The public at 8
o'clock 81 NJ. there is work to keep
the force busy for an hour OF more.
Fora yearI had always been the
last one to leave, ,.and my hour had
been g. O'clock. The trusty day
porter was then left alone until s
o'clock, when he gave place to the
regular night htsWatc chman. At half
past 5 lock that afternoon and
just a,s the: clerk had. departed the
night vat ehman came to notify
me that his wife Rad died sudden
lYsand I'd ash that a subtitute be
#smp ployed. Is named . man, but
Itpla bat I would ! make m.y
own arrangements.
When the watchman had depsr-
ted Inotifed the day porter that
he might leave at 6 o'clock, as ]
had work which would detain ME
till about 8. Five minutes afte,
6 Twas alone in the bank and its
funds were under my thumb. The
train by which I should leave
town was not due uLtil 1850. and
I was therefore in no hurry
locked up and went to my boarding
house to supper. At 7 O'Clock
returned to the bank, pulled dowr
the shades, lighted the gas, and il
the course of twenty minutes had
packed every dollar in the vaults
into a satchel provided for the pur.
pose. This satchel-I placed on 9
chair outside the railing, and had
sat down for a smoke when there
vas q rap at the door. I knew il
was one of our force, but hardly
expected to see the President him
self.
81 expected it was you, he said
as he entered: "always the last to
go. You are working too hard and
must take a rest. At a meeting OF
the Board to-day it was decided
to give you a months leave and q
gift of $500 in cash. You have been
faithful and efficient, and we wish
you to know how thoroughly you
are appreciated"
I don't remember what I said in
reply, but I do remember that
something like horror seized upon
me at the idea of my own baseness.
Right there within reach of his
hand was the money I intended to
fly with and yet he was lavish in
his praises of my integrity He
remained only brief time, and
soon after his departure I went
outside to walk about and plan
"a little. I hadn't given up the idea
of,robbery and flight, but still
small voice was whispering to me
On the first street corner I en-.
countered a tramp. I was very
much perturbed, but I shall always
remember what he said. When