The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1892-01-21
How the Thief was Caught.
A STORY BY DETECTIVE B. c. CRABTREE,
OF LYNN.


Not long since | was called upon by a
middle-aged man, who seemed very much
excited, and who desired an interview
with me upon matter, he said, that had
year. ! invited the stranger into my pri-
vate office, where all such cases are heard,
dissected, and often buried in the waste
basket, there being no foundation upon
which to warrant further Investigations.
After being comfortably seated, and the
pipe of peace re-filled with fresh weed
from the Southern soil and the smoke
pouring out in huge volumes from his
mouth, ascending in spiral form towards
the ceiling, my visitor began his story:
MY name is Daniel Mills and | reside
losing money in small sums from drawer
in my desk for over one year, and have
tried every means to detect the mysterious
disappearance of the money. but | have
absolutely failed. have been advised to
put the case in yollr hands. as am told
You can ferret out such cases i'll a very
short time. What makes the case SO mys-
FERROUS to me is the fact that no locks are
broken. and no marks of any description
are noticeable about the desk OF drawer. |
have also changed the lock three times :
''What is the amount usually taken at
each time, l asked?
1T varies in amounts all the way from
three to thirteen dollars.
How often does the loss occur?"
Iron once to twice week
What is your business, Mr.. AIllso''
| Il am wholesale fish dealer, supply
ing the small markets throughout the
city
How many men do You employees
Il run five teams: and have ten men,
altogether, employed.
What is your usual method of deposit
| ING money in this drawero At what time
and when is the loss discovered by you?'
MY men turn over all collections made
| by them through the day with their book
| of sales. | then verify each book and
count up the total cash, putting the same
| in the drawer during the evening. The
! loss is discovered in the morning about 10
a. M. when | make my deposits in the
| bank
You are positive. Nh Mills. that your
men are all right and honest in this mat
ter?'
| Yes. am sure of it, My men have
no way of getting to my room where the
money is kept.
''Who does have access to your office or
] room, where this desk is located?'
Il have three rooms on the third floor.
! The desk is in my sleeping room. The
other two rooms are for general purposes.
The only ones who have access to my
room is the lady lease the house to and
| her hired girl. | know it is not either of
! them.
1T will lie necessary for me to visit
your office. Nh NJ. and investigate be
fore can fix on plan OF operation.
: Very we'll, will meet You at 40 y.
IN. sharp.
At the appointed time was at the Of
flee of my morning visitor. | found the
rooms situated as he had previously de-
scribed. The desk was of ancient pattern
and OF the best mahogany, with she'd
roof top, which let down. resting upon
two arms that pulled out at each side
thus forming writing table. The drawer
that contained the money was at the top.
and directly under the writing table. In
opening and closing the top of the desk
discovered the key which unlocked the Sc
cret to the mysterious disappearance of
the money. turned to the man and said ::
+ 1T is woman that is stealing your mon
ey, and she is below the medium build
Mr.. Mills was astonished at my sudden
announcement, and was somew hat inclined
to insinuate that | was a fool and did not
know my business.
"What do you mean by that assertion,
sire
Il mean just what have stated, and
furthermore, | will prove it to you inside
of twelve hours, providing you will not
let any one in the building know what we
are DOING
IF you have any idea that any one in
this house is stealing my money you are
very much mistaken. | would trust all
the women folks in this house with untold
money. Why, my dear sir, they are
beyond suspicion
very well, time will tell. | charge
you again not to reveal any of our plans
to a living SOUL
He promised strict secrecy. Mr.. NJ.
was very anxious to know what mad dis
covered. but deemed it wise to withhold
my discoveries until the proper time az
rived for him to he informed The top of
the desk when let down Just half way ex-
posed very narrow space at the bottom
of sufficient width to admit the fingers of
achild, OF the small, delicate hand of wo-