Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1893-08-31
A VALUABLE VALISE.


May Kendall in Longman's Magazine.
A VALUABLE VALISE.
Returning from New York city by the
E- railroad a few years ago, bought
OF the train boy copy Of Cincinnati
paper, in which read a long account Of
the robbery of the City National bank
OIL, KY, and the sudden disappear
ance of its teller, Harry w. Swope. AS
usual in such cases, he mad been trusted
employee, member of the church and a
society young man. The robbery was
particularly cool one, the gentleman
having quietly slipped $4,000 In notes
into valise Oh the previous Saturday
afternoon after bank hours and walked
out into the cold world 'da f
That was the last seen Of him, and it
was not until after the bank opened on
Monday morning that any one suspected
anything wrong. The affair created an
immense sensation. Society" was shock
ed, the church scandalized and the bank
directors furious. The newspapers print
ed long stories of the Dr. Jekyn and Mr..
Hyde sort of existence the young man
had led for number of years, and
numerous friends of the ''lately depart
ed" knowingly shook their heads as they
told the reporters that they knew some
thing like that was sure to happen soon.
This sensation SO interested me that
when / reached Cincinnati I scarcely
realized the express was, as usual, an
hour behind time and had failed to make
connection with the train to Ii. I
should therefore be compelled to take
the last train going west that night,
which would cause me to stop over night
in a one horse town in Indiana that did
not contain comfortable hotel.
knew Mr.. Swope by sight, having
come in contact with him on number
of occasions while doing business with
the bank of which he was teller. The
Ii papers / bought in the Union de-
pot gave further details of the affair
and contained also the announcement
that the bank directors had offered re-
ward of 81 900 for Swope's capture and
10 per cent of the cash returned, which
would make total of SIC, 900 if the ras-
cal was caught before he got rid Of his
booty.
After eating an unsatisfactory lunchI
took seat in the general waiting room
Of the depot and ruefuIly awaited my
train. As did SO noticed a. young man
approach my seat, and placing his va
lise on the floor alongside my own, to
which it bore a strong resemblance, sit
down while he looked cautiously around
at the clock on the wall and then at the
officials moving about. F
How long he sat beside me I don't re-
member, but after time he slowly arose
and walked over to the telegraph Office
at the farther end of the room. Before
he came back strong lunged individual
in uniform stepped up to me and bawled
out the names of the towns which the
train about to start was bound for. Hur-
riedly picking up my valise, made
straight for the gate and was soon aboard
my train for the west.
The journey was made with the usual
discomfort and monotony. The depot
at N Y, Ind, where / had to
stop over from 10 p. m. till the next
morning, had been rebuilt since my last
visit to that town, and remembering too
well my hotel experience there a year
before resolved to spend one night in
the depot waiting room with a few
other passengers who shared my mis-
fortune.
All that night the face of the stranger
who had occupied a seat beside me in the
Cincinnati depot haunted me. There
was something about him that reminded
me of Teller Swope. He was just his size
and build. His mustache, to be sure,
was wanting, but that he should shave
off this appendage was to be considered
a matter of course. The gold spectacles
he wore very much resembled those /
had associated with the face of the intel
lectual looking teller, and had observed
on his fingers number of rings, jewelry
that Mr.. Swope was said to be very par
tial to. As 1 turned the matter over in
my mind the more convinced Ifelt that
had lost a splendid chance of capturing
the thief and securing $40, 900 reward.
When 3 o'clock at last came round, !
boarded the train for L., not in the
best of humor, and two hours later ar
rived at home feeling very blue. After
taking a slight breakfast, went down
to the Office, where the big robbery was
still the talk Of the clerks. Each Of
them had a theory of his own as to
where the thief had gone, and when they
appealed to me for my opinion dole
fully recounted my experiences of the
previous evening. OF course they unani-
mously agreed with me that 1 had very
foolish1y allowed the fugitive teller to
slip out Of my fingers.
Just before going out to lunch q mes
senger boy languidly entered the Office
and handed me note from my wife.
Thinking it was the usual commission to
get yard or two Of goods like the sam
pie inclosed," 1 thrust it into my pocket
and started out to dinner l had not
gone far before suddenly stopped and
took out the envelope the boy had given
me, opened it and read it. Atirst could
not understand what it all meant; then
turned il over and went through it
again. 1t ran as follows:
OB6QeA
ing your valise TO get your soiled linen to send
1t to the laundry discovered 1t packed with
bank notesi What does it mean2 Is anything
'wrong7 Come home at once. ~ -
My first thought was to hasten home,
but upon reflection ] resolved to step
Ground to the bank and acquaint tho
omclais Inere or my discovery. round
the president of the bank in his private
Office engaged with several lynx eyed in-i
dividuals whom suspected from their
appearance to be, as it turned out they
were, detectives. II
! When was granted an interview and
explained my discovery, it created, very
naturally, a sensation. At first the old
gentleman was inclined to regard me as
a crank, but when asked him to allow
a clerk to accompany me home he seemed
to be satisfied / was in earnest. He con-
sented to my proposal, but after a mo-
ment's thought he said an escort was un-
necessary, thinking doubtless that the,
handsome reward would be a sufficient
inducement to insure the safe delivery
of the nrecious valise aee Yeaa
4 As left the bank and turned up the
street in the direction of home was
Joined by Young man who came run