Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1893-01-20


A queer story is told of a Liverpool
bank officer who received private
letter from his friend, says Every
Other Saturday, member of a Lon
don banking firm. 1t said that one
OF their employees, the son OF their
highly esteemed cashier-a man who
was probity itself-had gone away
with several pounds OF securities. IL
the son should be arrested aud placed
in the prisons dock the old man
would never lift his head again. The
firm was, therefore, resolved TO do all
that lay in its power to save its aged
and valued servant from the misery
aud shame which would certainly
overtake him il his sons sin became
known.
The writer thought that in all prob
ability the young man would call with
his securities at the Liverpool bank,
and on the strength Of his connection
with the London bank try to negoti-
ate them. II so, the London banker
wanted the Liverpool banker to seize
the property aud hold it until he
heard from the London banker again,
to lecture the young man soundly,
buy him a ticket to New York and
give him $1,000 with which to begin
the world again. The London bank
er was going.to Paris for fortnight,
so the Liverpool banker didn't need
to write to him about the matter un-
til that time. He also wanted the Sc
cret kept from everybody as far as
possible, for the sake OF the London
bank, the young mans father aud
the young man himself.
The Liverpool banker, knowing
that many a young man had gone
wrong who might have been save at
the proper moment, decided to com
ply with his friends request.
Soon after nice, frank-looking
young man of the name referred to
was ushered in to him, aud, saying
that he desired to travel. explained in
a constrained aud nervous manner
that be had some securities on which
he wished to realize. He said he did
not understand business, and, per-
haps, was going swkwardly TO work,
but the ship for New York was to sail
that day and he was in hurry.
In reply the Liverpool banker
handed him the letter he had just re-
ceived. As he read IL his breast
heayed with emotion, tears came into
his eyes, and he finally burst into a
fit OF weeping He made a full con-
fession and the banker, after pointing
out the Nervousness OF his crime. of
fered to do what the letter requested
The Young man kissed the bankers
hand in token of his gratitude, said
that he had been foolish and wicked,
and would gladly go TO another coun-
try, and redeem himself.
The banker then gave him $1,000,
bought him a first-class steamer tick
ct and gave him dinner at the res
taurant. But nothing he did or said
seemed to raise the young mans
spirits. He was so sad and broken
down that the banker really pitied |
him. AS he bade him good-by from |
the ships side the hard old man could
not restrain his tears as he thought |
OF the young and repentant sinner he
had saved. from life Of crime.
at the end OF the fortnight, when |
he supposed the London banker
would have got back from Paris, the |
Liverpool banker wrote TO him In |
great glee of his success In carrying |
out his wishes and Of the contrite |
youth who had set sail for new scenes
with the bankers blessing.
He got the following reply from
London:
"You must be mad. Our cashier
never had son. No securities are
missing. Perhaps you have been
sold"
1t was true. He had. The letter
was forged. The securities were
worthless. He had thrown away |
$1,000, passage to New York, a good
dinner and a good deal Of advice up
on an ingenious swindler.