Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-04-27
CAUGHT!

Years ago the bill clerk Of one Of the Liv.
/ erpool banks was going from one business
house to another in that busy commercial
! CITY collecting bills of exchange which had
been previously left for acceptance accord
| ing to custom.
These he placed in one or other Of thesec-
tons of a long pocketbook made for the
| purpose, which he carried in the tail pocket
of his coat.
About noon he called at Heywoodss bank
| and received some bills. and having put
| them in their proper places in his book he
slipped it into his tail pocket rs usual, and
keeping his hand upon it FASTENED to the
outer door.
He put up his umbrella, placed his hand
| upon his book as WAS his habit, and Kept II
| there till he reached the door Of mer-
chants office at the exchange. There he
drew out his hand and closed the umbrella,
Only few seconds were occupied in do
ing this, and not q soul was visible any
| where. as the rain was still descending in
torrents. yet when he put his hand into his
pocket the book was gone as if by magic.
He had seeu no one and neither felt nor
heard anything, and yet the book with all
its contents was gone-full $500 worth OF
| bills, all duly accepted and practically al
Indeed what could he doy
Quick rs his feet could carry him him he
made for the central police Office hard 10y
and reported his great loss, but with little
hope that any good could come of it.
They proved, however, equal 10 the &C
casion They tele.sraphsa TO London, and
found that that very morning one of til,
most skiliful Of London sharper> had taken
train for Liverpool, and seeing that III,
theft had been 50 cleverly done they con
clude,i he was probably the thief.
Without therefore, "A moments delay
they wired to London 4 request that an
officer who knew him might be sent down
Immediately No time was lost in Scot
land Yard and soon after i O'Clock a keen
eyed, intelligent detective arrived in Liver
pool.
With an instinct that rarely failed to
guide him Alright he made at once for the
general postoflice, hoping to see the man
he sought some time ar other before til.
night mail closed.
He was right \ little before I o'clock
to his great joy be saw the man he wanted,
To common eyes he certainly looked
wholly unlike thief, and few people would
have thought for a moment he could posi-
bly, he one.
He was handsomely dressed and driving
a splendid dogcart, with a high stepping
mettltsome horse, and going i'll the direc
ton of the general postoihce.
4 few minutes and the dogcsrt pulled up
at the postofIice registration department
and its gent emanly looking driver, hand
ing the rcins to the boy in buttons at his
side, dismounted and took his place by the
counter to await his turn among the many
who like himself had letters to he regis
tered.
Another minute and the detective also
entered and placing himself so rs to see
without being seen he calmly watched his
man.
lie had not long TO wait The turn Of the
city thief being come he handed in for rc's
stration large and evidently important
letter, took the receipt and moved to the
door. Quick as lightning the officer made
for him, and touching him on the shoulder
quietly said, a want YOU
Turning instantly and recognilin;; an old
acquaintance the thief sad, "tunfourd
you!' but made no effort to escape.
He was handed over TO an ordinary man
in blue. who stood hard by the door, and
duly lodged in Jail for the night The de
tcctiVr hen rtturilcd to the counter. and
producing his card to prove Ills official char
acter asked for the address ON the letter
and il was accordingly given.
Confident that he had HOW done all thai
could be done for The present. he reported
progress tothr Liverpool police, went some
where to dine. and then returned To l.pndnit
by the might train. Having snaIciIc,l a few
hours sleep ut home lac was early on the
move to complete the business.
Long before O'Clock he was in Il highly
respectable street, SO highly respectable
that few would think a thief could live
there, and YET ii was the street to which
the registered letter was addressed he
street in which the polished thief resided.
There he waited to meet the poeluian on
his ro,Id. before he could possibly part
WITH he letter, un the getting If which hi,
heart was set. The mpmeGt he appeared
in sight he hailed him and said:
Il ANA detective, ~ the card show you
proves You hay" Il large registered letter
for Mrs, BLANK at -, IN this street
There i reason 10 believe hat letter con
t;tius the proceeds of II robbery. When
therefore. ynu come to --. ask that Mr..
Blank may Dj.dy come hc.-,lf to he auut
to sign for il, and will do the rest
The officer p ed himself at the side OF
the door So as hot to he sceIi The poslIna-
gave his double rap and did rs hr had been
requested. Mrs Blank came to sign fol
the letter, and no sooner had She done So
than the detective spraug into view, seized
her with one hand and the letter with the
other and said;
''l on are my prisoner, and hat IL my let
ter"
TO the joy Of many the letter contained
the whole of the bills ENchan2c.