The Washington times., 1894-03-27
A DETECTIVES STORY.
How the Son of Washington Merchan
Robbed His Father.

Robbed His Father.
robbery of Pennsylvania avenue merchant
by his son.
"It has been several years since was In
Washington last, remarked J. c. Hayes, a
veteran New York detective, at the Metropol-
itan last evening. "The last case worked
upon here was peculiar one. have long
since retired from the service, and as the
parties concerned are dead or removed from
the city 1 don't mind telling you about it,
merely suppressing the names.
"a prominent merchant on Pennsylvania
avenue had been robbed Of n large sum Of
money and the local force had tried without
success to gain clue to the perpetrator. AS
had achieved some success in the business.
and was personally acquainted with the
merchant. he wrote me requesting my ser
vices in the matter. / came TO Washington
Immediately.
after listening to this story, / made criti-
cal examination of the premises. 1t appeared
that the safe had been broken open and the
money distracted in the night But no evil
dence OF a forcibie entry could be found, the
door being locked as usual and all the win
dows intact. There were but two keys to the
front door. one of which the merchant ear
ried. and the other was in possession of his
confidential clerk. who was usually the last
one there and whose duty il was to see that
everything was secured for the night. Upon
examining the wrecked safe / became con-
vinced that it had been first opened by the
regular process and the money taken out,
after which the lock had been wrecked.
Il Immediately came TO the conclusion that
the clerk knew something about the matter.
and was confirmed in my conjecture when l
learned that he was also the only one sharing
in the. possession Of the combination of the
safe. | communicated my suspicion to the
proprietor. who was 10th to believe the young
man guilty. but he finally consented to my
proposition TO watch him closely. So began
following him everywhere. He was to all
appearance an estimable young man. and
finally ascertained. to my satisfaction. that
he could not have been concerned in the
robbery.
Il determined to try in another direction.
The gentleman had one son, who at the time of
the robbery was attending college in a neigh
boring state, having returned from his vaca-
ton but a few days before. l resolved to cul-
tivate his acquaintance and took the train to
the little Virginia town where he was attend
ing school. 1t did not take me long to ascer-
tain that he was what would now be tertced
high roller and had. despite liberal
allowance from home, succeeded in getting
head over heels in debt, and that shortly after
his return to college he had liquidated these
and was once more in the good graces of the
local tradesmen and liverymen.
Several of the stolen bills were of the de-
nomination OF 800, and had little difficulty
in locating three of these. l was now pretty
sure of my man. bat disliked making an
arrest before consulting my client.
II was about to return 10 this city and re-
port when / met the young man on the street
near my hotel, and determined to confront
him with the evidence of his guilt. He
looked somewhat surprised and uneasy mt
request for an interview from n stranger but
readily followed me to the parlor of the little
hotel where l told him who was and what
had learned. He was the most broken up
man | ever saw. and confessed the whole af-
fair. He had. in some manner. acquired pos
session of the combination OF the safe on his
last vacation. and having night key to his
fathers residence had returned to Washing
ton On the evening OF the robbery. and letting
himself in secured his fathers keys TO the
store and returned them TO his room after the
crime was committed.
LAS | had before surmised, he had first
made sure OF the money and then had demo-
ished the safe door. but like most criminals.
and especially young ones. he had in his hurry
and excitement forgotten TO leave any signs
of a forcible entry and had departed, leaving
the store locked as be had found it,
Il advised him to return with me and make
a clean breast Of it to his father. to which he
finally consented, and was forgiven and sent
back to complete his course in college. which
he did with much credit TO himself The
father has been dead many years. and the
son, am informed. is now one OF the leading
men OF Il thriving city in the West. but there
are many here who remember the event of
the robbery. which has always passed as an
undetected crime"