The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-12-11
WHEN HIS NERVE FAILED.
An Embexzler Was Discovered in an
Unexpected Way.
Chicago Post.

Unexpected Way.
Chicago Post.
while L was in business out West two
years ago a case of thieving that was
city L was in is a lake port of more than
ordinary consequence, and a great deal Of
grain. timber and ore find an outlet through
II. and IT has banking houses that would
do honor to a more pretentious town than
that collection of primitive buildings on the
verge of the toughest country on the con-
tinent. In one of the largest financial
institutions the sum of $4,000 was missing
one spring day, and everybody from TIE
president down was greatly exercised, and
strenuous exertions were made to discover
the criminal. There were not more than
hair a dozen men in the concern who had
access to the vault where the money was
stored, and all were of the most exem-
plary character and had been in the en-
ploy Of the bank for a long time. De;
tectives were brought on from Chicago and
other points, and every effort was made to
get some trace of the thief or thieves.
searching inquiry the Vidocqs were COM
PEELED to give up and announce their ina
bility to place even the slightest suspicion
upon any member of the staff. The money,
which was in a package of bills of large
denominations, had vanished as mysterious
ly as though it had dissolved into the air.
In the course OF a couple of months bust
ness went on again just the same, the
stockholders made the deficit good and it
was only now and then that the good people
Of the town referred to the loss casually.
About a year after the money disa ppeared
one or the youngest of the clerks In the
letter from a friend in the East asking
him TO go into business with him, and Of
fering. to furnish the necessary capital.
The clerk said the opportunity for success
in the venture outlined by his friend was
so promising that he had come to the con-
pass, and he therefore rendered his resig-
nation. The resignation was accepted
with great reluctance by his superior Off,
young men of the town, and a member of
several religious organizations. He was
cciaps se and nd ON the evening 1e" Of h his d ep Il
ure it was arranged to give him banquet
in the dining hall of the leading hotel. The
bag and a light overcoat; it was in the
early fall, and the weather Is sharp in the
northwest as soon as October sets in. The
ranged that il should be prolonged by
speech-making and jollification until mid
night, when the boys in a body would
escort their young friend TO the station
and give him a farewell cheer as the train
pulled out. 1t happened that one OF the
party who was just tipsy enough to know
what he was doing stepped on to the hand
bag which was on the floor near the clerks
p socket ts joier said said as u he e" Wrete sf" ESQ. oo q
"'Well, boys. here he goes with the $780,
OW.'
1.-The clerk took the bag away from his
friend with a smile. led him back to his
seat at the table, and then addressing the
COMPANY III a a INV ooAN-
81 can assure you this is no joking mat
ter. You all know how seriously the loss
bank with which l had the honor to be
connected, and not one of us. from the
president down. did not feel at the time
that we would be more or less guilty in the
eyes of the public until the thief was
caught. BY all means let US have no more
jokes of this kind
been greeted with shouts OF laughter. but
IL was q sober gathering when the clerk
concluded, and. taking his handkerchief, ex-
posed the inscription. There were frowns
for the luckless instigator of the joke, and
the dinner was concluded in silence. 1t
was with many expressions of good will
and many hearty handshakes that the clerk
said his farewells. and when the train
flashed away his face was strained against
the window frame ,h smiling Ling a q ria last 5ocs adi leu
lice force was on the same train, going
down into the vault one afternoon shortly
preaching him from behind, clasped him
about the shoulders. saying:
so you thought you'd get away with
the money; come, now, you are my pris-
oner. Where's the 100000
This. coming on top of the other strain.
was too much for the clerk, and, leaning
back I'm his seat, he covered his face with
his hands and sobbed.s It's here in the
bag
he was amazed at the question. and. TAX
ing the culprit into custody, returned to
town by the next train. TIE affair was a
nine-days' wonder. me clerk tod how he
stole the money, and then everybody saw
how easily IL was done. He had gone
down into the vault one afternoon shortly
OF large bills there. He said he was seized
with an Irresistible desire to take the
money, and on the impulse of the moment
had piled the package into the hollow of
his left arm, threw his light overcoat neg
ligently over Ii and walked through the
streets with the money as unconcernedly
| took the package to his room. stored II In
an old bag. and. waiting until nightfall.
carried It to the woods and hid the piunder
the investigation ne said he was tempted
to tell the president the truth and reurn
the plumber, but something whispered to
him that with so much money he could
make a good start In business somewhere.
and, II successful, he would in time repay
every penny OF the amount with interest.