The advocate., 1894-02-07
CHAPTER VIII.
ROBBERY, RESPECTABLE AND OTHER
WISE

Wise,
"The poor weep unheeded, persecuted by
every subordinate species OK tyranny; and
every law which gives others security be-
comes an enemy to them"-Goldsm1th.
While Kate is jOurneying hOmeward,
the reader should be informed OF a mis-
fortune which befell John COtterell
few days after his return to Graham;
misfortune the consequence Of which
fell not upon John alone.
In 1887 agriculture entered upon that
period of depression which yet cOntin
ues and grows worse; and ever since he
began work in the railway shops John
had been obliged to pay out of his earn
ings his fathers taxes and the interest
of a mortgage on the farm. For the
purpose of accumulating funds for
these payments he had been keeping a
savings account with the City Bank Of
Graham; and the second week after
his visit at home, and the next day
after he had received his monthly
wages, he took day off and went to
make deposit and procure draft to
send home for the amount Of the inter
est then about to fall due. For three
days there had been a run on the bank,
but he was not aware of the fact. for
the newspapers had been silent. There
was an excited crowd in front OF the
institution when he arrived, and
notice on the doors which Though it
was 10 o'clock were closed, told Of the
bands suspension.
There were sad scenes. One young
woman almost insane sat moaning
upon the bank steps, and men forgot
their own troubles in their sympathy
for her. She was a clerk on q meagre
salary; her brother was day laborer.
Their poor, old widowed mother was
blind, but from cause which skillful
operation could speedily remove; and
without her knowledge the brother and
sister had planned to have such an OPP
Grafton performed the day before
Christmas, and thus make the restora-
tion of her eyesight their mothers
Christmas present. To carry out this
project they had both been saving for
months every cent they could spare
from their scant earnings, and they had
at last so nearly enough that they felt
certain they would have the whole
amount in proper time. Now all was
gone. The bank door had closed upon
the cherished hope that their mother
would once more read her old Bible
now for years unseen. The young
woman's distress first excited pity for
her, then indignation at the officers of
the bank, and threats of vengeance
were frequent. A policeman almost
precipitated a riot by endeavoring to
make her leave the bank steps and go
home. Her brother came afterward
and led her quietly away. That even
ing extra policemen were sworn in and
armed; the sheriff was alert; the local
company of the national guard was at
its armory; detectives mingled with the
crowd.
Thus are all the brutal agencies of
government ever employed to protect
rich robbers of the poor from the just
vengeance Of their victims, precisely as
the same agencies are employed to
hunt down and destroy the poor
wretch who dares rob the rich. The
difference is in the mode of robbing.
One mode is respectable because the
robbers belong to the class which de-
termineS what shall be respectable;
the other mode is disreputable and
criminal because perpetrated upon a
member of the class which determines
what shall be disreputable and GRIM
inal. Mere commonplace robbers
should note this distinction and pursue
only business" methods.
John COtterell had an interview with
the president of the bank. "Cotterell," :"
said that official, 81 would rather be in
your position this moment than in
mine. Not only do all of you blame
me as the cause of your troubles, which
are hard to bear, but l am financially