The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1895-12-26
plotting to strike blow at the money
bags of the Bank Of England!

plotting to strike blow at the money
bags Of the Bank Of England!
The idea grew on US rapidly. After
dinner we sat in the twilight Of that
old inn and discussed the Old Lady Of
Threadneedle street from point of view
from which she had probably never been
discussed before. I can imagine with
what scorn the pulled and bepuffed
magnates of the bank would have re-
garded us had they known Of our dis
cussion.
They boosted to me, and had boasted
for century, that their system was per-
feet, and as proof that it was so they
widely proclaimed they had not changed
it in 100 years. They had proclaimed SO
loudly and so long its absolute invul
nerability that they not only believed
it themselves, but all the world had
come to believe it as we'll "safe as the
bank" was a proverb everywhere un-
DERIVING the English tongue.
In our discussion we speedily came to
the conclusion that any system of
finance unchanged in detail for cen
fury, belief in the perfection of which
was an article of faith not alone with
the officials charged with its manage
ment, but with the people Of England
at large, must, in the very nature IF the
case, lie wide open to the attack of any
man bold enough to doubt it's impreg-
liability and resolute to attack.
What Err,,,o~,k 80 &l,o
this boosted impregnability of the Bank
Of England was the sequel will show.
And as for those masters of finance,
those earthly Joves Of the financial
world, who sat serene above the clouds,
''the governor and company Of the Bank
Of England, they soon had the whole
money world shaking with laughter
when they stood revealed the Simple ST.
mons they proved to be.
We wanted 100000 apiece now and
had resolved to get it from the Bank of
England. Such was our confidence that
we never thought failure possible. Tru-
~ if there ever was plan laid in igno-
rant enthusiasm this was one. Here we
were, absolutely without any knowl-
edge Of the inner workings of the insti-
tuition, strangers in London, being un-
der assumed names, without business of
any kind, and not only unable to give
any references, but unable to stand any
investigation.
In conference it was determined an
account should be opened with the bank
anyway; after that was done we could
decide what use to put it to.
AS had not yet shown up in the pre-
vious transactions I volunteered to go
to the front in this, so told my two
friends to go to the continent-Italy, if
they iked-I would remain in London
and manage to get the account started
They took me at my word, and day or
two after sailed from Liverpool to Lis.
bon, and passed through it to Spain,
visiting the chief cities Of that country.
Twas left alone in London and began
prospecting at once, setting all my wits
at work to see how could manage to
get an introduction to the bank OF
course one is supposed to give reference,
even if introduced. Although had no
acquaintance with this banks methods,
yet was confident that all those at the
top must be stupid lot of red tape
sticklers, and resolved to do my bust
ness with them alone. Twas pretty sure
that the routine of an introduction once
we'll over, so as to give me access to the
officials, they could be easily satisfied
and made to help on the fraud in place
Of being obstacles. The result proved
my surmise correct, for such a lot of
self sufficient barnacles no institution
in the world was ever burdened with,
the manager reassuring me that their
system was so perfect no change had
been made in its methods for century.
I finally made up my mind to find
some old established shopkeeper who
kept an account at the bank and secure
an introduction through him.
determined to carry out the plan at
once. The thing was first Of all to find
my man, so at o'clock that afternoon
I stationed myself near the bank to
watch depositors coming out and then
follow them. -Four out Of five deposit
ors when they take money to the bank
come out examining their passbooks.
That afternoon I followed several OF
these selected three. One was an opti-
clan and electrician, an old established
firm, doing a large business. Another
was an East India importing house.
The third was Green & Son, tailors.
The next day went to the optician
and purchased an expensive opera glass,
and had him engrave on it, "To Lady
Mary, From Her Friend, and paid him
for it with e1OO note. Then I went to
the East India firm and bought a costly
white silk shawl and lap robe fit for a
prince, and looked at q camel's hair
shawl at 100 guineas.
had brought from America with me
q western hat, and as had resolved to
play the silver king wore it when go
ing around among the tradesmen. The
English had and still have absurd ideas
concerning that desirable article, the
American silver king" The stage ar