The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-06-10


were naturally anxious for speedy capture
of the culprit, and more especially of the
booty, before too much of il was spent,
in order TO Tighten the claim upon their
funds, and in work OF this sort Hewitt
was at times engaged, either in general
advice and directions, or in the actual
pursuit of the plumber and the plunderer.
Arriving at his Office a little later than
usual, one morning. Hewitt found an ur-
gent message awaiting him from the
General Guarantee Society, requesting
his attention to q robbery which had
taken place on the previous day. lie had
CLEANED some hint of the case from the
morning paper. wherein appeared O short
paragraph which ran thus:
"SERIoUS BANK ROBBERY.
SIN the course OF yesterday clerk en-
ployed by Messrs. Liddle, Neal & Liddle,
the well-known bankers, disaI peared,
having in his possession q large sum OF
money, the property OF his employers
sum reported to be rather over fl5, 1000. IL
would seem that be had been intrusted to
collect the money IN hislcapacity of walk
clerk from various other banks and
trading concerns, during the morning,
but failed to return at the usual time. A
large number OF the notes which he re-
ceived had been cashed at the Bank of
England before suspicion was aroused.
We understand that Detective Inspector
Plummer OF Scotland Yard has the case
in hand"
The clerk, whose name was Charles
William Laker, had, it appeared from the
message, been guaranteed in the usual
way by the General Guarantee Society,
and Hewitt's presence at the office was at
once desired in order that steps might
quickly be taken for the mans apprehen-
sion and the recovery OF, at any rate, as
much of the booty as possible.
A smart hanson brought Hewitt to
Threadneedle street in a bare quarter
of an hour, and there a few minutes
talk with the manager, Mr.. Lyster, put
him in possession of the main facts OF
the case, which appeared to be simple.
Charles William Laker was 20 years OF
age, and had been in the employ OF
Messrs. Liddle, Neal & Liddle for some
thing more than seven years-since ho
left school in fact-and until the previous
. day there had been nothing In his con-
duct to complain OF. His duties as walk
1 clerk consisted In making certain
round, beginning at about half past 10
4 each morning. There were a certain
number OF the more important banks
between which and Messrs. Liddle,
Neal & Liddle there were daily trans
actions, and few smaller seml-
private banks and merchant firms act
Ing as financial agents with whom there
was business intercourse of less import
ance and regularity; and each Of these, as
necessary, he visited in turn, collecting
cash due on bills and other instruments OF
the like nature. He carried wallet, fast
ened securely to his person by a chain
and this wallet contained the bills and the
cash. Usually, at the end OF his round
when all his bills bad been converted into
cash, the wallet held very large sums
His work and responsibilities, in fine
were those common to walk-clerks in al
banks.
On the day OF the robbery he haC
started out as usual-possibly q LITTLE
earlier than was customary-and tht
bills and other securities in his posses
sion represented considerably mort
than R15,000. 1t had been ascertaineC
that he had called in the usual wa
at each establishment on his round anC
had transacted his business at the las
place by about q quarter past 1, beinl
then, without doubt, in possession o
cash TO the full value OF the bills ne
gotisted. After that, Mr.. Lyster said
Yesterdays report was that nothlni
more had been heard OF him. But thi
morning there had been a message 20 1 b
effect that he had been traced out OF tn
country--to Calais, at least, il wa
thought. The directors OF the Societ
wished Hewitt 10 take the case in ham
and personally at once, with vio'
of recoverlng what was possibl
from the plunder by way OF salvage
also, OF course, on finding Laker, for
Is an important moral gain 10 guaranto
societies as an example II thief Is caugt
and punished. Therefore Hewitt and MI