Evening star., 1895-05-11

Germs during the morning. but failed to re-
turn at the usual time. A large number of
the notes which he received had been cash.
ed at the Bank of England before suspi-
cion was aroused. We understand that
Detective Inspector Plummer of Scotland
Yard has the case in hand
The clerk, whose name was Charles Will
lam Laker. had. 1T 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 apprehension and
the recovery of, at any rate, as much of
the booty as possible.
A smart hanson brought Hewitt to
Threadne edle street in a bare quarter of
an hour, and there 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 twenty-five years of
age and had been in the employ of Messrs.
Liddle, Neal & Liddle for something more
than seven years-since he left school. in
fact-and until the previous day there had
been nothing in his conduct to complain of.
His duties walk clerk consisted in MAX
ing a certain round, beginning at about
half-past 10 each morning. There were
certain number of the more important
banks between which and Messrs. Liddle,
Neal & Liddle there were daily transac-
tions, and few smaller semi-private banks
and merchant firms acting as financial
agents with whom there was business in
tercourse of less Importance and regular
fty: and each of these, as necessary, he
visited In turn. collecting cash due on bills
and other Instruments of the like nature.
He carried a wallet, fastened securely to
his person by chain. and this wallet con-
tained the bills and the cash. Usually. at
the end of his round when all his bills had
been converted into cash, the wallet held
very large sums. His work and RESPONSE
bilities in fine were those common to walk
clerks in all banks.
On the day of the robbery he had started
out as usual-possibly little earlier than
was customary-anG the bills and other Sc
curities in his possession represented con-
siderably more than f15,000. 1t had been
ascertained that he had called in the usual
way at each establishment on his round
and had transacted his business at the last
place by about quarter past l. being then,
without doubt. in possession of cash to the
full value of the bills negotiated. After
that. Mr.. Lyster said, yesterdays report
was that nothing more had been heard of
him. But this morning there had been
a message to the effect that he had been
traced out of the country - to Calais, at
least, 1t was thought. The directors of the
society wished Hewitt to take the case in
hand personally and at once, with view
OF recovering what was possible from the
plunder by way of salvage: also, of course,
of finding Laker, for 1t is an important
moral gain to guarantee societies as
example If n thief is caught and punished.
Therefore Hewitt and Mr.. Lyster, as soon
as might be, made for Messrs. Liddle, Neal
& Lddle's, that the investigation might be
begun.
The bank premises were quite near-in
Leadenhall street-and, arrived there, Hew-
lit and Mr.. Lyster made their way to the
firms private rooms. AS they were pass
ing an outer waiting room Hewitt noticed