Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-05-10

l have not spoken particularly about
the combination of the safe as this was
Of secondary Importance when cOmpar-
ed with the difficulty OF the time lock.
IL was known by the employees that Mir.
McKeever carried in his poke. men,
Orandum OF the six figures Of this COM
bination as an assistance to mis- memory
on the few occasions when, in the alb
sence of his bookkeeper, he was called
on TO unlock the safe.
The president of the bank and my col
leagues upon the board we're of the opin-
ion OF the police. The cashier however.
had obliged and accommodated me on
several occasions. years before. when l
needed it. liked him and held out as
long as possible against the conclusion
70 which my associates had so quickly
and so unanimously arrived. There
was one idea to which I turnedas last
resort. McKeever had acted IN a very
queer manner and had talked wildly,
not 70 say incoherently. when he vas
in the office that last afternoon. May
not this conduct have been the result
OF a temporary disordered intellect?
Was he not ont of his mind and c1lse-
quently not responsible for his actions.
when he took it into his head 10 wind
the time lock short of the proper time
and rob the bank?
There was another thought which also
struck me forcibly. Was il no, pre-
posterous idea that this prOsaic and re-
Spected banker should burglarize his
own safe. when he might easily and Sc
curely and without fear Of detection. at
least for years. appropriated this sum
or a greater amount by classifying the
books: as many another respectable
church-going cashier and bank presi-
dent has done snd is doing to-day, under
our very poses9
Friday. Saturday and Sunday passed
and still no signs OF the missing cashier.
He was sought in every direction and
with all the ingenuity which the author
tiles could devise. kilograms were sent
10 every part Of the country containing
details OF the robbery and minute de-
scriptions of the criminal but all 10 no
purpose. He had disappeared as conf
pletely as il he had been translated 10
some other planet All the newspapers
published sensational accounts OF the
affair and spoke OF NcHeever as the last
accession 10 the Canadian colony OF
bank officials.
II was Sunday night and I was speak
ing of the matter 10 my friend Wolcot.
why don't YOU try Old Benjamin."
he asked.
"Old Benjamin. who IS he? some pri-
vate detectives" l answered.
No, not exactly detective, but an
expert IN crime; sort Of a consulting
physician in all those peculiar mala-
dies % which the social body is predis-
posed. I know Of several cases. where
he succeeded. when the police had fail
Cd absolutely. l would rever think Of
putting matter OF this kind into the
hands OF the police detectives. any way
They are all well enough in finding The
/, psrpetratOr Of some vulgar common
place crime. where the motive is evil
dent to all and where the criminal has
I left such traces that he who runs may
Rad: but. in an affair of this kind. they
are out Of their class. They can put
on false boards. feign drunkenness. con-
/ sort With fellows Of the baser sort in low
saloons and dives, and csmfort them
selves generally in the style OF Hawk