Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1896-12-05

sf the institution was all that could be
1esired. There is always an odd sheep
On every town, and in Parkville the odd
eheep was Uncle Billy Edwards. Not
Dnce in year did anyone mention his
last name. 1t was always Uncle Billy"
and he was everybody's friend and no.
6ody's enemy. At the time the bank
svas organized he was man 50years old.
He was simple-minded, lived with rel
ttive, and picked up quarter now and
.hen by doing an odd job. Some one told
Uncle Billy about the bank, and he
straightway sought an interview with
che man who was to be president. In a
spirit of fun the latter appointed him
"'The First National Bank Extraordin-
ery Burglar Catcher" and promised
dim salary of $40 per year.
They had lots of fun over Uncle
Billy's stories of the suspicious char
scters he had seen sneaking about, and
of the bank burglars who had tried to
bluff him and run him off, and no one
was jealous of him, except the regular
night watchman. About four nights n
week Uncle Billy would slip out of his
bed at midnight and walk half mile
to knock on the front door of the bank
and satisfy himself that the watchman
was awake. He was chased away time
after time, with missiles following him
as he fled, but he reappeared after q
night or two and was not to be got rid
of.
AS Is the case with most country
banks the building was two stories
high, with the second story finished off
for offices. There were six or seven
rooms, and for the first year these were
rented out to local lawyers. AT the end
of the year the party having the rooms
over the vaults moved out, and, after
they had stood idle for two months, they
were rented to White &c Gregg, insur-
auce and real estate agents. who came
to Parltville from Philadelphia well
recommended. Both claimed to be mar
ried men, but neither brought his
family. They We're going to try it first
for few months. Their first move was
co deposit $4,000 in the bank and box
OF bonds and valuable papers. Their
next was to invest in 90 vacant city lots
aud to take $1,000 worth of stock in a
woolen mill then building In these
anT other ways they made themselves
sol with the business men of the
town, and the public ut large looked
upon them as valuable acquisitions to
che cummunity. Uncle Billy, in addi-
tion to being the ''extraordinary bur
giar detector," carried up the fuel and
swept out the offices for the lawyers,
and when White G. Gregg took possess
sion he did not lose his job. They soon
came to understand him, and he was al
lowed to come and go at will, though he
was never in the way when not wanted.
He was enthusiastic in their praise for
the first three months, as they paid
him literally, but one day, in whispered
tones and with an air of mystery about
him, he asked for private interview
with the president of the bank. When
this had been laughingly granted, he
eaid:
''Mr. Davis, I am not sure about those
men, White & Gregg. I shouldn't won
der if they intend to rob our bank"
"How will they do it?" asked the
amused official.
"By cutting through the floor and the
vault"
'But the roof of the vault is of brick
and two feet thick"
"Well, l think they are going to try it..
They have a saw, crowbar, a sledge-
hammer and other tools in closet up