The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1896-12-26

Of the institution was all that could be
desired. There is always an odd sheep
IN every town, and in Parkville the odd
sheep was Uncle Billy Edwards. Not.
once in a year did anyone mention his
last name. It was always Uncle Billy,
and be was everybody's friend and no
body's enemy. At the time the bank
was organizedhe was q mar 50 yearsold.
He was simple-minded, lived with a rel
alive, and picked upa quarter now and
then by doing an odd job Some one told
Uncle Billy about the bank, and he.
straightway sought an interview with
the man who was TO be president. In a
spirit of fun the latter appointed him
''The First National Bank Extraordin-
airy Burglar Catcher" and promised
him q salary of $40 per year. 8
They had lots Of fun over Uncle
Billy's stories of the suspicious char
acters 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 a
week Uncle Billy would slip out Of his
bed at midnight and walk half a mile
to knock on the front door of the bank
and satisfy himself that the Waterman
was awake. He was chased away time
after time, with missiles following him
as he fed, but he r~eappeared after a
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 & Gregg, insur-
ance and real estate agents, who came
to Parkville from Philadelphia well
recommended. Both claimed to he'mar-
ried men; but neither brought his
family. They were going to try,it first
for a few months. Their first move was
TO deposit $4,000 in the bank and a box
Of. bonds and. valuable papers. Their
next was to invest in 2Ovacant city lots
and to take $1,000 worth of stock in a
wooden mill then building, In these
and other ways they made themselves
solid with. the business men Of the
town, and the public at large looked
upon them as valuable acquisitions to
the cummunity. Uncle Billy, in addi
tion to being the extraordinary bur.
glar detector," carried up the fuel anc
swept out the Offices for the lawyers
and when White g. Gregg took posses
sion he did not lose his job. They sooI
came to understand him, and he was al
lowed to come and go at will, though h
was never in the way when not wanted
He, was enthusiastic in their praise fol
the first three months, as they paid
him literally, but one day, in whispered
tones and with an air of mystery abou'
him, he asked for a private interview
with the president of the bank. Whe1
this had been l~aughingly granted, hi
said:
"Mr. Davis, I am not sure about thos'
men, White & Gregg. I shouldn'tw won
der if they intend to rob our bank"
"How will they do it2s' asked tn,
amused official.
"By cutting through the floor and TIL
vault" A
SHUT the roof of the vault is of bricI
and two feet thick"
"Well, / think they are going to try il
They have a saw, a crowbar, a sledge
hammer and other tools in a closet up