Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1898-05-27
7FHERE are plenty of elderly peo-

-. VINO remember "the bank mys-
very and will give you all the details
oi H. and good deal of gossip besides.
Ansoh the banker was for years wild
ower' but at the age of IS he married
agaln. The wife was less than 30, and
"hiie he was sedate and devoted TO
business, she was frivolous and wanted
70 shine in society. Gossip predicted
quarrels and unhappiness and a sep
sratlon, and it was only few months
oeiore 1t was towns talk that peace
and harmony had fled from the bank
CTS home. The wife had extravagant
tastes in every direction, while the
husband was inclined to be conserva-
1--WE In social display us well as in busi-
ness matters.
ohe morning, six months after the
marriage, it was noised about that the
pank had been robbed in mysterious
way, 1t had vault of stone and iron,
and this was defended by door which
was opened by combination of four
numbers. So careful and prudent was
the banker that he had never trusted
this combination even to his cashier.
lie himself was always there to open
and close the vault. Within the vault
there were shelves and boxes, and the
place was used as a safe deposit by
many OF the townspeople. All the en-
ployes had been in service for many
years. There were cashier, book
keeper and nephew of the banker
who was a sort of general utility man,
and porter. One morning when An
son went to the vault to take out
money for the days business, he dis
covered that a package of $3,500 in
greenbacks was missing. lie had laid
away a certain amount that night be-
fore and made his tally. His tally was
there but the money was gone. There
could be no mistake about 1.-THE
money had been taken from the vault.
The door had not been forced, but
somebody had worked the combination.
Who was that somebody?
The banker gave no alarm, but took
matters quietly, and after awhile
slipped out to consult with the sheriff.
lie got little consolation in that quar-
ter, however. The banker was the only
person who knew the combination; had
one of the employees been left alone in
the bank for week he could not have
struck it. The porter was the only
,,1on xyho had ynccaI avan M hnnr
there alone, and he was to be left out
of the question altogether. The bank
was not watched at night except by the
outside watchman on the block, and
there was not the slightest sign that
anyone had entered the place by force.
The sheriff tried to make Anson believe
that he had made a false tally, but the
banker was too careful and methodical
for that. He felt certain that he was
correct; but as the mystery could not
be solved, he also felt helpless. The
sheriff let the matter leak out, and
there was much talk; but the case final
ly wore out. 1t was the general opin-
ion that the alleged robbery was n mis-
take, though the people in the bank
knew better.
A period of about six weeks passed,
and there was second robbery. This
also took place at night and was dis
covered next morning. This time a
package of $1,000 had been taken.
There was the tally Of the amount Of
money laid away the night before, but
the count was just $4,000 short. When
satisfied of this, the banker again
sought the sheriff; but things came out
pretty much as before. 1t was impos-
sible to suspect any employe, and there
was absolutely no clew for the de-
tective, who came into the case pretty
soon. TO work on. He nosed around for
few days, shook his head and looked
wise; but the mystery was not solved.
Gossip revived, and as a consequence
the bank began to lose business and the
banker to worry until he was i'll for the
first time in his life. He was, OF course,
odvised to change his porter, to put
n watchman inside, and all that; but
he made no changes. Had a robber en-
tered the bank by means OF key and
worked the combination, why did he
not take all the money instead OF
email sun? Anson would not admit
that he suspected anybody, but there
were those who asserted that he sus-
nected himself. He was somnambu-
list, and perhaps he figured it out that
he had taken the money and hidden it
away beyond ready. finding. At any
rate. neither of the stolen packages
was found or the crime brought home
IN anyone; and so it went on for three
or four months.
was then boy of IA, living
q, tbe town. OF course heard all the
tolk. and | may tell you that was
nrobably more interested than any
ntber outsider. gave that matter
thought both day and night, and half
. DOZEN times | went to the sheriff to
be laughed at. ! suspected the porter
~ the bank, and it was wonderful what
,a..ese worked up against him alone
singlehanded. His wife had re-
ceiyed a legacy of $500, and this fact
tbev we're keeping secret. itiscovered
tbot she sent money away to sister,
and that they were buying luxurles;
olss that they were planning to build an
ADDITION to their house, and various
,ther things, which looked suspicious
, ,rder the circumstances. But FORUM
,telv for all concerned the real culprlt
wos discovered before I had said much
10 others.