The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1898-05-26

LII VINO RENE mDeI the O1nk 1nNS-
terry" and will give you all the details
Of it, and a good deal of gossip besides.
Anson the banker was for years wild
over, but at the age of 55 he married
again. The wife was less than 80, and
while he was sedate and devoted to
to shine in society. Gossip predicted
quarrels and unhappiness and sep
aration, and it was only a few months
before it was towns talk that peace
and harmony had fled from the bank
er's home. The wife had extravagant
tastes in every direction, while the
husband was inclined to be conserva-
tive IN social display as well as in busi-
ness matters.
One morning. six months after the
marriage, 1t was noised about that the
bank had been robbed in mysterious
way. 1t had vault of stone and iron,
and this was defended by door which
was opened by a combination of four
numbers. So careful and prudent was
the banker that he had never trusted
this combination even to his cashier.
He himself was always there to open
and close the vault. Within the vault
there were shelves and boxes, and the
place was used as safe deposit by
many of the townspeople. All the EN-
ployes had been in service for many
years. There were a cashier, a book
keeper and nephew of the banker
who was sort of general utility man.
and a porter. One morning when An
son went to the vault to take out
money for the days business. he dis
covered that package of $4,000 in
grcenbacks was missing. He 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 ombination.
Who was that somebody?
The banker gave no alarm, but took
matters quietly, and after awhile
slipped out to consult with the sheriff.
He 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
man who had passed even an hour
there alone, and he was to be left out
of the question altogether. The bank
was not watched at night except by the
In fo1 ho
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 false tally, but the
banker was too careful and methodical
for that. He felt certain that he was
correct; but rs 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
~ wore out. 1t was the general opin-
ion that the alleged robbery was a mis-
take, though the people in the bank
knew better.
A period of about six weeks passed,
and there was a second robbery. This
also took place at night and was dis
covered next morning. This time q
package of $4,000 had been taken.
There was the tally of the amount OF
money laid away the night before, but
the count was just 5000 short. When
satisfied of this. the banker again
sought the sheriff; but things came out
pretty much as before. 1t was impos-
sib!e to suspect any employe, and there
was absolutely no clew for the de-
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 consequence
the bank began to lose business and the
banker to worry until he was ill for the
first time in his life. He was, of course
/ advised to change his porter, to put
watchman inside, and all that; but
he made no changes. Had robber en-
tered the bank by means of key and
worked the combination, why did he
not take all the money instead of a
small sum? Anson would not admit
that he suspected anybody, but there
were those who asserted that he sus-
pected himself He was somna1nbu.
list, and perhaps he figured it out that
he had taken the money and hidden il
a"ay beyond ready finding. At any
rate, neither of the stolen packages
Wa1fouEd or the crime brought home
to anyone; and so it went on for three
or four months.
l was then boy of IA, living
IN the town. OF course heard all the
talk, and | may tell you that l was
probably more interested than any
other outsider. | gave that matter
ihought both day and night, and halt
dozen times l went to the sheriff tc
= laughed at. l suspected the porter
9 the bank, and it was wonderful wha,