The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-01-26
A Tell=Tale Sen1iColon
BY p. Beausoy.
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" 4 Hal" exclaimed my chief, as he
n tossed be letter which had ar
rived by the first post, another of those
extraordinary jewel robberies, by
means of forged note of instructions,
and the victim is the London and Paris
bank, too. Should have thought they
were too near to the other victims who
suffered last year to have been caught
ST. easily. Well, you had better see
what you can make of the business, Mr.
Nisney."
Having hastily perused the note, I
babe good morning to the chief, and was
soon bowling along in a swift hanson
In the direction of Threadneedle street.
Arrived at the bank, which, as everyone
knows, is one of the largest institutions
in the country, I was shown without de-
lay into the submanager's room. the
head manager being away in Paris. The
former rose to greet me as I entered.
"Ah, good morning, Mr.. Wisney," he
said, glancing at my card. II am ex-
tremely glad you have come so soon,
for we are in bit of bother here
Lady Pollock's jewels, worth at the
least some 100000, have been stolen
from this bank by means of a letter pur-
porting to come from her ladyship, au-
thorizing the handing over of the case
to the messenger"
1 sat down and took out my note
book. II shall be glad to hear full de-
tails" remarked, IF you will he good
enough to let me have them"
II will tell you all there is to tell.
About three months ago the jewels were
deposited with us by Lord Pollock on
behalf of his wife, and the usual receipt
given for the same. The case was de-
posted in the strong room, after the
ordinary custom, and there it remained
until last Monday morning. On that
morning, about II o'clock, a cab drove
up to the bank and footman wearing
the Pollock livery handed note to the
cashier over the counter. It was brought
to me, in the absence of the head man
ager, and this is what he said"
Thereupon he handed me piece of
stiff note paper, bearing a crest and
stamped 230 Grosvenor Gate, Mayfair.
1t was as follows:
To the Manager, London and Paris Bank.
Threadneedle Street, E. C.-Dear Sir: Viii
you kindly hand my jewel case to the bear
er, as require the diamonds tonight: the
receipt which you handed to my husband Is
Enclosed herewith. Yours faithfully,
, BLANCHE POLLOCK.
! 1.-THE letter being, so far as we could
perceive, in the handwriting of our Gus
toner, Lady Pollock, and the receipt
being in order, I, of course, authorized
the clerk to hand the case to the mes
senger Immediately. This was accord
1ngly done, and the man, having signed
the receipt form, he was driven rapidly
away. In due course letter was sent
by US to her ladyship, confirming the
transaction, and next morning We were
astounded to receive visit from Lord
and Lady Pollock, and to hear that the
jewels had never been requisition:zed
by either of them, the first intimation
of the business being the letter from the
bank. : y Her ladyship, as you
may we'll imagine, was in a terrible con-
dition, and it required the united ef-
forts of Lord Pollock and myself Ito
bring her to something approaching
rational state. Her husband also was
very emphatic, and limited plainly that
he should hold us responsible for the
less.
Nov, Mr.. Wisney, you know as much
about the case as do, for have given
you the main facts as exactly as can
remember them" 81
THANK you, very much, )" I returned,
having made few notes in my book of
his remarks. IT wish all persons were
equally concise and clear And now I
should like to ask you most important
question" s.s@ - re-
''What is it?'' he inquired, quietly. &
"Simply this. Is it, in your opinion,
at all possible that Lady Pollock may
know more of the theft than she is sup
posed TO know? Is it at all probable
that the whole business is simply an
awful device to obtain the Jewels and
damages from the bank as well?'
He thought for a moment, and then
said: q 5.
Anything is possible in these ex-
traordinary times, but such q supposi
ton is certainly not very probable
Lord Pollock IS one Of the richest men
in England, and his wife has an ex.
ceedingly liberal allowance, as I hap
pen to know from our own books. Still
Of course, such q thing e always pos
sible." y IS
II hopeeI am not wronging her lady
shipfgi expressing such 4 theory, ''sl
] id quickly; 'sbut We al know tia