Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1899-09-07
ODD AFFAIR IN BANKING.
Peculiar Manner In which "A Chicago
Deposition INDUCED In
Charity.

There isn't great deal of romance
in my business, remarked prominent
Chicago banker, but now and them
something turns up out OF the ordinary
and makes us wonder at the peeuliari.
ties of those who have dealings with us.
I recall an instance just now which is
as yet not explained, and will never be,
| fancy, as the chief actor In IL was
killed some time ago in a railway aeci-
dent. never knew the man personally,
but he was a depositor in our bank.
whose account was a personal one TO
the extent of $4,000. He carried that
much as a rule. and the few checks that
he made against IL never indicated what
his business was. lie was about 50
years Of age, and very rarely came to
the bank Naturally l never gave him
thought, for $4,000 is not large de-
| posit in Chicago, and beyond his de-
post had no interest in him.
Il happened, therefore. that when
one day / received a personal letter
from our depositor ! was bit sur
| prised, and was still more so when
read ii. DO not recall the exact word
ing, but il was to the effect that within
a day or two a woman would present
| check drawn by him for IS. 900. and that
as she was unknown he wished me 10
see that she received the money with
| out trouble, and that she would bring
with her a means Of Identification in
the person of a little girl. who would
answer correctly the questions must
ask her, as directed in his letter, with
the answers as he gave them. These
questions were simple enough, being
only the child's full name. her age to
the month, where born, the full name
| Of her mother, and her father, and Of a
little brother who was dead. Five
thousand dollars was a good deal Of
money to let 20 on that kind Of evil
1ence, but that was all had, and the
deposition was in California, so that
could not see him personally.
The next day the paying teller came
to me with his eyes bullying, saying that
about as hard looking case Of beggar
woman as he had ever seen was at his
window with a check drawn 10 the Dr.
der of Mrs. Blank by Mr.. - and that
as he did not know the woman aud the
woman did not know how she was TO
get the money, he had come TO ask me
about 1t. ! sent for her to come into my
private Office, which she did, bringing
a little girl with her who was no less
a picture of abject poverty than the
mother was. All she could say was that
she had received the check by mail from
a man whose name was not familiar 10
her, with instructions TO present IL AZ
the bank ard the money would be paid
TO her. II she would take her little girl
with her. ] asked the child the ques-
tions ! had been requested to ask and
she answered correctly each one. which
relieved me Of further responsibility.
I and ordered the check to be cashed.
/ The woman did not seem 10 be greatly
overcome by her good fortune. and as
! could tell her nothing Of the man who
mad given the money to her she didn't
seem to have any further use for me and
vent back 10 the paying teller's win
low. She asked for the money in $50
pills and wrapping il up in an old news
paper, went out Of the bank without a
word to anybody.
she was no longer at the address she
gave when l sent a messenger there 10
make inquiries, and her benefactor /
never saw again. for he met his death
on his way east from California
fancy he would not have told me the
story Of his life. but shall always won
der II the name we carried on our books
vas the one he had carried in his