The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-27

Beginning in his own office at the
door line, he cut and fitted perfectly
door of ample size, This he easily con-
cealed by fancy card-rack, which he
placed upon 1t. a strong ladder was
then securely fastened to the corner
joint inside the shaft. This ladder ran
up to the line of the second floor. Bates
was, of course, fully aware that the
shaft on our side was within the space
inClosed by the book room. Here,
again. on the floor line, he cut door
which, when open, swung back into the
shaft. This was fitted with such nicely
as almost to defy detection even when
it was sought 1t would be almost i'm
possible to discover it when its exist
encc was unsupported. Moreover, this
door was also screened from sight by
the row of chests on the floor. With
this simple arrangement, only noise
less movements and fitting opDortuni-
ties were required to place our stock
at his mercy. When in readiness our
silk goods (at once the most comuact
and the most valuable of our stock
were only few yards distance away,
and even five minutes We're sufficient
for him to effect a theft of from five to
ten pieces These he could stow away
within the shaft and lower them 10
the bottom at his leisure
The removal of the goods from his
store was an equally simple matter. IL
would only be done during the day. To
attempt it by night would he to at
tract the attention of the night watch.
AS a very active salesman, Bates was
constantly in and out of the store ev-
cry day with one to three sample
pieces of goods under his arm.
AS manager of the stock, his office
was constantly full of sample pieces of
goods for examination and comparison.
Without danger he might have kept
moderate quantity of his plunder OPEN
" in his office, but with sensible eau
ton they were kept slowed away in the
shaft until the time of removal. Ills
outside methods have already been de-
scrbed. His stealing with a watch
man inside was also an easy matter
Climbing his ladder in his stocking
feet, he had only to listen till he heard
the man make his periodical rounds to
the basement, when, unlocking with
a skeleton key the book room door, he
could steal in three minutes an arm
full of goods worth nearly $500, and be
back in the shaft without making any
fairly audible noise. This he could
repeat several times in the course of
night.
When no inside man was on duty, the
whole stock was subject to his delib-
crate selection. The chest which he
Iut on rollers for quick and noiseless
work was only used rC' store goods
when haste was recssslry. When he
desired to enter at night he avoided the
main entrance after tie first robbery.
The absence of the paddock on the door
would excite attention and remark.
He took charge of the closing Of the
store under the plausible and creditable
plea of looking after the matter. A
back door led to the rear alleyway.
This door was locked and bolted on the
inside. When intending a night rob-
berry, he would; at the last moment be-
fore leaving the store, go to his office,
slip from there to the rear, aud quick
! lily pull back the bolts which he had
| fixed to slide noisolessly. His key
would then admit him from the out
side later in the evening. In simple
disguise he had only to watch care
fully the movements of the night
watchman. To pass along the street
!
slide down the alley Into The back
door was, Tor him, but the work of L
| few seconds. Care and celebrity were
alone required in this operation. His
strong points were. first, a remarkably
favorable situations; second. the alb
sence of any accomplicc; third, his
never appearing q Bates at his Wash
| ington street offices: fourth his never
| New England. His arrangements with
| Baglcy were made after a long ard
careful search in New York.
All this information was given by
him at a protracted meeting held by
the two firms that evening in our office.
| Bates made a full disclosure, giving
| the figures of all his transactions with
| Bagloy, and accounting gully for all the
stolen property. II Is sufficient to state
here that our losses as shown By cur
books were nearly $4,000. Bates, of
course, had realized less than thai sum
under the peculiar difficulties Of selling
the goods.
His ;irm. which WAS Of very high
standing, was overwhelmed with grief
and modification. They, of course, in
sisted upon making our losses good,
as their store had been the base of OPP
erations and their partner the thief.
| jerks and Sampson still sat by when
| the question of legal proceedings
against Bates came up. Bates re-
mained silent. He did not beg for mer-
| cy, nor urge any extenuation of his
crime.
Evidently deep, sincere grief and
pity were uppermost in the breast Of
all the members of both concerns. 1t
was plainly a great relief to all when
the venerable Mr.. b. OF our firm rose
and with broken voice announced that
no legal measures against Bates would
be instituted by us. He alluded to
Bates as dearly beloved son, who
had strangely gone wrong, even to
| great criminality, but he was willing
to leave him to the punishment of his
guilty conscience, and expressed the
hope and belief that he would err no
more.
The senior partner of Lynn & Com
| pany followed in remarks of similar
purport, and announced that they
would furnish the guilty man with
amply sufficient funds TO leave for any
distant point he might decide upon,
adding that it was their wish that he
depart almost Immediately, for the
peace of mind of all concerned.
| Bates, deathly pale thanked us all
briefly, and promised to start the next
night for the extreme Southwest,
where he would earnestly strive to es-
tablish a character which would fully
Justify our great leniency. Mills and
| were OVerjoyed with the result of
the meeting, Bates had long been an
intimate friend with both of us.