Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1900-08-16
WHO FIRED THEM?
STORY OF A STRAY SATCHEL.
THE POLICE PUZZLED.


THE POLICE PUZZLED.
"While on his beat at quarter past five
O'Clock this afternoon, Policeman John
Flynn, hearing the report of a pistol from
the direction Of the knickerbocker bank"
THE Knickerbocker bank" inter
rupted the young broker. Mr.. Dunlap,
that interests you. Do your directors
indulge in pistol practice 1T the board
meetingS?'
what's that about the Knickerbock-
er bank" asked the man to whom this
speech was addressed. Having been en-
gagged with his neighbor in an earnest.
discussion on financial questions, he
had not been listening to the general
conversation.
Murdoch adjusted his eyeglasses and
quietly resumed
policeman John Flynn. hearing the re-
port of a pistol from the direction of the
Knickerbocker bank. in Wall street. start
ed at the top of his speed toward that build
ing. When he was within about 20 yards
of the bank another shot rang out. and at
the same instant man darted down the
steps and ran toward Broadway"
Richard Dunlap, president of the
Knickerbocker bank, was listening at
tentively enough now. Behind the calm
mask of the firancier there was the evil
dent anxiety of the bank president.
For the stability of bank, like the
honor of woman, is at the mercy of
every passing rumor.
He carried in his hand small satchel.
which he dropped as soon as he saw that
he was pursued. After an exciting chase
Flynn overlook his man, whom he recog-
nized as Michael Quinlan, alias Shorty
Duff. a well-known sneak thief. On the
way back to the bank the policeman Cues-
toned his prisoner about the pistol shots.
Quinan vehemently denied having fired
them; but admitted that he had stolen the
satchel. His story Is that. as he was
passing the bank. the outer door was ajar.
Seeing the satchel in the vestibule. he en-
tered, crouching low in order to avoid be-
ing seen through the inner door, the upper
portion of which is OF plate glass. Scarce
ly had he laid his hands upon the satChel
when he was startled by the report of a
pistol. For a moment he was dazed and
undecided how to act. Then, as no one
seemed to take any notice OF his presence.
he was quietly slipping off, when a second
shot was fired. Panic-stricken, he took to
his heels. only to be captured by Flynn.
"On reaching the bank Flynn found the
heavy iron gate between 1t and the inner
door was securely locked. however, so
that 1t was impossible to enter. The Knick-
erbocker bank has a second entrance on
Exchange place. But this, too. is protect
ed by a massive iron gate, which also was
found locked. Flynn raped for assistance.
and the call having been answered by Po-
licemen Fitzpatrick and O'Donnell, he left
the former to watch the Exchange place
door. and the latter to guard the entrance
on Wall street, while he took his prisoner
to the police station.
Messengers were at once dispatched to
the house of Richard Dunlap, the presi-
dent of the bank. and to that of Mr. George
S. Rutherford, the cashier. The former was
not at home, and the family being out o.
town, there was no one who knew where he
was spending the evening"
Every eye turned toward Richard
Dunlap as this paragraph was read.
His features remained impassive, under
the full control of the veteran fnan-
cier; but to an observant eye like Stur-
gis', the mans real anxiety was be-
trayed by the unconscious action of his
right hand, which lay upon the table
and played nervously with fork.
yes" said the banker, carelessly,
| feeling the curious gaze of the other
| guests upon him, and answering their
unspoben questions, yes, that is true;
l did not tell my housekeeper that |
was invited to dine by our friend
! Sprague this evening. There was, of
course, no reason why I should Well.
DR.. Murdoch, did they find Ruthcr-
ford?"
Murdock had looked up while the
banker was speaking. He now leisure
ly found his place and continued the
reading of the article in the Tempest:
"Thc cashier fortunately was at home.
| and he hurried down town at once with his
| set of bank keys. Two detectives from the
| central office accompanied HIM, and the
| three men carefully searched the premises.
| They found nothing out of the way there,
| except that three gas Jets were lighted and
| turned on full blaze. At first the detectives
were inclined to think that bank robbers
| had gained an entrance to the building: and
that one of them, having caught sight of
| Shorty Duff as he reached in to steal the
| satchel from the vestibule. had fired upon
I him. This would explain the pistol shots
| heard by Flynn. A careful examination Of
the bank, however, failed to reveal any
| trace of a bullet.
"The Valse, when opened proved to con-
tain only change of linen for n man and a
few toilet articles of but slight intrinsic
| value The satchel itself is an ordinary
| cheap leather handbag, stamped in imita-
ton of alligator skin.
1.-The police are now looking for its owner
| in the hope that he will be able to throw