The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-11-07
Embezzlers Nearly Always
Caught, as This One Was
LOOTED NEW HAVEN INSTITUTION
sss oil the Cashier and Nephew Of the Pres
ideni Of the Baak, RAJ. Ysuss Man Oh
taiaed the safe Co.'S bisasisa, Successful,
tied, and " as Caasht some Msnshs Az
ierwars b. the Aeresf Aceiseat-Lovs
for WemaH Betrayed Him.

The recent embezzlerent By the note
teller Of the First National Bank of New
fofh and the ease with which he vas
captured. said a well-known ex-detec-
tive last week. recall one OF the most
remarkable and interesting cases I ever
had anything 20 do with. IL wasshe rob
berry OF the Townsend Savings Bank OF
Ssw Haven, Conn, which occurred In
leo. ] think. At any rate. it was shortly
after the end of the civil war, in which
great conflict the principal in the AFFAIR
had distinguished himself and won many
highly priced laurels His name was
Jerry Townsend. son Of the cashier AMI
a nephew Of the president Of the Town
send Savings Bank OF New Haven.
Jerry, soon after his return from the
war. was given a minor position in the
bank. and being a clever. well-educated
fellow. he rapidly advanced until finally
he was made paying teller
We'll. things ran along ali right for
some time, until one fine morning the
cashier discovered that about $1,000 in
cash and bonds had been taken from the
safe the preceding night The safe had
not been blown OPEN II was simply uE
locked by some one having the lock COM
bination. Now, according to the bank 8
rules, only the president, the cashier, and
the assistant cashier had this eombina-
ton. hence suspicion was not directed to-
ward any other person at first. Jerry was
hardly mentioned In connection with the
robbery. until his father the cashier, re-
membeTed that some days prior the for
mer had suggested the expediency of his
having the combination, so that in case
Of the absence Of all the other officers at
the same time he could have access to the
safe il necessary. And the old gentleman,
regarding the proposition reasonable, gave
his son the combination; yet strange to
say, he had neglected 10 inform the presi-
dent that he had done so.
ThsTelieF Was Missing.
"Now, Jerry had sent word to the bank
the day before the robbery was discovered
that he was so i'll he feared he would not
be able TO attend to his duties for a day
or two; so he was lot expected at the
bank the day of the discovery: but as
soon as his father had admitted that his
son also could open the safe messenger
was sent 10 the latter's home / hardly
need say that he was not there.
Hitherto the bank officers had con-
Quoted the examination in their own way.
and as secretly as possible. yet when the
paying teller could not be found by them
and the story of the big steal was getting
cut. they saw that other steps must at
once be taken in the case, and so Ii came
about that / was called to take hand in
the game. { was on duty in New York
City at the time / received orders to run
up TO New Haven. On my arrival at the
bank | found everything III a state of
great confusion, and hundreds Of excited
depositors were clamoring at the bank
doors for their money. In the case Of
many of them it was the hard-earned
savings of years e toll.
after getting all the information posi-
BILE at the bank. / struck out after the
thief / soon found that there was a girl
in the case. and that Jerry had spent part
OF the evening of the robbery at her home.
From there he probably went to the bank
and got away with the swag before mid
night. for about that time he called at
restaurant near the railroad station, and
leaving a large valise with the bartender,
he went away and did not return until
Just before the O'clock train left for
New York. He was seen TO board that
train. yet then and there the trail
of the robber was lost, entirely
lost. Indeed, the man vanished as
completely and suddenly as IL the
earth right there had opened and swal-
lowed him. Not in New York or any
where else could any trace Of the abscond-
er be found. A big reward was offered,
and detectives in all parts of the coun-
try, attracted by Ii. were In the hunt.
and secured every nook and corner In
which they suspected he might lie hidden
The search was kept up for weeks, but all
our efforts were fruitless.
Located BY the Bonds.
"After several months had passed, I be-
gan 10 lose interest In the Townsend case.
Tor having other important professional
matters 10 look after. l seldom, gave It
much thought. OF course, the strange.
mysterious disappearance of the culprit
still excited wonder and speculation
zone day. six or seven months after the
robbery as / was walking leisurely I'D
Broadway, New York. just below Wall
street, ! was approached by a man who
requested me 10 direct him 10 a money
broker, as he wished to dispose of some
United states bonds and was a stranger
IN the city. Ny mind being pretty well
occupied with another matter at the time.
/ gave this incident but little thought.
We were near Wall street. and I pointed
to the house OF well-known firm in that
street, and. assuring the man that II
would be all right there, walked On
but / had gone scarcely block when the
recollection OF the Townsend Bank robbery
flashed Ike lightning through my mind
Might not this man have some OF the
Townsend bonds? I turned and fairly
New back to the brokers' office to which 7
had Just directed him, and reached &
barely IN time to meet the stranger cem-
ing out showing him my authority and
taxing the chances, / arrested him and
look MIN PACK into the Office. He had
sold one bond there. which upon examj.
nation found 10 be one OF the Tavrsand
Bank bonds. And searching the man. two
or three more of those bonds came to
light But what was OF vastly more i'm
portance, he had on his person letter
from Jerry Townsend, dated Havana
Cuba, to his sweetheart in Connecticut
rms letter was 10 be delivered by the
bearer 10 the lady in person. and II con-
tanned instructions 10 meet the writer al
certain hotel in Liverpool, England, at
a certain future time.
That my prisoner was thorougblv
scared | need not assert He beaded NJ
ter ignorance of the robbery, and declared
that ne had made The acquaintance OF the
man who had given him the letter anJ
the BONDS some months before in Havana.
where the latter had posei as a csntain
of the United States army OF course he
Went under a fictitious narle there TEE
prisoner vas held and the mater ksnf
from the newspapers until I ana sorns
others, including an uncle OF Jerry. Iat
crossed over 10 Liverpool We found he
hotei ana the fobber, who started out 10
resist. but finally surrendered. All huf
some nl.0o1. ] think. was recovered and
the prisoner was brought back tr'ef
convicte7 and sentenced 10 prison FOR
seven years"
A I'm E-h ceai kias's Income.
From che East Anglican Times