The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-12-29

Gu Innocent Man Put the Omcer on
the Right Trail.
Gone of the most remarkable and inter
esting cases l ever had anything to do
with" said an ex-detectiye of New York,
twas the robbery of the Townsend Saw
ings bank of New Haven, which occurred
In 1865, | think. At any rate, 1t 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 cash
Ter and a nephew Of the president of the
Townsend Savings bank Of New Haven.
Jerry, soon after his return from the
war, was given a minor position in the
bank. and being clever, well educated
fellow he rapidly advanced until he was
made paying teller.
"Well, things ran along all right for
some time, until one fine morning the
cashier discovered that about 100000
in cash and bonds had been taken from
the safe the preceding night. The safe
had not been blown open. 1t was simply
unlocked by some one having the lock
combination. Now. according to the
banks rules, only the president. the cash
Ter aud the assistant cashier hSd this
combination, hence suspicion was not di-
rected toward any other person at first.
Jerry was hardly mentioned in connection
with the robbery until his father, the
cashier. remembered that some days pri-
or the former had suggested the expedi-
ency of his having the combination. so
that in case of the absence of all the 9TH
er 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 10 say, he had neglected to
inform the president that he had done so.
Now. Jerry had sent word to the bank
the day before the robbery was discover
ed 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 not 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 a mes
senger was sent to the latter's home. l
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
out IleN saw luHi OlucE Sltps must ~
once be taken in the case, and SO it came
about that | was called TO take hand
in the game.
"After getting all the information pos
sible at the bank | struck out after the
thief. soon found that there was girl
in the case aud 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 be
fore midnight, for about that time he
called at a restaurant near the railroad
station, and. leaving a large yalise 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 com
pletely and suddenly as il the earth right
there had opened and swallowed him.
Not in New York or anywhere else could
any trace of the absconder be found. The
search was kept up for weeks, but all our
efforts were fruitless.
"After several months had passed
began to lose interest in the Townsend
case, for, having other important pro
fessional matters TO look after, l seldom
gave it much thought. OF course the
strange, mysterious disappearance OF the
culprit still excited wonder and specula
ton.
zone day six or seven months after the
robbery as | was walking leisurely VI
Broadway. New York. just below Wal
street, was approached by q man wh1
requested me to direct him 10 a money
broker. as he wished TO dispose of some
United States bonds and WAS stranger
in the city. My mind being pretty well
occupied with another matter at the time
i gave this incident but little thought
We were near Wall street, and ] 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 rob
berry flashed like lightning through my
mind. Might not this man have some OF
the Townsend bonds? | turned and fair
ly few back to the brokers' office 10
which had just directed him and reached
it barely in time TO meet the stranger
coming out. Showing him my authority
and taking the chances, / arrested him
and took him back into the office. lie
had sold one bond there, which upon ex'
animation l found to be one of the Town
send bank bonds. On searching the man
two or three more of these bonds came to
light: but. what was of vastly more i'm
portanee, he had on his person letter
from Jerry Townsend, dated Havana
to his sweetheart in Connecticut. This
letter was to be delivered by the bearer
to the lady In person. and il contained
instructions 10 meet the writer at GER
tain hotel in Liverpool at certain future
time.
THAT my prisoner was thoroughly
scared need not assert. He pleaded ut
ter ignorance OF the robbery and declared
that he had made the acquaintance Of the
man who had given him the letter an.