The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-03-16
MYSTERY Of A CRIME
Wherein $4,000 Disappear
ed as bv Magic.
EXCHANGE OF SATCHELS
By a Slick Young Man and
His Slick Pal.


from the satchel in which it was being
transport ed from the American Exchange
National Bank, New York, to the Treas
ury at w ashington.
John t. Walkinshaw, who played an
important part in the robbery, now tells
the Sunday World exactly now it was
perjetrateeL
In the days when there were horse-cars
on Broadway Walkinshaw was d driver
in the conlpany's service. The conductor
OF his car was Edward S. Crawfoil, his
brother-in.-law.
He was a coed iaoking young man, with
pink cheeks and a girlish vice, who paid
particular attention 10 the groo1lng OF
his hair and finger nails. Speaking more
m9rey on the ado nmenc OF his rcl5Cn
than his wages of 81 a day warranted, he
sweled his income by knocking down"
fares-that is, neglecting TO ring them up
MANY passengers as possible. The driver
could bring this about by taxing more
Roadway than he was entitled to and
making up for lost time toward the end
Of the trip. Crawford squared the dri-
va~.
Meanwhile the spick-and-span conduct
or had made a valuable friend-a rich
and influential young New Yorker, who
often rode on his car. This individual
procured him a situation as messenger
in the American Exchange National Bank
and the Broadway Railroad lost dis
honest conductor.
On May /, 1883, the bank had $4,000 in
bills sufficiently worn to be exchanged
at the Treasury for new currency. In
the ordinary course of business they
were made up in a package to be ex-
pressed to Washington.
This was the work of the paying teller.
Mr.. Watson. He counted the money with
his usual care, and foor some little time
it lay on his desk in plain sight of four
clerks who afterward swore to the cir
cumstances.
Mr.. Watson with his own hand tied up
| the bills in a neat package, sealed it,
countersigned it, labelled it $4,000 ad-
dressed it to United States Treasury,
Washington, D. c." and locked it in a
lea Their satchel.
At three O'Clock this satchel was deliv-
cred to two messengers, to be carried to
the office of the Adams Express Com
panv. One of them was "Old Man" Earl
who had worked for the bank many
years and was known to bbe as true as
steel. The other was Edward S. Craw-
ford.
Followed at alittle distance, according
to custom. by the bank detective, the old
and young man threaded Broadway to
the Express offiffice, carrying the satchel
between them.
Together they started up the stairs, but
| Earl who was a little out of breath fell
behind a few steps. Or perhaps Craw-
ford who was carrying the satchel, was
in hurry.
They Joined company again after pass
the first turn. and thereafter had joint
charge of their burden until it was deliv-
cred to the proper official of the Express
company. who gave them a receipt for it.
Shortly after they returned to the bank.
a satchel properly marked and address
ed, reached the Treasury in due course.
The clery who opened it and took out
the package. realized at once, so accus-
toned was he to handling bundles of
currency. that there was comething queer
about it and was careful not to tear it
open until he had procured the presence
of Treasurer Hymans.
Sure enough the package contained not
currency but a bundle Of wrapping paper
cut to greenback size.
One thing was clear from the outset,
and that was that the money had surely
left the bank in the handh of Earle and
Crawford. Beyond that all was mys-
terry. When had the false package been
substituted for the OrigiDal2
Old man Earle was above suspicion
Crawford, his conmanion. could have
, done no harm without his knowledege
Stay Did he remember that moments
separation on the stairs? If he did it had
been so brief that he failed to associate
| it in his mind with the mysterious crime
But it was in that moment that the
deed was done. In this place-althougt
other exciting events should come first il
chronological order-shall be interDolateC
John H. Walkinshaw's confession. had,
to the Sunday World twelve years after
the crime:
! My right name is John H Walkin.
shraw. worked with Edward S. Craw
= ford on the Broadway surface road
though another name
'Afterward he went to work IN the
American Exchange National Bank. and
meeting him on my car one day, he tol-
me If l came TO his house he would Civ,
me a suit of clothes.
Wei. I went. He gave me the clothe.
and also told ME that ne would give nlt
a chance 20 make some money IN few
weeks. The n he came TO my boarding
house and told me what ne wanted
"On the afternoon Of May T. ISIS a
about ocolck walked into the Adam
{ Express Company building carrying al
empty stschel-or I thought it avs empt!
I had seen Ed and the old man com
ing. so I walked slowly up the stairs an,
waited on the nrst turn. Crawford cam
up first. about ten feet ahead Of the oil,
man, and as he reached the step ahea,
Of me We changed satchels in a second
i II walked on W and when l reache,
the top step turned slowly back. and
, putting the satchel on the offside. wen
; down again.
y walked across the street and waite,
IN H doorway for Crawford. Meanwhile
tried to open the satchel. but It wa
:, locked.
In few minutes Ed came out of III
Express office and mouoned to ME 3
: walk up Broadway. 7 walked up tw
: blocks then turned the croner and waited
: Crawford was right behind and said:
An right. Johnnie. You're in, TAX
: the bag UP 20 the house
; 7 of,en wondered since why did nc
; open Il. and again why ne trusted me
/, hbut il was his only chance and he toe
= il. At O'Clock he came 10 the houz
and asked Tor the grip.