Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-06-28
Caught Per Telephone.
- PRoPOs of bank note thieves" !"

~@~~~~~~~O~~~-
- PROPOS of bank note thieves"
IA\ said Inkster, my detective friend,
SS did l ever tell you how l
caught one with the assistance Of a
girl? Well, here is the yarn:
Ring-r-r-r-ring! goes the telephone
bell in a Liverpool bank.
"Well, who are you?" asks the at
tendant clerk.
''Mr Silverton, of Silverton, Sons &
Co., Princes street. London" comes the
answer. SIS Mr.. Golden in?"
"Yes," says the clerk.
"Then ask him to speak to me at
once, please" requests Mr.. Silverton.
Are you there? All, how are you,
Silverton?"
"Dreadfully worried and annoyed,
and 1 want your assistance. One of
my most promising men. Cecil Hamp-
ton, has gone away on his holidays. and
as large number of notes are missing,
I fear he has absconded."
"Well," queries Golden, "how am l
likely to be Of any use in the mat
terT'
among the notes." answer the Lon
don banker, there are two thousand
pound notes, and, as 1 expect he has
some relations in the States, that will
be his destination. 1t is quite likely
that he will call at your bank with the
notes and plausible story, and ask
you to cash them"
81 suppose l am to have him arrested
out of hand, then?" interrupted Mr..
Golden.
mo; nothing of. the kindw testify an
swered Silverton. You must get him
into your Office and give him thorough
good lecture and f5O0. Please do not
interrupt Tell him to go out of the
country and begin an honest life. Tell
him also that it is entirely owing to the
position his father holds in the world
of politics, and my respect for him as
a man, that give him this chance. l
will not blast the lives of his father
and his family for the sons peculation.
Don't talk to me about condoning
felony, or give me any ethical defni-
ton. / consider that, apart from CIV
ing the youngster another chance after
his first misstep, it is infinitely prefer
able to marking the family with shame
for the rest of their lives"
''Is this the opinion Of your part
ners" asked Mr.. Golden.
t'No," answers Silverton; 'they know
nothing of it as yet; but, If they did,
am convinced they would agree with
me. / will remit the f500 to you, and
you will then send the recovered notes
by a trusty man, whom will recoup
for his out-of-pocket expenses"
every well; agree" said Golden, at
length. 'And if, as you suspect, he
comes to us, will do as you desire.
But give me description of the man,
so that there can be no mistake, and
will instruct my tellers how to act"
THANK you, Golden" said the Lon
don banker; 81 knew you would help.
The lad stands about five feet ten
inches tall, % years old-but looks
more like 30-rather sallow skin, with
very dark hair and short, pointed beard.
He has very slight limp, owing to
some accident to his left ankle when a
boy"
''That is a very good verbal por-
trait said Golden. land think Wen
not mistake him. I'll ring you up after
he has been here, and report progress. "
KINDLY do nothing Of the kind. u
said Silverton, "as l am going to
Brighton this afternoon, and will prob
ably be there week or two. will
telegraph to you either tonight or to-
morrow morning, telling you where
am staying, as the place is pretty full
up, understand; then you can write
me at the address given. Thank yor
very much for falling in with my view
of the case. Good-day"
"Good-morning," answered Golden
and the conversation ended.
Mr.. Golden proceeded to describe
Hampton to all the clerks at the coun
ter, and ordered his luncheon to bt
sent in in order to be at hand, If tht
thief turned up.
At luncheon time, when the banl
was very quiet, Hampton walked IL
and boldly asked teller to change th,
two notes.
81 am one Of Silverton's men," b
said, "and on the firms business"
Certainly, SIR" said the teller. "Wil
you just endorse them as usual?"
AS Hampton was writing his nam
on the notes, the teller gave sign {
the watchful commissionaire. and ais
sent Junior for his principal. MI
Golden was soon behind the counte
and addressing Hampton across the IN
tervening mahogany.
please walk into my Office. MI
Hampton; wish to speak to you. Don
attempt to escape, as the commission
aire will prevent it at sign fror
me-"
Once inside the Office and the doc
closed, he dropped into the first chai
and shamefacedly buried his face /
his hands.
well, young man." said his captol
you have soon launched yourself O
the sea Of iniquity, and in most skill