The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-05-06

bit of carelessness some one else was
responsible for, and the third was
meeting Minnie Morely, the old mans
daughter, for the first time as she re-
turned from school in the east. Each
incident was but trifie at the time,
but each was to have bearing on his
future
Richards, who was single man of
thirty, arrogant and overbearing by
nature, demanded servility from all his
subordinates. He elected to look upon
young Bliss in that light. and the few
hot words that passed between them
made him thirst for revenge He had
hoped in his own mind for two or three
years past to find favor in Minnie
Morely's eyes and become the bank
er's son-in-law. Queerly enough, he
had made an enemy of the fool by
roughly bouncing him off the bank
steps on two or three occasions.
Two weeks after the day Of incidents
young Bliss had to call at the Merely
residence on a matter of business and
was introduced to the daughter. Dur
ing the next four weeks he met her
several times, and at length the jealous
eye of third party came to the con-
clusion that it would develop into a
case of love if not broken up. That
third party was the bank cashier, and
he did not have to 90 far for a plan.
All the hands at the quarry and the
mills were paid once a month. The
monthly pay roll amounted to between
$4,000 and $4,000, and in his new posi-
ton young Bliss made up the roll,
placed the cash in envelopes and hand
ed it over to heads Of departments.
The quarry was two miles from town,
the mills a quarter Of a mile farther,
and the trip was made in buggy. AS
the country was opened and settled the
idea of robbers was absurd. The mon
ey was always placed in satchel at
the bank on the Sd of the month, pro-
viding the date did not fall on Sunday,
and Bliss carried it to the mill to place
it in envelopes.
He had gone through this programme
three times and had driven out for the
fourth when circumstance occurred
that shook the town of Grafton to its
foundations When he opened the
satchel at the mill to take out the
money, he found nothing but newspa-
pers in it. He naturally argued that
the cashier had made some blunder
and was not at all uneasy In his mind
as he drove back to have it rectified
To his amazement, however, Richards
insisted that the money had been In
closed as usual, and almost at once he
charged Bliss with trying to work q
game.
Protestations awaited nothing. The
money was not produced, and young
| Bliss was arrested. The conclusion
was reached that he must have met
and passed the money to confederate
Old Merely was satisfied that the
young man had yielded to temptation
and the cashier was particularly bitter
against him. Before the day of trial
came there appeared to be but one per.
son in Grafton who doubted his guilt
That was old Morely's daughter.
/ hCh A0d AO| SOAAC OC-
yond admiration ON his side and esteem
on hers, but she gave him credit fol
sterling qualities and was persistent in
his defense When the trial finally
came off, the cashier swore to having
deposited $S,450 in the satchel and
handing it to young Bliss, and the ac-
cused could only assert that when be
opened the satchel after reaching the
mill there was no money in it. This
was no defense.
The jury was being charged, and
there was no doubt in any ones mind
as to the verdict, when Joe. the idiot
arrived with a package under his arm
The officers tried to put him out, but
he resisted vigorously and walked
straight up to the desk Of the judge
and handed up his package.
Its the stolen money!" exclaimed
his honor as he tore off the wrapper
There was instant excitement. and q
dozen men began to question the boy
Joe stood with a smile and pointed
from the money to the cashier, WHO