The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1902-07-12
TO PROVE HIS HONESTY
This Bank Teller Stole 100000 as An Object
Lesson.

and was refused. That means that T
must abandon my matrimonial asnira-
TONS
Do not imagine that 1 became
reckless or desperate. What I did was
the result of carefully laid plan.
purposed to take about a half a mill
non from the bank, secrete it. and suf
Ter the full penalty of the law-that is.
| would go to Jail for the maximum
length of time, ten years, and at the
expiration of that time take my treas
ure and live in some foreign country.
nave no relatives here Only a few
friends would miss me, and nv dis
grace would be forgotten in the lapse
of years.
Now, one word more. The bank, /
Know, is not in a position just now to
Withstand the shock which will as
Suredly follow the news of a defalca-
ton. am willing to compromise the
matter. If you will draw up docu-
nent agreeing not to prosecute me, 1
viii return to the bank within a half
hour 100000 of the cash and securities.
The balance will enable me to live in.
comparative luxury IN the foreign
country which l have selected as my
future abiding place.
There was silence as Adams finished
!
other in amazement. The GOODNESS and
audacity of the teller. were overpower-
ing. At length the president spoke:
Your proposition is so startling
that we would like time to consider it.
Kindly withdraw until we discuss it.
In the meantime, he added stiff1y, the
Waterman will keep you under sur
veillance.'
Adams laughed scornfully. If / had
any intention of running away l would
not have stopped to talk over the mat
ter he said, as he walked TO the outer
Office, followed by the Waterman, who
had entered in response to touch of
an electric button, and was wondering
I ~ obeying the brief whispered instruc-
tons of the president.
For nearly half an hour argument
was heated in the private office.
Blanchard and the choleric director
We're in favor of no compromise and
We're for sending Adams to Jail and
taking chances of recovering the
money The panicky state of the street
was offered as the only inducement for
accepting the terms proposed by the
teller 1T was finally and reluctantly
decided to accept his proposition.
Adams was sent for The presi-
dent made final effort to save the
banks funds. He spoke of the young
mans future and dwelt on the career
which was being blasted. To all of
which Adams replied firmly that his
course had been decided upon and
nothing could change him.
Well we accept your terms said
the president, angrily Give US the
$500, 900 and we will agree not to prose-
cute you
".There is one more stipulation
which 1 am compelled to make said
Adams. I must be permitted to leave
the bank unmolested and under no
circumstance am I to be followed
This brought forth another discus
sion, but in the end the teller gained
his point and left the bank. The di-
rectorS spent an anxious half hour, at
the end of which time Adams returned.
A paper signed by all the directors,
pledging him immunity from prosecu-
ton, was handed to him. He read it
through carefully, then extracted
bulky package from his coat pocket,
at the same time folding the paper and
placing it carefully in his wallet.
THE president seized the package
eagerly, and, opening it, began TO count
up the contents. In few minutes he
announced that the agreed sum was
correct. And now, Mr.. Adams he said,
frigidly, kindly relieve US of your
presence.
Adams turned as though to leave
the room. Then, with smile, he drew
forth another package and placed it on
the table.
" Gentlemen, 1 am no thief he said.
There is the other 100000. 1 merely
wanted to give you an object lesson
to demonstrate that the salary I re-
ceive is not so much for duties per-
formed as for the trust reposed in me.
AS teller of this bank 1 have had nu-
merous opportunities to take sums far
greater than that which l temporarily
deprived you of. That L did not do so
is evidence enough of my honesty. And
now have the honor to bid you good
day. and Adams bowed himself out.
THE directors continued in session
for another hour Customers entering
the bank nowadays see in gilt letters
on the door of private room, will
liam I. Adams, vice president
----es-Sz3-<e