The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-02-28

FSsI N the RarlS evening papers OF
tIb Tuesday, Feb. %, 1866, the
lSsSS6I following announcement ap-
sg&J peared:
"a great robbery, committed against
one of our most honorable bankers, M.
Andre Fauvel, caused intense excite
ment this morning throughout the
neighborhood of the Rue de Provence.
The robbers with extraordinary skill
and boldness succeeded in making an
entrance to the offices, in forcing the
lock of a safe that has heretofore been
considered impregnable and in getting
away with the enormous sum Of $780,
600 francs in bank notes. The police.
Immediately informed Of the robbery,
displayed their accustomed zeal, and
their investigations have been crowned
with success. Already, it is said, one
P. B., clerk in the bank, has been
arrested, and there is every reason to
hope that his accomplices will be soon
overtaken by the hand of justice"
But this time the newspapers were
inaccurate in their information. The
sum Of 100000 francs certainly had
been stolen from NJ. Andre Fauvers
The following are the facts as they
were related with scrupulous exactness
at the preliminary examination:
The banking house Of Andre Fauvel,
81 Rue de Provence, is an important
establishment and, owing to its large
force of clerks, presents very much
the appearance of a government de-
rartment. On the ground floor are the
| offices, with windows on the street,
protected by strong iron bars, suf1i-
| ciently large and close together to dis
courage all burglariouS attempts. M.
Fauveps private office is on the first
floor over the offices and leads into his
private apartments. This private Of
| flee communicates directly with the
bank by means of a narrow staircase,
| which opens into the room occupied
by the head cashier. This room, which
in the bank goes by the name Of the
cashiers Office" Is proof against all
attacks, no matter how skillfully plan
| ned. Fastened in the wall by enor-
nous iron clamps is safe, a formida-
BILE and fantastic piece of furniture,
calculated to fill with envy the poor
devil who easily carries his fortune in
pocketbook.
The safe is opened by curious little
key. But this is the least important
part of the mechanism. Five movable
steel buttons, upon which are engraved
all the letters of the alphabet, consti-
tute the real power of this ingenious
piece Of furniture. Before inserting
the key into the lock the letters on the
buttons must be in the exact position
in which they were placed when the
safe was locked. In M. Fauvels bank,
as everywhere, the safe was always
closed with a word which was changed
from time to time. This word was
known only to the head of the bank
and the cashier. They each had also q
key. There was but one danger-that
of forgetting the word which was in
dispensable.
On the morning of the 2Sth of Feb
ruary the employees were all busy at
their various desks about half past 8
O'Clock when middle aged man Of
very dark complexion and military
bearing, in deep mourning, presented
himself in the office adjoining the safe,
where he found five or six employees.
He asked to see the cashier. He was
told that the cashier had not yet ar
rived and that the cashroom was not
opened till 10 o'clock. a notice of which
was posted in the entry.
II thought" he said in q tone Of cool
impertinence, ito find some one here
ready to attend to my business, hay-
ing arranged the matter with NJ, Fau-
vel yesterday. l am Count Louis de
Clameran, an iron maker at Oloron,
and have come to draw 100000 francs
deposited in this bank by my late
brother, whose heir l am. 1t is sur
prising that no orders were given
about it."
Neither the title of the noble manu.
facturer nor his explanations appeared
to affect the clerks.
"The cashier has not yet arrived, {"
they repeated. land we can do nothing
for you"
Then conduct me to NJ. Fauvel."
There was some hesitation, then a
clerk named Cavaillon, who was writ
ing near a window, said:
"The chief is always out at this
hour"
"Then l will call again." said M. de
Clameran. And he departed without
saying Good morning" or even touch
ing his hat.
mot very polite" said little Cavail-
Ion. "But here comes Prosper"
Prosper Bertomy, cashier of Fauveps
banking house, was a tall. handsome
man of thirty, with light hair and blue
eyes, and dressed in the height of the
fashion.
"Ah, here you arew cried Cavaillon.
Some one has just been inquiring for
! you"
"Who? An iron manufacturer, was
! 1t not?"
Precisely"
well. he will return. Thinking that
would be late this morning, l at
; tended to the matter yesterday"
, Prosper had unlocked his office and
I. RS he finished speaking entered and
closed the door behind him.
There 10 u CASHIER" exclaimed one