The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-13

a pocketbook that contained $4,000 in nego-
table paper.
The Westerner who was in the habit OF
CARRYING large sums of money on his per-
son and thinking nothing about it, was
writing in the hotels writing room. when
he found himself short of paper. Leaving
his things on the table he walked over to
the desk. got another supply of stationery
and went back to his chair. only to find
that his big red pocketbook, which he had
missing.
The clerk was notified.
MY Cod" gasped the Westerner. IF
don't get that pocketbook back I'm
goner.''
When the victim had Gained down some
what the clerk got him to make out list
of the papers, and all the banks were noti-
fed to stop payment on them.
Then the CLERK began looking for the
robber. BY little quiet inquiry among the
hotel attaches he learned that man who
was an habitual "chair-warmer" of the
hotel had been loafiing i'm the writing room
shortly before the robbery had been re-
ported. But now he was nowhere in sight
The clerk went to police headquarters.
told his story and his suspicious. and got
man assigned to loaf about the hotel I'M
til the .chair warmer should turn up
again. Then he was to wait his cue from
the clerk.
For three days they watched i'm vain for
the suspect, but on the fourth he turned
up, as the clerk thought he would. in order
to keep suspicion from falling on him, and
4 in
room. Pretty soon, the loafer having been
courteously treated as usual by the pass
ing hotel employees. got up and started
easily for the door. Then Mt was that a
man who had been seated within vision of
the clerk, approached the loafer and tapped
him on the shoulder.
II want you to come with me- he said.
Yes added the clerk. as he Joined them,
1--WE want you to come up to police head
quarters and tell us what you've done with
that $4,000 worth of negotiable paper you
took from the writing table in this hotel
last Thursday
The man stoutly protested his innocence.
and even when he was taken before the
chief of the detectives he still tenaciously
held that he was guiltless.
At last the chief turned TO the clerk:
Il believe you got the wrong man this
time" he said.
CLERK WAS PERSISTENT.
But the clerk was unconvinced.
Chief he said quietly, ''Tve helped you
out several times when you've come to the
hotel in search of clews, and now / want
one more chance" He turned to the sus-
pect. Look here he said, you've got
a queer pocket just inside your coat; and
its mouth is big enough to let you slip
things that lay on tables into il quickly;
and it's deep enough to hold big objects
like long pocketbooks."
For the first time the man blanched just
a trifie.
Search him." said the chief to two as
sistants.
They did, and just inside the coat they
found just such a pocket as the clerk had
described. Also in a pocket on the inside
of the mans waistcoat. they found the
pocketbook with not single paper miss
ing.
well" said the chief. turning to the pro-
rrietor of the hotel and the Westerner, who
had entered the room on being notified of
the discovery, what shall we do with
hm?"
The westerner overjoyed at receiv-
ing back his papers.
do with him?" he repeated. Lord. I've