The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-17

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May 4. 1883. two messengers left
the American Exchange National
bank, at northeast corner OF
Cedar street and Broadway,
New York. and started down
the busy thoroughfare for the once Of
the Adams Express company, a few
blocks distant. They carried between
them, each holding one Of the handles,
a valise made of canvas and leather, in
which had Just been placed, in the
presence Of the paying teller, a pack
age containing Sal 600 in greenbacks.
to be transmitted to the United States
treasury in Washington for redemp-
ton.
Although the messengers Edward
S. Crawford and old Dominic" Earle
were among the banks most trusted
employees, their honesty being con-
sidered above suspicion, they we're
nevertheless followed at a short dis
lance by Bank Detective McDougai,
an oId-time police detective, whose
white beard and ancient style OF
dress have long made him parsonage
of note on Broadway. Detective Nc
DOuga1 followed the messengers, not
because he had any fear that they
were planning a robbery, but because
1t is an imperative rule Of all great
banking institutions that the transfer
Of large sums Of money even for very
short distances, shall be watched over
with the most scrupulous care. Hacn
messenger is supposed to act as e
tective walking in the rear is check
on both In such cases all three men
are armed, and would use their Weap-
ons without hesitation should an at
tack be made upon them.
The messengers walked on through
the hurrying crowd, keeping on the
east sidewalk as far as Wall street,
where they turned across. and con-
tinued their way on the west sidewalk
as far as the Adams Express COM
pany's building, which stands at No.
SO Broadway. Having seen them safe
Nv inside the building the detective
turned back to the bank, where his
services were required in other mat
ters.
Passing down the large room
strewn with boxes and packages ready
for shipment, the two messengers
turned to the right, and ascended the
winding stairs that IN those dag led
to the money department, on the
second floor. No one paid much at
tention to them, as at this busy hour
bank messengers were arriving ana
departing every few minutes. Stil,
some of the clerks remembered after
ward or thought they did, that the
old man, Earle, assembled the stairs
more slowly than his more active COM
panion, who went ahead, carrying the
valise alone. Both messengers, how
ever, were present at the receiving win
dow of the money department when
the package was taken from the va
lise and handed to the clerk, who gave
a receipt for It in the usual form; Re
ceived from the American Exchange
bank one package marked as contain
ing Sal, 600. for transfer to washing
tom" or. at least, 50 far as has ever
been proved, both messengers were
present when the package was handed
in.
The two messengers. having per-
formed their duty went away, Earle
hurrying to the ferry to catch a train
out into New Jersey where ne IVed,
and Crawford returning to the bank
with the empty valise. The valuable
package had meantime been ranged
behind the heavily wired grating along
with dozens Of others, some OF them
containing much larger sums me
clerks in the money department OF tIfe
Adams Express company become so
accustomed to handling gold, silver
and bank notes fortunes done up in
bags, boxes or bundles, that they
think little more Of this precious mer-
chandise than they might of 80 much
coal or brick A quick glance.
touch of the hand. satisfies them that
the seals, the wrappings, the labels.
the general appearance, OF the pack
ages are correct; and having entered
them duly on the way-bllls ana turned
them over to the express messenger
who Is to forward them to their des-
tinatlon, they think no more ABOUT
them,
In this instance the Sal. 900 package
after a brief delay. was locked in one
Of the small. portable safes, a score Of
which are always lying about In readi-
ness, and was lowered to the base
ment where it was loaded on one
of the company's wagons. me wagon
was then driven to Jersey CITY, guard
ed by the messenger in charge, his
assistant, and the driver, all three
men being armed, ana was sa1ely
placed aboard the night express TOT
Washington. It is the company's rule
that the messenger who starts with
through safe travels with it to It's
destination, though he has to make
tourney of a thousand miles. Some
times the destination of money unoer
transfer is SO remote that the service
of several express companies Is re-
ouired: and in that case the messen-
ger of the Adams company accom-
Danies the money only to the point
where it is delivered to the messenger
of the next company and 50 on
The next morning, when the pack
age from the American Exchange bank
was delivered IN Washington, the eX-
Derienced treasury clerk who received
II perceived at once. from the condl-
ton of the package, that soinetillils
was wrong. Employees OF the treasury
department seem to gain new sense
and to be able to distinguish bank
notes from ordinary paper merely by
the feel" even when done up IN pun
dies. Looking at the iAoei me- "
$4,000. the clerk shook his head and
called the United States treasurer.
James W. Hyatt. who also saw some
thing suspicious in the package. Mr.
blanchard. the Washington agent OF
fine Adams Express company was
summoned. and in his presence the
~ cIraera was opened It was found
to cOntein nothing more valuable than
sliDs Of brown straw paper. the coarse
variety used by butchers in wrapping
y ont n the size OF BANK
notes The $4,000 were missing.
It was evident that at some point
between the. bank and the treasury a
/ bogus package had been substituted
| for the genuine one. The question
was. Where and BY whom had the
substitution been made?
The robbery was discovered at the
! .-aa .-.r.- IN MaanlnEtnn on STURDY