The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-03-08

he went over dis pans uWe d4teI lAS
and finally satisfied himself that they
were without q faw. He had provided
for every contingency likely to arise
and it only remained to rake IN the
plunder. After going over his list Of
"availables" be finally selected busi-
ness house which had formerly banked
with bis people. Their signature was
at his disposal and be knew the size of
their account at the new bank. BE
could get 5000 from them easily, and
the chances were that the crime would
remain undiscovered for at least a
fortnight =. .-
One day the astute bank clerk was
quite ready to start out. he was not
4 bit hurrie6 or excited he left bis
desk at the usual moment, donned his
coat and hat in the usual way and
passed out upon the street to seek bis
lodgings and disguise himself. He did
not overdo this. he simply donned a
false wig and mustache, slipped on
hat and coat unlike his usual garments
and then sauntered carelessly along in
to the Fourth National bank.
The substitute teller was at the pay
window, as he had figured he would
be after 12 o'clock. This man did not
know him. There were three or four
persons with checks to be cashed, and
Phillips took his place in line. He had
forged check for $3.50 in his hand,
and he was certain that it would be
paid without question. The merchants
| would have sworn that the signature
was their own. The check was passed
in, glanced at, and the teller swiftly
counted out the money. He was about
to pass it through the window, and
Mr.. Phillips was feeling sort Of con-
tempt for his easy ways when he paus-
ed, laid down the bills and took an
other look at the check on file. There
were ten seconds Of puzzled hesitation,
and then he said:
There is q bit Of irregularity here.
This check is dated for tomorrow.
See?"
The astute Mr.. Phillips saw. For a
year he had been slowly and carefully
preparing for this day. For year he
had been telling himself that there
could be no failure. He had written
out the check with the utmost care and
had scanned it over and over again, and
yet he had dated it day ahead and
made most egregrious blunder! The
thing came upon him with sledge ham,
mer force, and in spite Of his assurance
he exhibited some confusion. This
might have passed with the teller as
natural result had not a man with
check to be cashed exhibited undue Gu.
riosity and had not Mr.. Phillips COM
rade detective come strolling In. He
was known to the officers Of the bank
and at once became interested in the
incident.
1T was an oversight that I will have
corrected in twenty minutes" }" remark.
ed Mr.. Phillips as he took the check
and started out. But the detective
would not have it that way, and five
minutes later he had penetrated the
disguise Of his friend. Perhaps their
friendship might have stood the strain
or an explanation been possible. but the
teller would not have It so. An at
tempt had been made to do" and ruin
him, and he proposed to see 1t through.
The result came two months later,
when the careful and deliberate and
painstaking as well as extraordinarily
astute Mr.. Phillips was sentenced to
state prison for seven years.
"Sorry for you, my boy-very sorry"
said the detective as he left him at the
prison, "but you see there is differ
ence. Astuteness in business brings q
sure reward, but astuteness in crime
leads most Of 'em here"