Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1908-11-18
WHICH WAS THE
GUILTY NAN?

ness after thirty years service. On.
one occasion during this long term a
singular thing occurred. The bank l
was connected with was small affair,
and we rarely had in the vault over
fifty or sixty thousand dollars In cur
rency, but at one time, owing to pc
culiar financial condition Of the couu-
try, we had over two hundred thou
sand This money had accumulated
during the week and reached the above
figure on Saturday at the close Of bank
ing hours.
That Saturday night l fell to think
ing about this great sum on hand.
Our safe was an old pattern and could
be readily opened by any bank robber
with an ordinary capacity for his bust
ness. The combination was known to
two officers of the bank (the president
and cashier) and myself. was pay
ing teller was not thinking Of any
danger from within, only from without
The matter having once got into my
head couldn't get it out. sat at
home thinking about it till after mid
night and then, without any definite
purpose. put on my hat and walked to
the bank. which was but few blocks
away. strolled past the building.
turned back and. yielding to an i'm
pulse, went in. made straight for the
vault. saw no evidence Of. change and
was about to turn away whet, desire
seized me to see that the cash was
there. was turning the combination
knob when the door opened and the
cashier entered
what are you doing here?" he ask
ed. evidently astonished and at the
| same time suspicious
II came to see that the cash Is all
right. What did you come for?'
II came for that too. I confess
didn't expect to find the teller Of the
bank opening the vault ut this time of
night" ..-.
And didn't expect tile cashier to
put in an appearance. Your tone indi
Gates suspicion that am here to
rob- .-s.
II can't think Of any thing more sus-
| piciots than the teller Of the bank
opening the vault at o'clock In the
morning"
At that moment don at the other
end OF the room opened. and who
should walk in but the president. On
seeing us lie looked surprised.
WHATS happened:' he asked quick
~. ANY funds missing?"
II think not" said the cashier But
there is no telling how much would
have been taken had l not arrived at
! the. nick of time
u was worried" fa!tered, lat hav-
Ing so large an amount Of currency In
the safe and could not resist an i'm.
; pulse to come and see that all was
right l.
"And count the funds" sneered the
cashier. --..
What brought you?' asked the pres
ident of the cashier.
The cashier tried to stammer out 4
better excuse than ! had given and
failing. finally blurted:
And what brought yon. for the mat,
ter o! that
| II: often come to the bank before
( going 20 bed to see that all is safe
the morning. come here. look around
and go home. Tonight. having so much
currency in the safe. was especially
anxious"
| Having come first," said. ION thu
same errand. presume ! am caught IT.
the act
What were you opening the vault
for?" asked the cashier. Couldn't you
see that it hadn't been tempered with e.
+ Il could see. that it hadn't been
blown open. but couldn't see that the
lock hadn't been picked or that some
one knowing the combination hadn':
opened it and taken the funds
Gentlemen" said the president. I'VE
will have look at the money and go
home"
was directed to open the safe. The
bills were found in piles as they had
been left in the afternoon. and the safe
was closed. and we separated.
The next day was called before the
president for an examina ton. which
lasted two hours. and when came out
Of his private office saw the cashie:
go in. as | Inferred. for similar pur
pose Notwithstanding that showed
a clean record. the president and
cashier after consultation. decided to
dismiss me-
appealed to the board of directors,
giving them statement of the facts.
After a meeting for consultation the
meeting of the three in the bank was a
coincidence. that there was no guilt at
tached to any one Of us. but, rather
we were al! to be commended for our
watchfulness
| The only good this did mo was that
l retained my position l was still un.
der suspicion. This was fostered by
the cashier. who. supposed. won over
the president to his views Neverthe-
less the president acquiesced in the de-
cision Of the board and exonerated me
! 1t was but a few weeks after all this
happened that We were startled at an
announcement that the president had
resigned and the cashier had been pro-
noted to the vacant position. was
, smarting under what considered a
blow. for. since the cashier considered
! me guilty Of an intent to rob the bank.
he would likely put me out in time
when the new president informed me
that l had been promoted to succeed
him as cashier