Omaha daily bee., 1908-08-23
FARMER TOOK NO CHANCES
CRnny Nirginian Would Not Leave
His Money in Bank
at Night.

Bank officials Sc many curious sides
of human nature said a prominent Vir-
ginian while talking to some old friends
i'm the lobby of a Washington hotel re-
Gently. Il spent a week down in a town
in Clarke county last month, and one day
during my stay there l sauntered into the
local national bank just before it closed
for, the day. While l was talking to the
bank teller, a middle-sged courtryman
came up to the window. He looked both
well-to-do and intelligent. The teller broke
off talking to me to attend to his duties.
" What can do for you, sir?' he asked
the stranger.
~ want to draw out my $780, answered
the farmer, handing in his check, payable
to self. and his bank book.
why, what's wrong?' asked the teller,
obviously much astonished. You only de-
posted this amount with us this morning
81 haven't any fault to find with you
returned the farmer. carefully counting
his money and putting 1t in an old leather
wallet. I think these banks are pretty
good places, but | reckon I'm not such a
darn fool as to leave my money here over
night!
Now, that actually happened went on
the Nirginian, as his friends laughed in
credulously. And I'd a heap rather be
that over catuiosu Virginia farmer than as
gullibie as a friend Of mine who lives in
a rural district In Nebraska. He's a law
yer of some prominence in that state, and
as a side issue to his law practice he often
collects bad debts for city business firms.
We'll, one day last summer a man APP
pesred in his office and said he represented
a hardware firm in Lincoln. This firm had
a hin % NNEn a.agnst n F.vy,n 1L,-f,,o ,l,,,t
ten miles outside the village. The lawyer
looked over the mans papers and found
them apparently all risht. Knowing that
the farmer was well off and would prob
ably make prompt payment, he agreed to
collect the money on the promise of being
paid 10 per cent. So when the stranger
went out of the office he wrote a note to
the farmer, requesting an immediate
answer, and posted it.
Five days later he received a letter from
the farmer saying the bill had been over
looked, and inclosing his check for $3.50
in payment. A little later that morning
the city man came in, and the lawyer hand
ing him the letter and enclosure, said:
" knew he would pay up promptly "
But he has made the check payable to
you and / have to catch the next train to
Lincoln. Can you come up to tAS bank
with me at once?' responded the stranger.
NO, I'm particularly busy this morn
ing
" oh, all right replied the stranger.
Just make me out a check on your bank.
deducting OF course, your commission
from the mount.
so he promptly wrote out a check for
NS5, gave il to the stranger, and then they
parted. The lawyer chuckled all morning
over making SIS so eagily, but the laugh
changed to a curse when he went to the
bank and found the farmers check was a
good forgery.
He had been the victim OF expert con,
fideuce men. The scheme had been vel
worked out; for the stranger representing
a bogus firm, had a confederate who picked
the lock Of the wealthy farmers rural de.
livery box, extracted the lawyers letter
and then. allowing a few days to elapse
sent the forged litter and check TO thu
lawyer. Oh, it was neat. very neat, anc
the lawyer whistled in vain for his Sl35,'
finished the Virginian.
"oh, well" laughed one OF the listeners
as he rose 10 90. IT'S not the first time 1
y Nehraskan has been taken In. especially b,
smooth taiAcrs. Washington Post