The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-02-08
WHICH WAS THE
GUILTY MAN!

80. asAA'o aANAa tht UNnhlAik UuNl
ness after thirty years service. Or
one occasion during this long term q
singular thing occurred. The bank ]
was connected with was a small affair
and we rarely had in the vault over
fifty or sixty thousand dollars in cur,
rency, but at one time, owing TO a pc
culiar financial condition of the corin.
try, we had over two hundred thou
sand. This mooney had accumulated
during the week and reached the above
figure on Saturday at the close of bank
ing hours.
That Saturday night 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 1T out / sat at
home thinking about Il 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. I 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 when 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 here7" 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 forf"
II came for that too. | confess
didn't expect to find the teller Of the
bank opening the vault at this time Of
night"
And | didn't expect the cashier to
put In an appearance. Your tone indl-
Gates suspicion that am here to
rob-
II can't think Of anything more sus.
picious than the teller Of the bank
opening the vault at o'clock in the
morning"
At that moment door at the other
end of the room opened. and who
should walk In but the president On
seeing us be looked surprised
whats happened" he asked quick
~. ANY funds missingg'
~ think not" said the cashier. "Bnt
there is no telling how much would
have been taken had | not arrived at
the nick Of time"
II was worried" faltered, at 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"
and count the fundsr' aneered the
cashier.
What brought your asked the pres
ident OF the cashier.
The cashier tried to stammer out
better excuse than had given and.
falling. finally blurted:
"And what brought vou, FOR the mat
ter of that?"
II? | often come to the bank before
going to bed to see that all is safe.
Sometimes get up at 2 or 3 O'Clock In
the morning, come here. look around
and 60 home Tonight having so much
currency In the safe. was especially
anxious"
'sHaving come first" said. ION the
same errand. presume am caught in
the act"
sWhat were you opening the vault
for?" asked the cashier Couldn't you
see that 1t hadn't been tempered withg'
II could see that II hadn't been
blown open. but couldn't see that the
lock hadn't been picked or that some
one knowing the combination hadn't
opened it and taken the funds"
"Gentlemen." said the president I'VE
viii have look at the money and GO
home
was directed to open the safe The
bills were found in piles us 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 examination. which
lasted two hours, and when came out
Of his private Office | saw the cashier
go IN. as | inferred. for a similar pur-
pose, Notwithstanding that l showed
: clean record. the president and
cashier after consultation decided to
dismiss me.
I appealed to the board Of directors.
giving them a statement OF the facts
After meeting for consultation the |
board gave out a decision that the |