Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-11-07

Then tne aWful buen
ne, that | had been cleveriy iooneo
Oh God. II | could only blot that 'er- [
r.hla moment from my memory ~
first | thought Il best TO scream anu
attract all the people, bu, as "e
lhings raced through my MIND, ] was
cops.antlv looking for the thief, be-
cause il had only taken the Sinai po'
tion of a minute for all ,oi 'hese
events to transpire. and l Khe" w
thief could not be very iar. 'uSe
then caught sight of man hlo'ihs
off through the crowd. lhere W.
unite a number OF people constantly
adding IN or leaving the crowd. On.
this man in particular han Sonie'"'"e
under his arm and kept constantly
looking at me- Nv poor achihs he"'
almost stopped heating. wheh 40
do FOR this man. he would quickeH
his mace. Then knew for sure Y
going to capture the thier. Wn%rom
cot clear of the crowd good Ha,ong-
menced to run down the pa
side Of Reyners store, went lor
49,, uI,o . lion aithe'sh ne knew
nln IN ~" ~ atra< him. he never
Voc Eo -, sAnce. | had him
nlaae iiuc" mt was raving now
DOWN J." az man. tore his coat
IKE ny =" desire TO get possession
Il, my .scious package. Imagine my
Oh ny when | discovered the pack
i'e'under his coat was only two or
nee editions of SOME Sunday paper.
1 don't remember much what hap
peued then only know at the time
felt sorry for this man. but ] now
know the robbery was cleverly ar
ranged scheme and was Committed ny
a man who had at least one or more
confede rate They had evidently
planned to rob tho clerk that looked
to have the most cash, for they evil
denty knew of these balances being
paid daily and was only transferred
by clerks who were never armed, and
would commit the robbery on Wash
ington avenue. While | was in trans
1t between the banks, and my being
attracted 10 the crowd only made 1t
easier for them. My reason for after
wards knowing the man was a con-
federate was he said he had bought
his papers from a news dealer on
Washington avenue. | inquired from
a clerk next day at Bohlkin's News
Stand and he told me that three men
had bought two editions of Sunday
papers on the morning previous and
he had paid particular attention TO
them because one had said they would
furnish good reading matter on boat
go,RE to Il ston. BY that he pre-
sun, ID them to be s.dlors off from
some coasting vessel
Now to -eturn to events directly
axe. my said discovery. / was then
afraid | would be arrested for assault
and asked this man TO pardon me,
saying 70 him that | had lost money
and thought he had il under his arm
and was very glad when he willingly
agree not TO prosecute. Although II
was only a few seconds that I was
struggling with him. quite a few peo-
pie had witnessed some part Of it and
all who desired 20 know the disturb
ance causes. ] told them | thought
had been robbed of my watch, but that
was mistaken fol- | had IT in my
hand as | spoke. Among those at
tracted by the crowd was Officer Rob-
bins and | told him same as | did all
others. | do not remember why, but
did not want anyone to know the
truth. I could not believe then that
I had lost all of the money. 1t was
nv intention then to kill myself at
once. Just as being in a trance.
went to the c & NJ. Bank, collected
the money due US and returned 10
the First National Bank. secured
paper to write farewell notes on In
tending TO end my life. Or Il only I
had done so then. should have saved
myself more suffering than ever NOR
tai stood in like period. But as fate
ruled me that day q know that God
does not hold me responsible Tor
what Occurred) ] had a great long
ing TO see my dear sweet mother one
more time. then again ] remember 1
could see myself lying in black cof-
fin the very next day. At the thought
Of this last, | lost my nerve. | went
over TO the department ] had charge
CT. thinking fate would let it be
enough money there to pay Schmelz's
balance. but there were only a few
hundred dollars. then thought /
could pay their difference with a
check. but | could do nothing to at
tract attention and | knew the teller
who checked up the balances would
expect cash from that bank. but there
was one bank tha. always paid in
checks On us. but the check paid that
day was for only $500. therefore
csshed the check IN my department.
then went to the files. secured a