The Raymer enterprise., 1911-11-02

the capture OF Rowell, the deraulting
bank cashier. was the most remark.
able. Crewe's skill rested In the main
upon certain optical gift by virtue
Of which he was enabled at any time
TO call up before his mental vision the
picture OF any person or thing that he
had once inspected. and that complete
and In every detail perfect But while
this faculty was largely instrumental
In Rowell's capture. this case Involved
besides so clear and close piece OF
mathematical reasoning that 1t de-
serves to be set down as one of the
masterpieces OF detective induction.
Crewe and | were in England upon
some business at the time when the
robbery OF the Penny and Shilling
bank startled the country. Rowell,
the cashier. had somehow managed to
obtain possession Of no less sum
than hundred and sixty thousand
pounds. or 100000 In American
money. He had quietly secreted this
In his suit case. walked out OF the
bank on Saturday at noon, and com.
pletely disappeared by the time the
discovery OF the theft was made on
Monday.
Rowell had no relatives and no
close friends. He had no ties, no &C.
quaintances among the criminal class.
He looked like many another young
Englishman OF the middle classes: or
medium height, stalwart, alert aggres.
sive. clean. He left no photograph
behind. There seemed to be no way
In which he could be traced.
The superintendent OF Scotland
Yard made a happy suggestion TO the
bank manager. had been called into
consultation as the banks attorney.
and had brought Crewe to the con.
ference with me. We both strongly
approved the plan.
Every Engllshman who has com
mitted a felony makes the United
States his ultimate objective" the su.
perlntendent said. Why this should
be so do not pretend to know. ! do
not mean to cast slur upon your
country. Still, the fact remains that.
when he thinks the hue and cry has
died away, he takes ship for America.
Now, the proposition ls to hero him
into what | will call rat trap. SO
long as he lies low In England he is
never likely to be discovered. But
II we make the chase hot at every
point except the western ports. II we
publish items In the newspapers stat.
ing that no guard Is being kept at
Liverpool or Southampton. because
the fugitive Is believed to be In France.
he will be tempted, he will investigate
to discover whether this Is true; final.
ty, emboldened. he will take ship for
New York"
And them" asked Crewe.
I'VE arrest him as he disembarks."
This plan was carried out and
worked to perfection. Although
Rowell could not be positively identi.
fed there was every reason to be-
lieve in cabled statement from the
captain of the Pentannic to the effect
that the fugitive had taken passage on
his ship. The information was cabled
back to New York and couple OF de-
tectiyes were detailed TO arrest Rowell
the moment that he landed
Unfortunately the plan miscarried.
AS we learned afterward. Rowell had
somehow possessed himself OF the
uniform OF n ships officer. and attired
in this guise. had stepped boldly
ashore under the noses OF the de-
tectiyes and disappeared among the
four million inhabitants OF the city.
The bank urged me TO hasten to
work OF recapture, had, however.
interested the manager in Crewe by
recounting some Of my companions
former successes. and at his invita-.
ton. brought my friend to the scene
OF the robbery.
you say you have no photograph OF
the thief" asked Crewe, when he
heard the details OF the story.
None whatever. And | fancy" said
the manager. that you will not obtain
much of a clue by examining his stool
and counter"
II hope you are mistaken" an.
swered Crewe, laughing May | ask
you few questions?"
with pleasure"
What was Rowells salary"
Two hundred pounds" answered
the manager with some hesitancy.
I'VE had intended to Increase It on
the first OF the year"
still, a single man could live well
on that" said Crewe. "Did he dress
well?"
Not extravagantly. but neatly, He
usually wore suit OF blue serge. a
collar OF moderate height. and a gray
tie"
THAT is very important" said
Crewe. But here Is n more i'm.
portant matter still Has the height
OF this stool been changed since
Rowell vacated 1T"
"No. II Is an immoyable seat, as
you win see, and nicely apportioned