The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1912-09-20

social and church affairs Ia the town,
and had been with the bank for many
years. N 81 !. q. l,5
= inquired very minutely Into the
method of opening tho csc. learned
that Il required two msn-ths cashier
and . clerk who each had . key to
different doors. Without both Of them
being present the safe could not be
opened. This looked like q promising
lead, 20 pushed my inquiries In that
direction. learned whom the cashier
had opened the safe on Monday morn.
ing that the other clerk was not pres
emit It was evident then that the
cashier had both keys. The president
would not believe me when told him
Of the state Of affairs. It was Q strict
rule Of tho bank that the keys held
by each man should not be surren-
dered to any one except by order Of
the president.
II then centered my attention ON
Cashier Bell and began to weave the
net closer and closer about him.
learned that Bell had requested the
clerk to give him the keys about a
week before the robbery. The clerk
was going to attend . ball, and the
cashier had told him to let him have
the keys, so he need not report as
early as usual at the bank. The clerk
gave up the keys. The cashier did not
return them, although the clerk asked
for them. Then I learned that Bell
had been specializing through bro.
ker in Wall street, and, as near as I
could get at It, had lost about $4,000
in year, which was news to the bank
officials.
II found out that the cashier had
held several interviews with strangers,
and another startling fact-that on the
night Of the robbery Mrs. Bell had
awakened and found that her husband
was not in bed. She did not know
where he was, and had not thought Of
asking him. There were several other
suspicious circumstances against Bell.
became convinced that II he did not
commit the robbery himself. he must
certainly have had some knowledge of
It.
"There were also many facts in
Bells favor; but the bank direc-
tors became convinced, after carefully
weighing all the evidence, that he was
guilty, and he was arrested. never
saw man who took his arrest SO
hard, and Justly so, as it afterward
turned out. He had a hearing. and
so strong case was made out against
him that he was held for trial.
Shortly after this there was a fire
in the house Of Mrs. Libby Larsen.
Being bit Of a fire fend. went to
see the country boys work. They did
such good work that they saved the
house. ! went into the place. and in
a closet on the second floor picked
up a piece Of wax It would not have
been noticed by any one not familiar
with the methods OF thieves. but saw
at q glance that 1t had been used to
make an impression Of two keys. I
slipped 1t into my pocket and made q
j
The impression showed that the keys
were of intricate construction. and the
thought flashed across my mind that
they were very similar to the keys Of
the vault in the bank. I obtained the
keys without telling any one my bust
ness, and found hat they fitted per-
fectly. This was new light Oh the
mystery. It seemed to be convincing
proof that Bell had accomplices-prob,
ably the strangers he had met
II could not understand. however.
how It was that wax impression
had been made Of the keys which Bell
had In his possession. Why 60 to all
this trouble when the keys themselves
could DO used at any timer
II took q peep at Mrs. Larsen with.
out her knowing It. I tell you gave
. Jump when I recognized her az An
ME skidmore, the wife of Bill Skid.
more. Q well known bank sneak. At
last I began to see daylight Annie
was stopping at the house Of neigh
Dor, after being burned out, and I
learned that she had received 500 by
telegraph from New York tho day Of
the ire. The wording Of the telegram
did not throw any light on the case.
ITO my surprise and delight, Annie.
the following day after recognized
her, left Kingston, and went to AL
bany. She showed her cunning in do
ing this. as the same night she took
the train for New York. knew from
this secretive movement that Annie
had something important that she was
trying to hide. could tell by her
easy movements that she thought she
was safe. I telegraphed for a couple
Of detectives to meet me at the depot,
as could not tell what would turn up.
1T was lucky that did 80. for In
the depot, waiting for Annie. were
Willy Mitchell and Bill Noble. two OF
the brightest crooks In the land. They