Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-12-05
Made Mentally a
Criminal
By GERALD FERGUSON
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

| John WiIliapfz awoke with a terri
| BILE headache. He had a dire remem-
/ brance of having been the night before
with two friends of his, Borland and
/ Tucker, of taking a number of
drinks and smoking a large quanti-
ty of cigars. Suddenly he remember
| ed something else. He and his friends
had been discussing the various ways
criminals gave themselves away, Will
liams had wondered why they did so.
averring that he would suppose every
faculty they possessed would be call
ed out to shield them from detection
and punishment.
This is as far as Williams remem-
bered From that time the liquor he
had taken affected him so far that he
had no recollection of what had trans
PRED He did not even know how he
had got to bed. The experience was
novel one to him, for he had never
been intoxicated before. He was en-
ployed in a bank and so trusted was
he that he was made a keeper of the
safe lock combination in order that
when the cashier was absent the
funds might be available.
Something under Williams pillow
rendered his head uncomfortable.
Putting his hand there to discover
what it was. he pulled out an oblong
parcel done up in brown paper. He
opened it and was surprised to see a
package of bank bills. Then he re-
membered something more. He had
made bet with Tucker that he would
take a sum of money from the bank,
keep it a month, meanwhile proceed
ing with his duties at the institution
without betraying his secret. Then
the party had gone to the bank. Will
taken the money.
All this he recalled while looking at
the package and was Mortified at what
he had done. If detected what avail
would it be for Borland and Tucker TO
swear that the money had been taken
on bet and was to be returned? He
was In the position of criminal. His
first thought was to telephone to the
bank that he was i'll and would not
be there that day. But the loss would
be discovered. and his absence would
cause suspicion that he had taken the
money. No; he must get up and go
to the bank as usual He plunged into
cold bath. dressed, drank q cup of
coffee and, leaving the bills locked In
an old trunk in storeroom, went to
face the officers and clerks of the bank.
Meanwhile he had been thinking
that he would confess the whole af-
fair. Would he be believed? Would
1t not be considered that he had com
mitted the theft, become frightened at
what he had done and made up this
story to save himself? His two
friends would testify for him, but al
most any one would help a fellow out
of such a fix. and their testimony
would be taken with a grain of salt"
No: his only hone was TO carry out
the conditions of his bet successfully.
He entered the bank. assuming as
careless an air as he could command.
Nothing seemed amiss with those as
sembled there. Williams sat down at
his desk and went to work. About II
o'clock he was called into the presi-
dents office. where he found the cash
Ter, both officers showing by their de-
meanor that the loss had been dis
covered
"Mr Williams" said the president,
$50, 900 in bills is missing from the
safe You and Mr. Stivers, the cashier,
and one other are the only ones who
know the combination OF the safe lock-
| am not going to accuse you of TAX
ing this money. | simply wish to
hear what you have to say about the
matter"
Williams. whose heart. was in his
throat. denied any knowledge Of how
the theft could have been effected. He
looked frightened but that was to be
expected. The president, after study
Ing his face carefully, dismissed him.
Williams went back to his desk and to
misery. AS to doing his work that
was impossible. What he tried to do
be Numbered over. After an intermina-
BILE day of wretchedness he went home
and to his room and fell on his bed
with a groan.
IF |, who am really innocent Of
wrong" he said. lam so affected by
my position, what must be the state of
a real criminalY'
There was no sleep for Williams
that night. He dreaded to go to the
bank that day and dare net remain
away. He went to his desk at the usu
al hour, and as he sat down. though he
looked at no one and no one looked at
him, he felt that battery Of eyes was
upon him. During the day a trifie of
comfort came to him, since he was
treated by all in the bank with the
same friendliness as before the rob-
berry. But there was a steady wear
upon his nerves, and when he reached
his room he felt that he had lost much
ground on this first day of his trial.
He now knew that he could not
stand the strain for thirty days nor
for half that time. He must find
way to return the money covering his
tracks at the same time. He was so
unstrung that he could not dare not
use any method that occurred to him.
On the fifth day he went to the pres
ident and confessed that be had been
tempted to steal the money, making no
mention OF his bet.
The omission saved him. His friends
4oId of Tho hot and tho nresidput nm