Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1912-10-02
WEDNESDAY,, OCTOBER =, 1912.
WHY HE STOLE TiiAT $4,000.
Bank Clerk Bell Said He Couldn't
Resist Temptation.

the package OF S3D,OOO from the
First National Bank here, was ar
raigned before a United States COM
missioner this afternoon and entered
a plea OF guilty.
Bell declared he had no accomplish
in taking the money from the bank,
or in returning it to the back door
Of the bank, where it was found by
the negro janitor. His bond was
fixed at $1,000.
In his confession, made public to-
day, Bell declared he yielded in a
moment Of weakness in taking the
money, but after he had it., he did
not know what to do with it. He
said he desired to take his medicine
as quickly as possible.
Bell was not under suspicion up to
the time he presented himself to the
bank president and confessed to the
crime.
Couldn't Resist Temptation.
IL just couldn't resist the tcmpta-
ton. SOW all | want is the prose-
cutting attorney to accept my plea of
guilty, let the court sentence me to
the ~penitentiary, and the sooner it is
done the better III be pleased"
This was the explanation made to-
day by Bell, the bank clerk who con
fessed yesterday to taking a package
containing $4,000 which the First
National Bank was preparing to for
ward to Flomaton, Ala. by express,
substituting therefor a similar pack
age containing white paper, while a
half dozen bank clerks were working
with him getting the shipment ready.
The Money Found.
Detectives were put to work and
Monday the negro ~ianitor Of the
bank building found the package con-
tanning the money against the graf
ing on the ear Of the door Of the
bank. In his confession Bell said that
he returned the money.
Until the robbery Bell had been re-
garded as a model young man with
no bad habits aud with a comforta-
Die bank account for a youth Of his
age.
Bell was not regarded as a suspect
when he approached President Brent,
OF the bank, in his Office last night,
and said: "Mr. Brent, I'm the man
that got the $50,00O."
pr.siInnt prnnt ,1,,n,t l,uI
founded, asked Bell to be seated.
The official called in the police and
Bell was put in prison. where he
dictated a statement after rallying
from a breakdown.
II admit taking tie money! said
Bell. Il made up the phony pack
age at my house Sunday night, Sep
tcmbcr Is, and Monday placed it in
my locker at the bank. My first
thought Of taking the money came
on the previous Saturday when
read a letter from the Louisville and
Nashville regarding the shipment. |
began thinking about it. don't
know why | tool it.
"Tucsday when the two packages
were made up and labeled by the
boys walked over and picked up
the larger one, containing the $JI,-
600, and passing in full view Of half
a dozen Of the boys, walked to my
locker and substituted the phony
package for it. | put the phony pack
as" with the other package contain
ing the smaller amount. and we put
both into a suitcase. and left for
tn" Southern Express Company's Of
flee. There the clerk received the
phony package and rccciptcd for it.
'IncSday night | took the pack
az" containing the money from my
locker, put it into the suitcase and
boarded the car for home, The pack-
age remained at home until Satur-
day night, when | got to thinking and
decided that didn't want it. SAT
urday night | again put it into nv
suitcase, carried it to the rear Of the
bank ana placed the package at the
rear door. Stepping into a Greeks
store | called up Mr.. Roberts, assist
ant cashier, and told him the money
could be found at the real door of
the bank.
81 was uneasy about the money
and went Sunday morning and after
noon to see If it was still there. I
don't know why |, took the money
| suppose 1t was In a moment OF
weakness"