The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-07-07
J. CHALMERS DA COSTA


10 attach their signatures
After the substitute had been asked few perfume
tory questions by the commissioners iat oiacnl yo,lr
-" ms slSi'ure returning thc blanks broker
VINO would then take substitute before tho ,oo,
m summation II the examination was satisfactory
"ouiu attach his signature Then the broker
would take the substitute before the provost who would
syn me blank The would ask tie substi,ut.
no" i'cn money lie receive ana The slbstit,,ta
would state the amount that the broker mad pro,nisd -
eve nun me broker would count ont tho money and
hand 1t TO tho provost who after conr,ninr Tho o,,
would tel the substitute that hc was 10 cnter Tho -
!" pace OF MI --. who had been drafted ana I'M,
as soon he reached his COMPANY which ronia ~ o.
i 'e" oaYs' INC money would handed to hin, THO
man was then turned over 10 nh. .i,a-,I ,,d .nou -
''e gHaioFoom' being now ready o be mustered in
rae money received by the provost was placed in :,
large envelope and sealed the name OF the man h, -
written on The outside: envelope was ken, ,o~
senE, IN a safe that stood by the OF the provost
,ri,h Luz, s St'e was weak. antiquaied affair locke
win huge key; and the key was Jar TOO c,,nhor
49, "a. - ABOUT in The pocket il kept in one OF
N'1"e's Oh me desk This drawer was invariably
N'"' 90 iaF' however, the security furnishea nv
h.'n safe IS concerned the money might JUS, an ,seiI
"1' 1,, n'en Kept IN the wastepaper basket.
Ihe guard on duty consisted or a eercean, i,
ana six privates all under tho command or 'o.
lieutenant Every man of this ,,u-d ,,,
anu ueoHged to regiment formed q mar, n, 1870
Harrison OF the city. During tie 6av onjv 49, |
o" nu'y but ne was stationed directly at the door
OF the provosts Office Hence IT was abs3lu,elv i'
Eihle to enter The once without the guards bi,
nzan OF the TACT A. night men wero on duty ono
shall now tell how became iinpncate3 i ~ 80,
uery, anu now the robbery was carried out To % b1
i,y' IL wi' be necessary TO tell OF my ars &C
,,ui'''"hee Wiih Bob Wright. noted hotel thie, ,rd
'Ae man VINO took tho money from The safe 1''
Aoo came 20 my office several times each tim. ,oi
ms me that Just rs he could cot a.,
5000 he going to 20 out as n siis,itn, w. %,
several drinks together and on one occasion ,,nS,n
II Was the day of the nncboo, tin, 49, - neon
mention Oh the money at Tie proyoss Once ,r.raiy 50
mArKlns ! wish had the money tina, is kan, in 49,.
shane ne" next lie came to see mo he said it w.s
S'''e mat SO much money actually lying around
ooHe Win no one to take j, away CONTINUING h $40
ny is te mater with you and doing the old ,ofer"
go, 20 " oulsi"f name for snfe) and making a biz
u can be done just as easily rolling of a
.os tod Him that he had better let 1t alone for !,
Ie guard caught him at IT, would almost certainly
After he had loft Tie thought the matter ovo,
"" came o the conclusion that perhaps he wos ,rving
me 10 see what Thought about sucb things IN. 80
lis doing so could be I co,,I5 M, 80" Nila'
yet strange as t might seem began 10 think 49,
continued thul Of that safa snd he .,.'.N ana
al last hy line of reasoning that did no, ori,,,a,
from the moral code. wished that money vera rtn
HI became nqnsi'ive as 10 it could be removed
49,. 'e ~ ana aepos'ted in my pocket The problem
49,. i''t'ed upon VAS how the could be
.qu WITHOUT me Intruder being by the guard
""eh next saw Bob told him that l had con-
80 '''l ne han only been trying what pur-
rose do not know. was evidently imposslbl -
e money 'ui Of thar SAFE. In reply he said: you
arc wrong ana 10 convince you that YOU are ,yrory
"ili 'el you how tic money can be GOT An ,bat b
90 Dc conc IF 10 take the glass OF beer
while the officials are at dinner ana a,,r,,~ S, 80
ihai money Will suddenly ny away" caught his ,,i,,
Immediately, for from experience thar anv na
OF me German guard would 20 a at any time
from time time ~
cannot remember at this distant date whether my
conscience picKed me or not. but If stabs
wVe SO minute tai they produced lasting sensation
When had once determined that the money could bo
taken and IN way hat presented OBVIOUS danger
resolved 10 seek for crossed the Rubicon and
entered the domain OF tneyery. remained
ever
When told Bob ,iat / would do nv port we -
le nat tier -te-
that he would TIE frst stormy day: for on suoh
Gays few II any oateG around and Ger
'aih 10 DC oHl4 the guard duty the OF tho
Office was biz, stoid, phlegmotic German who but
Aeuom 'eit me caif tat VAS placed there for his
ne hf'' name was Fritz. and by this
name no was known to ali having business at tho
Office The guard carried gun-only bayonct as
side
AT last tho stormy day came Snow had fallen and
nc streets were fun OF BY tho highways
were IN terrible condition. being ankle deep snow
and alush We knew hai the waiting room was sure
deserted. Only Jew brokers made their appear
snce and Icy soon efi. In business was at an
absolute atandstili
and myaeb 5e" the IN 1n lss
oi , he ' @ 9m ,snis a and me surgeon
lasl y o'clock Shorty afiarward went in ana eons
wheine inc ceian was h. Noo said rriiz nc s6 69a
l-m gone tu rinlier Affer making comments
, a2 '"s 5l9i' VIZ saig 70 i nun la Come over ana
tsn Tiiins TO accept Hf invitation; to
aa ayr , o9o a. NJ 4 ei! me 5asng ob
,he ~ . ynll1 H. Do. eosed ne door locked Il
Ton A"i ook oit thc of the safe opened the IA fe
removed ins mones aua Aen locked safe the desk
Anh iAc pHi,e doD!- in I'VE minutes after Fritz had
away )1at zen minutes. aud then returned him 10
.lt "IiiIHh lsH'nH l,iO waiting he ri
}iHs 9oM Nam IN , ,is cnlir Remaining few minutes
'i, 'ln, vent hack 90 there
an $40. u Us all iisht havo the dus Come
We went directly around to my Office. burned the
N'tfi ',i'H "ld counted IN money. Bob
Yshed INC goodny telling me that he was going to
l3 nome az Joho iaonylNe Ind ] took the
'...l 't'. 'Nrie planted fthn hid
mcuts. ''' ''N ~ '"' '''''"P-
Al ne provost had returned dinner hut. owing to
ic storm, visited tho building There vas no
on "'" nis,1esp whatever TINT afternoon expected
t,.'S ttNu'i,i 20 hear alarm given. but
"ief o'clock he came and said nc going home