The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-05-22
MYSTERY OF THE
STOLEN MONEY
Wit of ShreWd Detective Un-
covers an Agile Thief.

ADRIAN Markham, paying teiler OF
the Tenth National bank. was called
from his window to the cashiers desk
When he returned package of bills
amounting to $4,000. that had lain Oh
the shelf before him. was gone.
Markham could not at first believe
the testimony of his eyes. He had not
been absent three minutes No such
package could have been taken out
through the bars that protected his
window. No one had been in his in
closure with him, and the door of TIE
cage had been closed and fastened b.
spring lock. 1t seemed to the teller
that some one of his faculties had sud
denly deserted him. But, no; the pack.
age had been there before he left the
window, and it was not there now
He looked about the cage for it. though
he knew full well exactly where il
had been left, and nothing except some
live being could have removed it. Sat
isfied that the money had really been
taken. he rushed into the presidents
Office and frantically reported the loss.
The president turned in his swing
ing chair and fixed a scrutinizing
glance upon the teller. Convinced that
the mans troubled appearance was not
feigned. he said:
Keep cool head. Mr.. Markham 1t
will help you to recall infinitely cir
cumstances pertaining to the case.
Who were inside the counters with
you when the money was taken?"
The president called the cashier into
his office. and after few moments
conversation the three men went to
the cage and inspected it with view
to ascertaining how it would be posi-
BILE for any one to take the bills. But
one weak point appeared. The cage
was not covered. and there was a pos
sibility that some one might have stood
on a projection of the woodwork out
side the frame and have withdrawn
the bills. But he could not have reach
ed the bills with his arm and would
not have been likely to avoid being
seen by some one inside the Enclosure.
LhOuSh Uub LID az" WOulu NC
by the woodwork. which was
in all eight feet high.
The party examined the mahogany
frame outside the cage and found the
imprint of some small square sub
stance, probably the head of nail or
tack. That this imprint had been
freshly made was evident. for when
examined under microscope its edges
were found to be sharp and not
away.
The books of the bank were exam
med by an expert accountant. and it
was discovered that each mans ac-
counts were correct. No one had been
loss. The president was
disposed to exonerate Markham. but
1t meeting of the directors it was de
,ided to LAY him off," Markham re-
,eived the information Of this action
With a crushing sensation.
The case was reported to promi-
tent detective agency. with instruc-
lions to work In two directions. 1t
was to consider the imprint on the
and to establish close sur
reliance over every employee. The
,nly information given to it as to
hose who were in the bank outside of
he Enclosure was that a man dressed
ather shabbily had presented check
N another bank at the receiving tell
er's window. He had appeared to be
,tupid when the teller told him that he
lad got into the wrong bank and ask
d a number of irrelevant questions
so far as could be determined. that
nan was the only person in the bank
outside the Enclosure at the time he
presented his check.
One morning not long after the theft
detective employed on the case was
'assing through the lobby of a cheap
lotei. A man sat in an armchair, tap
ling the heel Of his boot with q. cane.
rhe detective heard the cane strike
ONE metallic substance. 1t occurred
o him to ask the hotel clerk who the
nan was. and he was told he belonged
% circus company visiting the town.
he members Of which were stopping
t the hotel.
Past experience on other complicated
asses which had come under his per-
onal observation and the record Of |
rhnes as recorded at headquarters |
made him suspicious Of this man. Des-
crate characters join shows by reason
+ their opportunity for theft.
A combination of thoughts flashed
D upon the detectives brain. He saw
possible solution to the bank theft !
,aking big risk. he had the man ar
ested. Upon examination tack was |
ound in the heel Of the mans boot |
be head Of which exactly correspond i
d with the imprint on the woodwork
{ the bank.
OF course the man was indignant at
is arrest and threatened the detective
nth all the vengeance the law would |
i've him. The receiving teller at the
ank looked at the prisoner. but could
OF say whether he was the man who
resented check on another bank or
OF A hunt through the suspects
pom revealed nothing. A search war.
INT was procured that would enable
constable to go through the circus