The Elk Mountain pilot., 1916-10-19

1 Stracting such amounts every day.
The bank accountants were soon able
to demonstrate the method of these
distractions. The bookkeeper would
give check against his own account
to some individual in Boston and that
individual would deposit it for collec-
tion. 1t would be sent through the
clearing house and eventually reach
the bank in cambridge. The book.
keeper was always early at the bank
| when any such checks were expected
from the clearing house. He opened
the letters transmitting them. turn
ing the statement OF the total amount
| represented over to the cashier that
a check might be sent by him to the
clearing house. 1t was the province of
the bookkeeper to enter the individ-
ual checks against the accounts rep
resented. When he reached his own
personal check, he charged it to some
one of the inactive accounts instead
of his own and destroyed it. So had
he taken 100000.
| But the immediate task in hand fell
| to Billy Gard. 1t was the apprehen-
sion of the fugitive and the recovery.
if possible, of all or part of the money
taken. 1t was in the course of the
| performance of this duty that the
'ramifications of this case which give
it a place among the most unique and
complete crimes of the age were de-
veloped.
While accountants were revealing
the methods used inside the bank in
getting hold of the money, Gard was
busy outside. Tollman, having dis
appeared, was to be traced. The first
step was to establish his habits. to
find his associates. To the expert
| enced special agent the groundwork
of case of this sort unfolds almost
of itself There were the people who
knew him best in cambridge, for in
stance. They told Gard that the young
ster had broken away, of late. from
| the friends of his youth. He was be-
| lieved to have gone to Boston for his
| pleasures. He had big red automo-
bile which. it was supposed, he had
bought with the money of his inherit
| ance and in which he drove away prac
tically every night. Through the whole
of the last year of his peculations.
Tollman. the twelve-dollar-a-week
|
the bank in this car.
| In Boston Gard picked up the clues.
Tollman was well known at certain ho-
tells and cafes. At one hotel which
was a rendezvous for sporting peo-
pie he regularly called upon a very
dashing young woman who was regis
tered as Laura 0atewood. 1t was at
this same hotel that he became ac-
Quainted with an accomplished indi-
vidual known as John II. Mansfield,
who was well known about McDou-
gals Tap. in Columbia avenue, and
whose livelihood was secured through
alleged games of chance. Miss Gate
wood also introduced Tollman to a
Mrs. Siddons, an especial friend of
Mansfield, who maintained cozy lit
of Boston, and who had, in q dress
suit case. a portable faro outfit which
could be set up in her rooms upon oc-
casion. There was also Edward T.
Walls. large and dominant man.
who had, OF late, found poker playing
on transatlantic liners a rather pre-
carious calling. But, finally, Miss
Gatewood arranged meetings between
Tollman and big Bill Kelliner, who
lived in Winthrop, not far away, was
in the Wholesale liquor business,
in politics, and. as afterward de.
veloped, was a dominating spirit in the
faro gang"
With the development of the friend
ship with Kelliner began the trips tc
New York. These two would meet
two or three times a week at the
Back Bay station and together take
the train for New York. So fire.
quent were these trips that the mem
bers of the train crews came to be
well acquainted with the men, and to
know something of their movements.
They gave clues to the hotels in New
York at which these travellers stayed
and this led to their Identification by
hotel clerks and other facts as to
their associates. Eventually all this
led to a certain house in West Twen'
ty-eighth street and a consultation
with the New York police as to its
character.
1t developed that in this house there
was always running. on evenings when
Kelliner and Tollman came to New
FORK, a faro game. Here kelliner
gambled and at first won and induced
Tollman to try his luck. The young
ster was allowed to win prodigiously
Again he would lose, but not enough
to frighten him away. So was the
craze for gambling developed in the
bookkeeper. But eventually he los,
, what was left OF his inheritance. UT
} to this time he was honest. But al
: the suggestion of Kelliner he stole
: from the bank to make good his losses
He lost again, and was in the mill
There was no chance of escape but
fhrpurh stealing mora Of the hank