davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Southern herald., 1916-09-29

the methods Of the sleuths Of the de-
partment Of justice. Gard had come
to New Beaufort with but a suspicion
that Torrance, the assistant cashier,
was playing the market on the funds
of the bank. Lorance was known to
be placing orders with Wall street
broker.
At the boarding house Gard learned
that Torrance lived modestly in a cot
tage with his wife and babies had not
been seen to make any display OF
money, was of sturdy farmer stock. On
the other hand the investigator imme-
diately picked up the facts that the
cashier, Compton, maintained an ex-
pensiYe establishment, entertained Law
ishIy, was often absent from town,
was nervous, highstrung, in bad
health.
All these facts led him to watch the
cashier rather than his assistant. They
led him, also, to some experimental
testing Of the condition Of the banks
accounts. He knew that dishonest
employee of a bank, in appropriating
money, had to charge it to some ac-
count to make the books balance. The
large, inactive accounts offer a most
tempting opportunity of this sort; but
these were found to be intact by his
ruse of inducing the depositors to call
for their balances.
It was to get better line on the
business of the community, and par
ticularly upon the accounts of Comp
ton, that the special agent secured a
position as bOokkeeper in joys
grocery store. Here he found, in the
first place, that the buying for the
Compton home was most profigate
and evidently wasteful. He found,
further, that the bills we're always
paid without question and by check.
Knowing Of an old trick that has
brought many cashier to ruin, Gard
sought a way to test these personal
checks to determine whether or not
they actually found their way to the
personal account of the cashier.
The cashier Of bank is usually the
individual who opens the mail, and
many Of these have been known to
cash personal checks and destroy them
when they came in for collection
charging the amount to some account
where 1t might temporarily be hidden.
To determine whether or not these
personal checks we're being juggled by
the cashier Gard, as the grocer's book
keeper, found pretext to send to the
bank for a record of some personal
checks of Compton's which he had
handled a few days earlier. The call
was made while Compton was out to
The Southern herald., 1916-09-29
AN ODD ITEM OF SLANG
Why ls a Person Of Dubious Men,
tallty Referred To as a
"NutT

Who can expOund the philosophy of
slang? Why, for instance, is a person
OF dubious mentality referred to as a
"nut| Nuts are good. There is moth
ing, probably, more enjoyable than nut
ting. 1t is the autumn's one greatest
happiness.
dereabouts there are two chief nuts,
and two lesser nuts and one least nut
observes the Cleveland Plain Dealer
The chief nuts are the hickory nut and
the chestnut. The hickory nut is com.
monest and 1t is good nut, despite its
rugged exterior and its propensity to
hide its sweetness in difficult woody
crannies and labyrinths. The house
wife desires hickory nuts for her cakes
The small boy likes hickory nuts for
the pleasure of calculating their mys-
teries with hammer and flatiron. They
are worth gathering.
The chestnut is of more apparent
virtue. 1t is all meat It may be used
for turkey dressing and it is used
abundantly by dOrk-skinned Syrian
genli who preside over magic braziers
in the odd Crannies of our busiest
streets. Everyone probably more or
less likes the chestnut. It is easy to
eat and so per cent nourishment.
The lesser nuts are the walnut and
the butternut. These are fewer in
number than the chief nuts and they
have horrifc rinds which must be pene-
trated with caution. The reward, too,
Is meager' scarcely worth the peril of
stained and smashed fingers.
The least nut is the beechnut. It is
a pretty little nut, and there are beech
nut brands of this or that comestible,
but no one ever seriously goes out to
The Southern herald., 1916-09-29

lunch, and the checks could not be
found. Through another dealer Gard
succeeded in getting a second similar
request made with the same results.
He concluded that Compton was at
least juggling his personal account
and charging the amount of his per-
sonal checks to some other account,
probably loans and discounts.
In various ways the special agent
found opportunities, even without see
ing the books Of the bank, of dem.
onstrating to his satisfaction that the
accounts were being juggled. This
was particularly true of new deposits.
When a cashier is particularly hard
pressed he may resort to manipula-
tion OF the accounts Of current depos-
itors. The system is the simplest in
the world. When depositor hands in
his money, the cashier enters the
amount in the pass book Of that indi-
vidual as a receipt. Then, instead of
entering the money to the depositor's
credit, the cashier puts 1t in his pocket.
Thus there is nothing to show for the
transaction but the entry in the pass
book, and that may not be presented
for a long time. The cashier chooses
for spoliation the accounts that it ia
least likely about which inquiries will
be made. AS far as the books Of the
bank are concerned they are as though
the deposit had never been made, and
the bank examiner, therefore, has no
way Of discovering the shortage.
Gard. through the store for which
The Southern herald., 1916-09-29

he had smoked and hastily entered the
bankers house. Arriving, he seemed
to know exactly what he wanted. He
hurried through the rooms of the
house, swapping on still more lights
until he found that apartment which
seemed to be the personal retreat of
the owner. Here he evidently had
business Standing in the middle of the
floor he looked about. Thrown care
lessly into window seat he saw two
heavy books Of the appearance of led
gers. These ne secured and placed on
table in the middle of the room with
out even examining them. Next he
began further exploration. When he
found the bankers bedroom he seemed
satisfied. On the back Of chair was
coat, evidently that which Compton
had worn until he dressed for the eve
ming. Gard thrust his hand into the
inside pocket of his coat and pulled
out a batch of letters through which
he ran rapidly. He selected two or
three, thrust them into his pocket, re-
turned for the ledgers, tucked these
under his arm and left the house.
On the way to his lodgings he filed
a telegram to the department at Wash
ington which read as follows:
Compton, cashier In First National
bank case, guilty Torrance probably
not implicated. Bank burned tonight
by accomplices of Compton. Case com
plete. GARD.n
The manner in which these conclu-
sions we're reached are but typical Of
The Southern herald., 1916-09-29

he worked, made several deposits, and,
upon one pretext and another, sent to
the assistant cashier Of the bank for
the record of them in the absence Of
Compton. They did not show on the
account Of the grocery store and the
matter was passed over as a misun-
derstanding. But so was second ave-
nue. Of misappropriation discovered.
Thus was the special agent able
from the outside to get very good
leads into the condition of the bank
and to determine the manner of its
looting when the facts might not have
been obtainable by an expert working
from the inside.
Cards case was about completed
and the department was ready to act
when the dramatic denouement came.
Arson, suicide and flight are the three
events most to be expected when the
funds of a bank have been misappro-
priated. The young special agent was
watching for any of these at the time
Of the anniversary party given by the
banker. 1t was in preparation for
either that he watched so late on that
occasion.
On the afternoon which preceded
the entertainment Gard was working
over his books at the store and at the
same time keeping an eye on the
bank. An hour after closing time at
the bank he saw Compton come out
of the side door with two books Of the
institution under his arm. He could
make out that one was loans and dis
counts. He surmised that they might
be records that were to be destroyed
probably the books that showed his
guilt.
When from the hillside Gard that
night saw the silent car stop back of
the bank and the flames subsequently
break out, he knew what had hap.
pened. These were accompllces of the
cashier who had probably looted the
bank Of any remaining funds and, ac-
The Southern herald., 1916-09-29

cording to agreement, had set 1t On
fire that the incriminating records Of
the cashier might be destroyed. The
willy cashier, however, had made sure
that the books that showed his guilt
would not be found, in case the plan
was not an entire success. He had re.
moved them himself, but had not as
yet destroyed them for he saw no
probability Of coming under immediate
suspicion. Likewise had he neglected
to destroy certain correspondents that
later connected him with the parties
found to have committed the arson.
The books taken from the bankers
house were found to be the personal
ledger wherein should have been en-.
tered deposits, and the loans and dis.
counts ledger in which account Comp
ton had entered the amounts repre-
senting all his personal checks. This
latter was the account that had dWet
in the mind Of Newton, the bank ex'
aminer. The letters that Gard had
found in the bankers pockets, though
unsigned and mysterlously phrased,
were later traced to the Dutch SHREDDER
gang. They proved great aid to Nc
Cord, the plain-clothes man. who had
slept peacefully through all the clamor
incident to the burning of the bank,
but who, through them, was able to
trace the burglars.
Compton went to pieces when con.
fronted with the proof that his derelic'
tions had been found out When his
townspeople came to know the facts
on the following day, they stormed the
jail and threatened to lynch him. SO
determined was their onslaught that
the sheriff spirited the prisoner away
In desperation he confessed his crimes
and exonerated Torrance, the assistant
cashier, who in playing the market had
only executed the orders Of his su'
perior. Compton lived but six months
after his conviction and sentence to
ten years in the penitentiary at At
lanta.
The Southern herald., 1916-09-29

partment OF justice, was one Of the
few men in the town who was awake
except those who had been guests of
the banker and who had fingered to an
hour which was almost unprecedented
in New Beaufort. They would have
gone home at eleven but the banker
insisted that they remain for further
entertainment on the part of his New
York musicians. One song called forth
another and the quality Of the music
proved so much more pleasing than
that Of their customary local talent
that they forgot the passing of time.
The special agent sat on hill near
the Compton home and smoked pipe.
It was twelve o'clock before the
party finally broke up Those of the
townspeople who had come in their au.
tomobiles were being tucked into the
tonneaus, and those who mad walked
up the gray macadam drive were just
setting out on foot when the clatter as
of a bunch of giant fire crackers called
their attention to the village below.
From the bank building was seen sud
denly to burst cloud Of smoke while,
a moment later, skylight was broken
and tongue Of fame leaped forth.
Fire! Fire!" came the shout from
a dozen voices.
Gard had seen more than had the
guests of the banker. AS he smoked
his pipe and watched the village be-
low, the lights in the windows of Stone
Crest, and the silent cottage of Lor-
ance. the assistant cashier, he had
seen an automobile, with no lamp
showing, creep through the quiet back
street, purr stealthily into the alley
back of the bank and stop behind a
small building that shut off his view.
Half an hour passed and the darkened
machine reappeared from behind the
intervening building, turned into the
thoroughfare leading to the southeast
and disappeared in the distance at an
ever increasing rate of speed.
When the exploding cartridges in
the cashiers drawer at the bank gave
the first warning of the fire, the clamor
of the alarm followed and pande-
monium broke out in the village. OF
the dispensing group on the hill, every
one ran for a nearer view of the fire.
FVsN
ter of the house himself, all hurried
into the village to make part Of the ex-
citement that prevailed. Stone Crest,
the lights of its entertainment still
glowing, was left deserted.
Gard, the special agent, again acted
differently from his fellows by failing
to do the thing which others did. He
crossed over from the hill on which
The Southern herald., 1916-09-29

collect beechnuts. They are too small
game for the American nutter.
But all the nuts are honorable. They
do not deserve the slang opprObrium
which has been put upon them. There
is some sense in calling an undesirable
person "lemOn" or "Quince" or even
4 "perslmmon," but never nut
Nut" should be term of solid honor
The Southern herald., 1916-09-29

To prevent sklddlng and slipping
damp weather the streets of San " r.
cisco are sanded by machine mount
on a motor truck.
Arizona republican., 1916-03-10
Heavy Guards Patrol Co. lumbus and vicinity Fear ing Attempt on Part of Villa to Make Another Surprise Assault
Republican A. p. Leased Wirel

COLUMBUS, March 9-American border patrols, New Mexico cowboys and civilians were alert tonight against another surprise attack by Francisco Villas Mexican bandits. Heavy guards na- trolled Columbus and vicinity
 Approximately a50 troopers under Majors Frank Tompkins and H. l.. Lindsiey, who pursued the Villa ban dits to q point five miles south of the borGer were halted when Nilln threw out a heavy rear guard which checked the American forces. Mean While the main body of bandits were thought to have retreated into the Mexican hills, presumably making for the Bac" Glande river, Ire nearest water.
 The possibility of further attack was admitted frankly by military au- thoritits. who commented upon what Was termed q Villa ruse in arranging to send here yesterday what is be- lieVed to have been a fake telegram This dispatch ostensibIr vas sent by tie American manager of the Palonla < Cattle company. It was stated that Villa had reached the Nogales ranch. in Chihuahua, more than sixty miles southwest of Columbus and that Villa personally was at the ranch house.
 This message came about o'clock in the afternoon. About that same hoHr, with mon refreshed and feasted on stolen cattle Lad begun his march [" Haco G"ande to attack Columbus. That the town was not taken and sacked and its inhabitants slaughtered was attributed To the fact that his meA served him only through fear and would not stand under the well directed fire of the American troop CTS.
 Commenting on the situation Colo (ContinueG on Page Sevea)
Arizona republican., 1916-03-10
WASHINGTON STANDS50UARELY BEHIND GENERAL SLOCUM IN
 SENDING TROOPS AFTER VILLA
Republican A. p. Leased WireJ

WASHINGTON, March s.-Wash- ington stands squarely behind Colonel Slocum in sending his cavalrymen in- to Mexico in pursuit of Francisco Villa and bis band of outloWs who raided Columbus. \. M., today, mur- Ge1ing American soldiers and citizens and firing the town.
 Tonight Secretary Lansing informed the de facto government of Mexico through Eliseo Arredondo, its am hassador designate here, that he trusted no objection would be made to the action of the American troops, they having followed what is known in military circles as q hot trail No orders have been issued for the return ot the soldiers and it is not probable any will be issued for the present.
 Shocked Indignation occasioned by news of Villas outrage quickly was succeeded by undissuised satisfaction in official and congressional circles over the Knowledge that after three years of patient forbearance United States troops actually were on MeXi- can soil to aVcnge the death of tlfeir comrades and to bring to justice the outlaws whose delredations have ter ro"ized Americans on both sides Of tho border.
 fCoutinDf1 on Page EIVcb
Arizona republican., 1916-03-10
Republican A. p. Leased Wirel

COLUMBUS, \. M., March g. Bodies burned in the Commercial ho- tel were identified as Charles De Witt Miller, Albuquerque: Dr. H. NJ. Hart, cattle inspector from Fl Paso: ". A Davidson. member Company K, Texas Guard, Fl PasO.
 Miller was identified by fraternity ring. Hart was known to have been in the hotel and has not been seen since. Only charred fragments of the bodies were recovered.
 <. H. .Burchfield, cattleman from Fl Paso. was a guest at the Com mercial hotel when it was raidad and burned. The MeXicans robbed him of s250, his watch and iewelry, hut while they quarreled over the di- vision of the booty Burchfield escaped
 Mrs. 4. l.. Riggs was barricaded in her home adjoining the customs house during the fighting, with her three children, one small baby. To pre- bent the baby's crying and thus be- tray their presence to the bandits, Mrs. Riggs stuffed a pillow case in the chid's mouth
Arizona republican., 1916-03-10
Gov. C0lles WiU Supervise
 Cambagn Against Villa

V ere available for this purpose.
 A special representative of the da facto Mexican government will be sent to Columbus to make 3 full investiga- ton nf Nilla's raid on thaf town, Gen cral Gales said.
 II am anxious tO do all in my power to ayense this murder" he added.
 General Gales cancelled a reception which the townspeople of Agua Prieta had arranged in his honor, stating that he Nas too erieved over the COlum- ius affair to give thought to social enga sements. He went to hotel. where he conferred for two hours with Ives c, LeleVier, the Carranza consul ;it Douslas
 The first American refugees from Sonora were three women who arrived here late today from Fl Tigre min ing camp which first was reported as the objective of Villa and his band when he appeared in western Chihua- hua last Saturday. Others were ey- pected to follow tomorrow.
 Following his conference with Con- sul Lelevier, General Gales stated he lad ordered 1000 infantry to Asua Prieta. They will be used to garrison the mining camps in eastern Sonora. he stated. The soldiers were expected 10 arrive here tomorrow night from \Ogales, Sonora
Arizona republican., 1916-03-10
IRenuslican A. p. Leased Wirel

IReouolican A. p. Leased Wirel
 DOUGLAS, Ariz., March ?.-Goneral r. Elias Callos, military governor of sonora, who arrived at Agua prieta, the Mexican town opposite here late to- day said he had come personally to supervise the campaign against Fran cisco Villa and his forces should they enter Sonora.
 T Will remain until Villa has been Killed, captured or driven into some ether part of Mexico" General Gales stated tonight at his Agua Preta headquarters.
 T have plenty of troops to protect the Scrora border and the mining camps within the state. greatly re- gret Villas raid into Columbus, \. M.. and still more the fact that he escaped.
 'I have nothing to say about what lhe de facto government will do if the United States troops enter Mexico. That is q matter which rests entirely with General CarranZa."
 General Gales said he had ordered the garrisons at Huachinera. HaVispe and BaceIac. Sonora. on the Chihua- hua state border. to mobilize immedi ateiy and make every endeaVor to cut eft Villas retreat into the mountain regions He said over 500 cavalrymen
Arizona republican., 1916-03-10
TROOPS ORDERED OUT ALONG BORDER
TRepubIican A. p. Leased wire]

SAN ANTONIO, March 9.-The Following movement of troops result ing from the border trouble was re- ported tonight from southern depart ment army headquarters;
 "A battalion of infantry has been sent from Fort Bliss. CEl Paso) to Columbus.
 A battalion of infantry, commanded b. Major John D. Bennett. has been sent from Douglas AriZ to Hachita. x. M
 TWO companies of infantry have been sent from Douglas, Ariz., to Slaughters ranch near San Bernahli- nc. IS miles east of Douglas.
 Two companies of infantry have been sent from Douglas. Ariz., to Naco - miles west.
 One company of infantry has been sen. to guard the bridge near San Rernardino. east of Douglas
 Five troops of the Seventh cavalry are moving east from Douglas into the Hachita N M. district
 Six troops of the Tenth cavalry have been sent to Douglas.
 The posting of the infantry com panics at strategic points leaves the cavalry free to concentrate at any point end patrol the border.
Arizona republican., 1916-03-10
U. s. Machine GMMS F0ll
 Amd Vllla Makes Get-Away

who was shot through the chest, says he killed four MeXicans and was rais- ing his rifle to fire at another when a bullet laid him low. He says many of the guns used by the Nillstas were 22 calibre rifles and others were of ancient model The Villa men, he said, were without machine guns
 The fight at Columbus was without quarter on either side. according to Private Johnson.
 T asked the boys if there were any prisoners said Johnson. and they answered that nobody took any. know brained one black Mexican with an axe The Mexicans tough; like devils.
 There were no arms in the hos pital tents and the attendants were
 asleep when attacked. They had to fight with any weapon at hand Lieutenant Clarence C. Benson Troop G, of the Thirteenth cavalry was wounded through the left arm. One of the most seriously wounded of the men who reached Fl Paso is 1 Corporal M Barmazel machine gIr 1 troop who was shot through the neck 1 Other wounded, all of whom Wer, 1 taken to the base hospital at For | Bliss, were:
 1 Private j. C. r. Taylor. Troop F shot through the head serious. 1 Private Theodore Katzorke, Trool L, shot through both legs. 1 Private James Needer, Troop M i shot through the arm.
 | Private James Nenner. Troop K | shot through the chest.
Arizona republican., 1916-03-10

The raid to American territory proved costly to the bandit chieftain. The bodies of eighteen Mexican bandits in oludng Pablo Lopez, second in com hand. had been gathered and burned lefore noon and troopers reported an undetermined number of dead still ly- ing in the brush.
 Led to the attack under the slogan: Death to the Americans Villas fol- lowers fought with desperation. Just before. dawn they crept along ditches .,kirting the United States cavalry camp and rushed the sleeping town, firing heavily.
 The first volley brought American troopers into almost instant action. While a portion of the raiders engaged the cavalry. others detailed by the bandit chicftain began applying the torch and shooting American civilians who ventured from the buildings Lights in homes and public buildings then became targets for snipers posted at Villas direction. Other bandits Clcepng close to American homes en- ticed q number of civilians into the CIen with English spoken invitations. \ number Of fatalities are attributed to this ruse.
 Stores were footed. oil was poured upon frame structures and the match applied by still other bandits The postoffice was raided, furniture smashed. but the looters secured only one small registered package.
 Many civilians barricaded themselves in their homes and fired at the Mexi- cans as they darted through the streets
 The fighting in the town ended al- most as suddenly as it began. Less than two hours after the first shot was heard Villas buglers sounded the retreat and the raiders began a disor dcred flight, closely followed by Ameri- can troopers.
 Three troops of cavalry were posted or thc boundary tonight and battal- ion of infantry with a squadron of the Eighth cavalry from Fort Bliss left Fl lasO late today to reinforce the troops here. With these forces, Colonel Slo- cum said he could handle any further attack which Villa in desperation might decide to make
 Mrs. Maud Hawk Wright an Amer ican woman, who said she Was held captive bN Villa for nine days and was liberated in the midst of today's fight ing. declared late today that on Marct