The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-09-06
TRUE ---r
DETECTIVE
by ss ePubiic L~'s
The Great Express Com
pany Robbery

| hho III the early e1ghIleS tndt ont
OF the cleverest crooks In the coun
try stood outside of the wired enclos
ure OF an Adams express office ant
looked longingly at package of bank
notes on a shelf beyond his reach.
1t was near the noon hour and most
OF the clerks were preparing to &c
out for lunch.
The crook noticed that some of them
wore linen busters and that when they
left the enclosure they doffed these of.
ice coats and tossed them to one side
1t did not take this gentleman long
to come TO his determination.
The door leading to the enclosure
was partly opened.
He slipped inside and, tossing bis
hat Into a corner. hastily put on an
lnk-smeared linen buster that had been
discarded.
He stuck pen behind his ear and
In. that guIse readily resembled one
OF the regular clerks.
He was In the enclosure less than
minute, and when he departed he
carried with him package of bonds
which was estimated to be worth $10,.
600.
A few days after this II was report
ed that man entered one OF the old.
est and wealthiest banks In the city
OF Philadelphia, and by means of a
sharpened umbrella pulled out q pack
age of money from behind one of the
grilled windows and made his escape
with It,
The sum was placed at $1,000, but
that was the least part of 1t.
The audaclty OF the theft was what
caused CONSERVATION In the financial
district. H.
II such things were possible. then
no institution would be safe.
These two cases were much talked
about. and they were especially inter
esting to Francis Kelly, the famous
bank detective who patroled the finan
cial district In Philadelphia and whose
beat Included the custom house, the
sub-treasury and the famous banking
house OF Drexel Co.. the Philadel.
phia branch Of Drexel, Morgan 4 Co.
Kelly WAS not only keen student
OF human nature, but he knew the
ways of the get-rich-quick members of
the criminal fraternity.
He discussed the matter with one Of
his associates.
I'D be willing to stake my reputa-
ton on the fact that both OF these
Jobs were done by Chauncey John
son." he said. II know his methods
like a book and don't know another
man In the United States who could
have pulled them of as neatly as
Johnson"
Kelly had been In the United States
secret service and had also been chief
OF detectives In Philadelphia, but at
that time was In the employ of the
houses In the financial district.
He acted. as he often said, as q
preventive"
The bank crooks knew that he was
on the Job there, and as consequence
they gave that section a pretty wide
berth.
But the moth will hover around the
flame, and one morning Kelly noticed
rather striking blocking man In the
neighborhood of the Drexel bank.
Thu Jatn ntiua vvo q b "A }fv,. fnp e<Y,1n
moments, and presently the man en-
tered the portals OF the bank. Kelly
walked up to him and touched him
on the shoulder.
"Good-morning, Chauncey." he said
familiarly, what are you doing here7'
u don't know you" was the gruff
reply, "and that's not my name.r
why" Was the cheerful reply, "ev-
erybody knows Chauncey Johnson. and
I'm somebody"
1t was impossible to braxen 1t out
any longer, and the famous bank rob-
Der admitted his identity.
He insisted, however. that he had no
evil intentions on this particular bank
and had walked In for the purpose of
looking at the large oil painting OF
the founder of the house.
The explanation was accepted, but
the man was taken into custody and
lodged In the city hall.
Later he was escorted to New York,
where 1t was said that he was wanted
for the Adams Express company rob
berry.
The moral Ia that 1t Ia dangerous to
take too many chances-even II you
are at the head OF your profession.
WNU Service.