THE BOLCHESTER BANK ROBBERY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CI, Issue 15444, 5 September 1914, Page 4

THE BOLCHESTER BANK ROBBERY.

iiV ARTHUR AY. MARCiIMOXT. If the people of Bolehester had been invited to name the ten most linh'kciy n.en in that big northern industrial centre to commit a robbery, the unanimous verdict of all who knew Diclc Mft.iil.-nid would 'ii.'iro plated him very c.:ose to the top of the list. .Rather under middle height, fair and handsome, high-spa'jted "and clever, with very winn.ng manners, a musician having an exccJent tenor voice., and an amateur actor of marked ability, he knew everybody and was welcome* everywhere, and there was not one of h.s countless friends w'ho would not have been a bio to guarantee liis absolute honestv.

! • Tims the sensation was widespread when lie disappeared from -the Trenchant branch of the Bolehester bank and live thousand pounds were found to be missing at the same time. The amazement of his friends was all tho greater because of his very recent engagement to Elsie Carter, the pretty daughter of .Richard. Carter, the chief proprietor of tho bank before its absoi ption by tho big joint stock concern and now manager of the head office in Bolehester and one of tJio local directors. Elsie was scarcely less popular than Dick himself, wliilo Mr Cartor was known to be a rich man whose fortune would certainly have gone, to tho young couple. Nor was the. sensation confined to Bolehester. It spread all over the north, and oven somo of the London papers treated tho affair to big Headlines and thus stimulated the hue and cry for the missing ybung bank clerk. Tho general opinion at first was that lie- had yielded to sudden temptation; as it transpired that he had been left aiOno at the bank in the afternoon, on tiie plea that he had some work to finish, and had afterwards left tho keys as the manager's houso, as ho had done on more than ono previous occasion. But when the police discovered that ho had made careful arrangements for getting away there was little room for any doubt t!iat tho robbery had been premeditated and deliberately planned. Ho had taken a cab t-o the station, where several acquaintances had spoken to him. and all had noticed that lie was carrying a heavily laden valise. From Holthcster ho had booked to Pressfield and there had eaugjht an express to Glasgow. After that h's movements were shrouded in impenetrable* secrecy and, although the Widest publcity was given to the crime and somo of tho sharpest detectivei in England were put on liis' track, and a reward of £2OO offrt-ed, no clue could' bo px-ked up anywhere.

" The missing money was composed of a. li'g surii in gold, a very large 'number of Co, £lO, and £2O notes, and' a quantity of easily negotiable securities.: an eloquent testimony of thi* shrewdness displaced in the robbery. A few of his former friends held fast t> a belief in his innocence, despito the- glaring proofs, and among these was Klsie. Nothing could ever induce her to believe, that lie was a thief, she declared stoutly, and she aid her father had more hot words in".consequence than for many yciars past. ""I"will never hear his name again/ 7 Els s *,*''• he said angrily.'*' "Hdtiis a thief-*.'*'and if» jfotbt-vetx speak jthe fel'oiV- again, you and 1 I' -will quarrel bcr.'ovisiy." -'"He is innocent, father. I am absolutely sure of him. He is utterly' incapable <>f such a thing as theft" I can't bear to see you so hard against him. - ' " _ 4 'lnnocent'!'' he exclaimed with a spurt- of indignation. "He, was alone in the bank : he knew just where to lay his hands on exactly the money ho wished to take: he lrrnsdf took the keys to Mr Pollock's house; ho was seen to be earryng a heavy grip and 'he hail made* careful plans to get away. What dearer proof could anyone need?''

"I nc?d clearer.'' replied his daughter resolutely. ''lf the facts against him were twenty t-imcis as black I would not believe him guilty. And- I only ■wish with all my heart I could let him know, that I sti!l boiieve in him."

"How dart- you say such a. tiling." "Because .I trust iiiin. father. And it is at;such a time as this wheit one, is. dc-.ad against him that I -would lovo- to show my faith in liim." "I hope you don't talk this, sort- of nonsen&e outside--child?'"- • "Indeed 1 do. I tell everyone that D'lc-k is wrongly accused. I am as proud of him as ever; and only too proud to be able to slhow'my trust in liim when every hand almost is raised against him." "You have never crossed my will in this way before, Klsie." don't want to .crossyou ; but- I want you to '.believe in him. I love Dick w.tli all my heart and soul, and nothing, nothing on earth could; ever shake my confidence in liis absolute innoc.tuiee.

"You arc beside yourself, child; and I warn you solemnly never' to utter his nanm again to me. You pain nie! more tlinil I can say."' i Dick iraitlnnd -had beenmissmg about a fortnight when this conversation) took place and the belief -was generally held i><- then that he Had left the country. Allien another week passed without a s : njiJe clue beiiifr discovered that belief strengthened into a. conviction and the excitement caused by the affair was biyiniiing to die down. Then an incident occurred which set the whole town ta!k-'ng about it again. A letter appeared in the evening papers signed "Dick Maitland." ' I ask all my friends in Bolchester to withhold judgment upon me in conmction with the hank affair. It is reported thnt 1 havo left the country. 1 have not even attempted to leave. I am still in Bolchester and sKiall remain here until my object is gained."

Instantly the public interest; in the a (I'll?r was as keen a* ever. The original of the letter was inspected by the bank people, and the handwriting pronounced to be Dick's; .7. fact which the paperr, went prompt to announce. All sorts of suggestions were hazarded as to what tsie mysterious object could be.

The letter. while rallying some of his friends who had wavered, eausdd the ptilieo to redouble their efforts to trace him. "Without any success, however; and a. weds later another appeared—a longer one. ■ 'T know tiiat many people behevo t'iiat. I am a thief," it ran; "but I am not. It' I were, however, should I lie alone to blamer I was a clerk in the Holchester bank for several years; I did my duty faithfully and well' for all that time, I was constantly praised by those who had to supervise my work ; and I was paid—how much ? Twenty, live shillings a week! Less than the waee of a dock labouriT. I Twenty-live shillings a week! And left ■ alone in tho hank frequently with easy opportunities of taking even » b'^e'amount than five thousand pounds! No blame for this attaches to this local mr.najjers. Mr Carter used to nay far better salaries when t-lie bank was a private <oncoin. and has always opposed the policy of stint. He knows the dandier of allowing larixe sums of money to pass through the hands of men who are paid loss than a mill hand and are yet expected to live and dress like aontlcinen. Whose at the fault? Ohvious'v the new directors. And the reason? Kqually obvious—dividends. These are at" the rate of tifleen to twenty per cent, upon the subscribed capita!; large amounts are carried to reserve and Iva; sums yearly to the secret reserve. TCie bank :s rich and prospei ous. but. tho prosperity achieved by this policy of stint. I am denounet.il as a thief: but I answer I that ilio real responsibility lies with

the directors. 1 charge tho bank with ni(•;1in; its employees to dishonesty by 11 i.' 1 system oI under paymorit. A j most scr.oiis matter for sharifholders i,and customers alike. I know the stmgI nig itch of temptation, for I have seen its stealthy iniluenco at work anion si my fellow clerks. Think of it. It vss in mv power by a simple act of dishonesty to take suck a sum. of monov as would provide me for life witii an income four times as great as the paltry salary that was na~d to inc to keep honest, and to get clear :',way without tlie slightest lour of discovery. lliis second letter made &n eve-n deeper impress-on in Bolehester than the first. Concern was ad U-d to r h-> mere surprise and excitement. There was truth in Dick's charge; .u.d oil all sides t'he policy of cie Lank vas eagerly canvassed. No ono was more excited than Elsie, who spoke to hen; father about it once; only to find him more bitter than ever.

"Ho is a thief. Elsie; nothing else. He is.trying to cover his crime with this tirade against the bank. It only aggravates his offence," lie 'replied angrily. "Is what ho says true, father?" "To a certain extent, yes. But that is no excuse for theft. If anyone is dissatisfied with his position 'in the bank, he can always leave," declared Mr Carter, voicing tho conventional attitude of Onploycrs in such a case. "Dick is not a thief, father," she re-' plied with the quiet insistence of conviction. 'Tf lie were, he would hare left tho country as everyone thought ho had. Ho would not have stopped"in Bolehester. You will see." "I hopo I shall isco him in cool," growled the banker. "I nevcU- came across such insolent bravado in all my life- First to rob the bank and then to try and do us all tho injury he can in this way." "But if it is the truth, father, why is it insolent to tell it?" "You aro talk'ng of things you don't understand, child." "Everyone is talking of thorn, dciar, and saying what I say—even these who believe that. Dick took this wretched money." "Do you suppose I doirt know it? His sole object is to stir im a prejudicei aga ; nst the bank so that public f exiting shall bo on his s:dc when he is caught and .prosecuted, as he will be." "But you don't think it right that tho clerks should bo underpaid ?" "Hold your tongue, Elsie. I can't discuss , tho affairs of the bank with you."

"At a,ll events it w.:11 assist you in vour efforts to get the clerks better' paid, lather/' "Do you think I want the assistance , of a tliiefr'" he retorted indignantly, but there was more anger than truth, in tho retort; for ' the directors wcreafready considering the matter secretly, at -his instance as the result of the: feeling caused by Dick's letter. Soma very influential men, both shareholders and customers, had beeu asking pertinent questions and Avero bring.no; pressure to bear, which was likea- to yield significant results, 'especially when Dick wrote, a third letter setting forth in detail many of -the salaries paid. As, moreover, the proprietor of one of the papers had a grudge against the bank, some editor;aL comments"upon toe disclosures were written in very unsparing terms; and an acrimonious correspondence followed, in which .the v.ho.e affair was discussed from. aii points of v:ew. More than that, just when tho local interest, had beeu, stimulated in this way an' enterprising London pressman came to Bolcliester to write the mat-ter-up.

Bitterly incensed by .this publicity, the bank directors doubled liie reward for Dick's apprehension. Ho took., up tliet challenge instantly and replied with a. last letter in which to the mystification of everyone' concerned, lie showed that he was in a postion to learn even the secret deliberations of the directors. ■ N "'.Kie directors of the bank have taken two steps which aro to be judged side by side. Determined to regard me as a thief they have doubled the price on my head, making it £SOO, hoping, no doubt, to punish me for the . attention I have drawn to their policy to stint. But at the same time they have prepared m secret a scheme for liicreusing the salaries of many of their staff!' Th.s is tho direct result of my action; for tho pressure employed by many influential shareholders and customers is duo solely to my exposure of tho fact that an underpaid clerk of the, bank can not only disappear and baffleall attempts at but can also cause the simultaneous disappearance of such a large sum as £5000.' As my object has now bec-n obtained I am satisfied.

"A term of imprisonment, if these gentlemen persist in prosecuting me for teaching them -wisdom and exposing their blunders, will bit a very "slight thing to me compared with the end I: have gained. This is Wednesday, and before tho close of tho week "every-; tiling will bci cleared up. Incidentally; I shall render the directors a. last service. I sha!! save them the expenditure of the £SOO reward by coming forward voluntarily." This annoviKfcement increased the gdneral excitement a huhdredfo'd and all Bolchoster was on the tip-too of curiosity and speculation as to the

manner in which Dick would make good his promise. With tho exception of lilsio no one was more c-orioerncd than Mr Carter; and tliey wcro together on tho Friday night, both full of the subject and unable to think of anything else, but at tho same time unwilling to risk another quarrel by any open reference to it.

Mr Carter was endeavouring to in-t-eicst himself in the evening paper, and E'.sie was playing with some fancy work, when the servant came in with a card.

" Oliss Clara Typist,' " exclaimed Mr Carter, reading the card. "I don't want to see her, Evans. Say I'm engaged." "She said she wished to sc>e both you and Miss Elsie, sir."

"Nonsense. I can't see anyone at such a time." ' 'Surely you will not refuse to see me Mr Carter?"

It was' Dick, and - with a glad cry of his name, Elaie rushed to hiih and put botfli lier hands in his, her delight as intense as her father's surprise. "Come away from that rascal's side, Elsie," thundered Mr Carter. But she did not. obey leaving he-r hand in Dick's "and keeping close to him.

"My place is here, father," she said lirmly. "You trust me still, dearest?" asked Dick, his eyes lighting with lore. "With.all my heart, Dick,'' and braving liar father's anger she kissed him. else matters - now," he whispered with .a glad smile. "We shall see about that," cried Mr Carter furiously, as ho rang the bell. "If that is to send for , the police. Mr Carter, you had better hear what I have to say first. I shall not make the least attempt to, escape. I have come to explain everything." There was a pause, as Elsie looked appealingly to heir father; and when the servant came lie sent her away again. ■ -

"Thank you, father," said Elsie, witth a sigh of relief.

"Of course you know." Ixo said to Dick, "that I cannot hear anything you choose to say in confidence/' ''l an;,perfectly aware of that. But I Tiavb absolutely nothing W .conceal now. Your attitude shows that tou regard nie as A thief?" "Yes." answered the elder man bluntly.

"Yet you have known me for some veal's, Toil believed me worthy of Elsie, you • and others have repeatedly praised riiv work in the hack, you havo abundant proofs of my honesty, and had-marked mo out for promotion. Are all these considerations n.crtliin<r to you compared with the apparent "evidence against me in this affair?"

"Nothing—-nothing at all. I judge by the facts. You were alone in the bank; vOiea Mr Pollocik left you there, the money was intact; you disappeared anc.. t.aa money was theft missing; you had prepared very'carefully the means of •escape, ■ thus showing that you had premnditated the robbery. If "vou are not- the thief, who is?" "It is all true, except on one pc'int. I had planned very .carefully all the steps I intended; to take. : 1 left the trail of my movements purposely plain as IrMsfield,.intending that they .should;; be known. • I booked-for Glasgow as y6u know, but- left tine train at the first stopping, pl'ace and instantly' returned •to Boichester.- I had pre-' ;pSi'ed iVji-that. As Miss Ciara. Wnt<m, a fcyp'st, I had taken rooms in "W'shart Street, No. 37, and had also secured in advance a sfittiation. as a girl typist with Mr Gregory, oneof.the directors, and I'have been at his office every day s.nce. lam an amatour actor, you may remember, arid file part was easy to play. I c'aiii© her© this evening iii my disguise and 'have only just carded it. It was from Mr' Gregory's inadvertent statements that J. learnt what the Boal ; d, intended to. do." "All this only blackens the case against .ypu,fj interposed Mr Carter, axigrily. -"It -proved .premeditation tc the liilt."

"You are mistaken. There is no case against me," replied Dick with, a confident . siuil'e." ''l will'show you that directly; But I 'wish first to appeal to you to renew your, old confidence. You know, of course,., that I have many friends in Bolohestef; "1 'was trusted at the bank; 1 was engaged .to Elsie; and I enjoyed and deserved the reputation of being an honest man. I limy be no saint; but do you thick I am such a fcol as to blacken my life, wreck my future,' and even lose Elsie for the sake of a sum of money that is no longer of the least account to me? .iLven if you doubt my integrity sir, don't set mo down as 'a, luna.tic.

Mr Carter smiled .scornfully. ' 'Fire thousand pounds if no account to you when your salary was 25s a week !'' "A month before I left the bank my mother's sister died and left me £50,000, Mr Carter. ' Pc.iiin,%- ttiiat fact will influence your opinion." "It dotesn't- alter the other facts." "It . heightens the. improbability that a man would steal £oG(k) when, he possesses ten times that amount. 1 ' "If you. do possess it.' 1 Dick's face hardened, and he paused before replying. "It is not my hab:t.t'l lie,- sir. But-yoii.'are-JO-'sio's father,, and it is my wish to conv'-nce yoit. Hero is the letter from the solicitors in the mater;" and he held it out. Mr Carter read it. aid under the pretence of studying it> tried to conceal the fact that, his /former opinionwas verymuch influenced indeed. . "I don't uderstand it.'.', he exclaimed at length with a sigh of perplexity. ... Dick's faco lighted and he smiled. "Comej sir, admit that you don't now believe I aiii : a thief. I am not. 1 -give you my. word of honour that there is not the least ieason> except that I have attacked the bank's policy—a pokcv which I know you do not" approve—why ..you should not- take my hand -as. readily as before all tihis occurred." and lie held it out. •Father! ' appealed E'sie. But Mr- Carter made 110 response. "1 must, know more first," he said. "Where-is tile, monev vou took?"

D:ck shook h:s head- "I must first know where I stand, Mr Carter. A warrant has. beeli issued for my arrest; and all that business must be stopped 'Jhat is que thing. The second is that I must be ireo tbi resume ir.v post at the Trencham branch. That is necessary in order that people in Bolchester must be reassured about nis."

_". You think yourself in a position to distate terms, then?" '.'l don't think it. I know it, Mr Cartel 1 , I hare a complete answer to this charge; alid one which wilL coyer the bank with ridicule. I have no quarrel of that' sort with the directors. My purpose was to give them an object lesson,, of the danger of underpaying tile staff. That is to be remedied arid, a,s far as I am concerned, the matter is at an end."'

Mr Carter sat staring'' thoughtfully into the fire for two or three minutes "I cannot, do anything on my own authority," ho said then.

"I ha;ve provided for tiliat. I telephoned to Mr Gregory after lie had left li'is office to-day, using your name and asking him to" come here at nine o'clock and bring two of the other directors with him." ''You used my name?" cried the elder man indiguantly. "I could not use my own and I know yon would have to see them." "I sihaM not interfere. Things must take their course," declared the banker.

There was a pause, and during the silence Mr Gregory's card was brought to the banker. "They are here now," lie said, rising. "One word before you go to them. If I am not to be reinstated at the bank —I should not remain here more than a week or so —I shall go stra : ght from here to the pocce station and surrender. It will then be too late for the Board'to avoid the ridicule of such a fiasco as my prosecution." Mr Carter replied with a gesture of irritut'en; " I am going to them.

You" will remain here, of course. You cannot leave the house, indeed." "And Elsie?" asked Dick, again. °°

"•She has already decided for 'herself," was the answer as Mr Carter hurried out. The instant the door closed behind him Elsie was in her lover's. arms, and there was no need for Dick to ask what her decision had been. ' . ".

''lt (has been a terrible time, Dick. Father was mad against you." • ''He is a bank manager, and naturally took the bank view." "He positively threatened to disown mo if I ever spoke to you again. 5 ' '"Brave little girlie. Well you shall have some recompense now. You shall go and tell them the truth."

"They are all determned to put- vou m prison." "But there is nothing to imprison me for," and Dick laughed. I am as much puzzled as mv father, Dick."

'Tlieri I'll un-puzzle you. 1 did not take one halfpenny from tlfo bank. All that I did was to hide .it in the hank itself. • I often stayed late; you know, and I took up one of the hoards under the counter and put the. money there. And it's there now. Of course, they did just what; I intended and jumped to the conclusion that I had stolen it. You may go and teil them; and then: even they'll be able to see what silly f?o.s they will all look if the prosecution is. not prevented. And you can say that lam quite ready to go and ipoint out the hiding place. But mind,[ only oji one condition that I am to return to work to-morrow."

Elsc'e ran off at once in high spirits. a.nd Dick sat looking"into the fire, with a quizzical smile completely , at? ease as to the result until she returned, her pretty face beaming with delight. '■' You've won, Dick, hand's down. Father was splendid. He's getting ready to go with you to the Trench am branch, and the others will meCi; vou there with Mr Pollock." ; "Then we'd' better make the .most of our time, dearest," he answered; and they made -so much its© of it : that they were only just able to jump apartas Mr Carter came hurrying inv ■ • . The directors saw the" advisability of settling ,the matter as Dick des'red." Ho was;diuly reinstated: and a. statement was -"ssued to the'effect that the whole matter had arisen through a mistake—that Dick had had to go away hurriedly because he' had "come' into a largo sum of money and, not having tile keys of the safe, had put the money of' the. bank ,in a hid'ng-place; that he had now resumed Ik's position in the bank; and that the directors desired to express their great regret for the unfortunate error they had made and the injustice they had*done him. i The announcement of the early/ date of Elsie's and his marriage followed on. the next day ; and in this way his justification was complete. Moreover, the revision of the cTei-ks' salaries was carried out", in time t<> admit- of -the ; r wedding- presents-..-heing among the handsomest which thp. young couple received.—Birmingham "Weekly Post."