Democratic Sentinel, Volume 1, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 September 1877 — A MYSTERY IN LAW. [ARTICLE]

A MYSTERY IN LAW.

Curious and Interesting Suit Growing Out of a Mysterious Robbery. [Mt. Vernon (Ill.) Cor. St. Louis Republican.] Within a few days there will come up for trial in the Circuit Court here a curiously interesting case, being the suit of the Mt. Vernon -National Bank against the Adams Express Company, for SB,OOO, which plaintiffs claim to have delivered in June last to defendants, for transmission to the Third National Bank of St. Louis. Wliat has become of this money is unknown to all save the person who stole it The history of this case, as far as developed, is as follows: On the 11th of June the cashier of the Mt. Vernon National Bank counted out $6,000 in greenbacks and $2,000 in national-bank currency, and, placing the whole in one package, braced on each side by a piece of heavy pasteboard, securely tied the same with strong twine, the ends and sides of the bills being, it is said, fully exposed to view. The package was then passed over to Noah Johnson, the President of the bank, and Jeremiah Taylor, a Director, who placed upon it an additional wrapper, tied it with more and stronger twine, and then sealed it. Not satisfied with this, the bank officers named gave it a second wrapper, thicker and stronger than the first, and put on njnre twine and sealing wax. In this apparently-secure shape the package was returned to the cashier, Mr. C. D. Ham, who at once addressed it to the Third National Bank at St. Louis. It was then passed back to Mr. Taylor, the Director above named, who took it to the depot and delivered it to Mr. John T. Saunders, express agent, taking a receipt for the same. When the westward-bound train reached Moufifc Vernon, about half an hour from the time of this transaction, the express agent delivered the package to the express messenger, who in turn gave his receipt therefor. From this point the mystery commences. It being after banking hours when the train reached St. LouiH, the package could not be delivered until 9 next day. It seems, indeed, that it was not until the afternoon of the following day that the Third National Bank received it, and that it was theu placed in their safe and not opened until the next day, the 13tli. It was this last proceeding that disclosed the most ingenious robbery recorded in many a day. The money was found to have disappeared, and in its stead had been placed a lot of brown wrap-ping-paper cut the sizo of bank bills, interlaced all through with tissue paper, the whole being made to resemble the size and shape of the original package as sent to the bank in this city. The pasteboards were, however, gone, and the package tied with different twine from that used by the Mount Vernon Bank. The inside wrapper was also gone, though the outside one, with the address in the handwriting of the cashier of the Mount Vernon Bank, had apparently been undisturbed, it requiring considerable scrutiny to detect any tampering with the seals. This is the most remarkable feature of the affair, and shows the most- consummate skill of the hands employed in it. There are numerous theories advanced on the subject, but no good purpose could be served by making newspaper mention of these on the eve.of the trial, in which the whole matter will be sifted to the bottom. The Mount Vernon Bank sues for $<3,000 stolen funds and for $4,000 in the way of damages. A number of prominent lawyers of Missouri and Illinois are engaged, and the trial promises to be one of great interest.