The Mystery of Monastery Farm

The Mystery of Monastery Farm

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Title: The Mystery of Monastery Farm
Author: H. R. Naylor
Release Date: April 7, 2004 [EBook #11931]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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The Mystery of Monastery Farm
By H. R. NAYLOR
1908

CHAPTER I
A GREAT BANK ROBBERY
On the eleventh day of April, 18--, the officers of the Bank of England
were greatly excited on receiving notice of a special meeting called for

that night at ten o'clock, an unusual hour, and indicating, surely,
something of great importance. Promptly at the hour appointed fifteen
directors occupied their usual places in the council chamber. There
were also present two paying tellers, which was not usual. Besides
these two bank clerks was observed Major Andrews, the well-known
chief of the Bow Street detective service, and by his side sat two of his
assistants. As yet, there were only five persons present who knew the
cause of this meeting--the president, cashier, and the chief and his
assistants.
No time was permitted to waste. The president of the bank in a few
nervous words asked the cashier to state the object of the call. Mr. Bone
at once stated that there were strong indications that a robbery of the
bank had been perpetrated; that a large amount of currency had been
abstracted from the paying teller's room. Hence this sudden call for
consultation; this, also, accounted for the unusual presence of Chief
Andrews and his colleagues. He then called on Mr. Roe, the senior
paying teller, to make a statement of what he knew of the matter.
Mr. Roe arose, and told that at nine o'clock that morning in his
preparations for business he had brought from the vault a quantity of
currency and placed it with other moneys on a side table conveniently
situate for ready use. And that when, about two o'clock, he had
occasion for its use, it was gone. Everything possible had been done to
gain a clue, but there was not the slightest thing upon which to hang the
faintest suspicion.
Major Andrews, stepping in front of the table, then requested
permission to ask Mr. Roe a few questions simply for information. This
permission was at once granted.
"Mr. Roe," asked the chief, "what was the general appearance of this
money? Was it loose or in a package?"
"It was a neat package," replied Mr. Roe, "wrapped in brown paper,
with its character and value marked distinctly on the wrapper."
"You say," said the chief, "'character and value distinctly marked on the

wrapper.' Please to explain what you mean by these terms."
"I mean," replied the teller, "by 'character' that there were one hundred
and fifty one-thousand-pound notes, and by 'value' the value of the
package--one hundred and fifty thousand pounds."
"Mr. Roe," continued the major, "is it the custom of your department to
have so large an amount of currency upon your side table?"
"No, sir," replied the teller, "but I had been notified that a large draft
would be presented today, and this package came nearest to the amount
spoken of; consequently, I selected and brought it to my table out of the
vault to be in readiness to pay the draft when presented."
"You say you had been notified that a large draft would be presented.
May I ask who notified you?"
"The cashier told me this morning when we were getting ready to
open," was the prompt reply.
"Mr. Roe, when did you last see this money?"
"This morning about a quarter after nine, when it was placed upon my
table; I counted the notes."
"Mr. Roe, do you feel free to tell the Board the name of the party who
was expected to draw on you for this large amount?"
The teller's head dropped somewhat, and after a slight hesitation he
replied: "Major, I cannot do this in accordance with the rules of the
bank."
"Ah! that is all right, Mr. Roe; I forgot your rules. We can get at this in
some other way. Mr. Roe, will you tell us if you did cash the large draft
today which you say the cashier had indicated?"
"Yes, sir. I cashed a draft for one hundred and thirty-eight thousand
pounds."

"Mr. Roe, was anyone in your room during banking hours?"
"Yes, the president and