True To His Oath

One morning about ten years ago the Parisian public were made aware of the fact that the confidential clerk of Monsieur Laurin, a well-known banker, had absconded with the sum of nearly 1,000,000 francs. Large payments were due that day by the banker, to meet which he had been relying upon this sum. A run upon the bank followed, and that evening his name was among the list of bankrupts. Detectives had, of course, instantly been put upon the track of the absconding clerk, and, just as he was stepping on the boat at Calais to cross the channel, he was arrested and conveyed back to Paris.

When arrested, he seemed horrified at the charge against him and earnestly protested his innocence. This was but natural under the circumstances, and did not have the least impression upon the officers; but one thing that did puzzle them was the fact that no trace of the money he had stolen could be found. At his trial the evidence against him was too strong to admit of any doubt of his guilt. The banker swore that on the previous day he had given the clerk several orders upon the treasury, amounting in all to between 900,000 and 1,000,000 francs, with instructions, after getting them cashed, to return to the bank, and deposit the money in the vault, of which he alone, beside the banker himself, knew the combination.

Evidence was forthcoming from the Treasury Department that he had received the money, but the evidence of the other [employees] was definite that he had not returned to the bank during business hours, while the janitor was confident he had not done so afterward. This, taken altogether, and added to the fact of his sudden flight, seemed conclusive to the Judges that he was guilty. The prisoner’s defense took the form of an accusation against his employer. He acknowledged having received the orders, and also getting them cashed, but denied that he had been told to deposit the amount in the bank… Read More