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?"