AN UNPLEASANT JOKE.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 1040, 22 June 1883, Page 3

AN UNPLEASANT JOKE.

The Washington correspondence of the Boston Traveller has the following :—The cash office of the Treasurer’s Department in the Treasury building often contains many thousands of dollars, and great care is taken against the possible depredations of thieves. The room is very highstudded, and contains a gallery which can be reached by the general public from the floor above. The Interest Clerk is an auburn-haired individual of the most nervous temperament, and notwithstanding the fact that he has been in his position for many years, he has never lost sight of the tremendous responsibility of handling the vast sums of money which daily pass into his possession. His nervousness has grown chronic, and he is made the butt of many a quiet practical joke. The greatest of these was played some time ago by one of his intimate personal friends, who obtained permission from Treasurer Gilfillan to try his little scheme. The gentleman armed himself with about twenty-five feet of twine, and attached to one end of it a machine composed of a steel prod, pointed as fine as a needle, and a solid piece of rubber as a ballast. He stationed himself in a gallery directly over the interest clerk’s desk, where there were heaps of money all nicely done up in packages. Then he slowly let down bis string until it was directly over a large package, and releasing his hold on the twine, the steel rod impaled a bundle of notes, which he quickly drew to the gallery, and, having secured them, rushed to the Treasurer’s office with his prize, which proved to be fiOOOdols in legal tender. Meanwhile the interest clerk saw his money going skyward and gave the general alarm, but not in time, however, to detect the culprit. The clerk was nearly crazy when he received a note signed “James Gilfillan,” asking him at once to come to the Treasurer’s office. He went as fast his legs could carry him, and imagine his joy when the Treasurer handed him the missing GOOOdols, advising him to be more cai'eful that his money did not “ take unto itself wings and fly away” in the future. This practical joke has taught the department a good lesson, to wit, that it was possible for a clever thief to abstract money in the method mentioned, and so double precautions have been taken, and under the existing state of affairs such an event is not at all likely to happen again.