Alex McNeil in Prince George of the teddy
pear and the possibility that it might be used
as a hiding place for the stolen funds. Later
in the day two. disappointing wires were
received. One was from Winnipeg stating
that the serial numbers of the currency had
not been recorded, the other from Staff-
Sergt. A. McNeil! in Prince George stating
that they had searched Mary Blain’s rest
dence without finding either money or
teddy bear, also that Francis LaRue had
left previous to their search.

Sam Service immediately wired back the
peculiar dimensions of the teddy bear, sug:
gesting a second search. In a short time a
second wire came back saying that the teddy
bear had been located. Staff-Sergt. McNeil
explained that they had been looking for an
ordinary sized doll, and that in searching
the premises they had entered the bedroom
of the lady in question finding what they
presumed to be a man asleep in the bed. On
the second visit they had discovered the im-
mense teddy bear between the sheets of the
darkened room. It had been examined and
no evidence of currency showed up in its
straw-filled innards. Another disappoint-

Hotel Annan
P, T. JACOBSON, Proprietor
ve
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MARION MEGER, Proprietress
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Ice Cream and Soft Drinks

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MRS. E. M. BURR, Proprietress

Home Cooked Meals

Licensed Premises

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TWELFTH EDITION

ment, yet a definite sign that LaRue was
spending money lavishly.

On December 22nd, Mr. Henderson, the
station agent, handed Capt. Wheatley a
copy of a message received that day. It
read:

HAVE BOUGHT THREE THOU-
SAND BUSHELS OF MAY
WHEAT AT ONE DOLLAR
EIGHTY ONE. (Signed) STEAD-
MAN GRAIN CO., EDMONTON,
ALTA.

It was addressed to Francis LaRue!

Immediately a wire was sent to C.N.R.
Inspector of Investigation McLeod who had
been informed of the previous package men-
tioned in the wire to LaRue and was check-
ing on it also. Back flashed a wire from
Inspector McLeod. It read:

WIRES EXCHANGED CAL
GARY POST OFFICE RECORD
SHOWS PACKAGE OF CUR-
RENCY, VALUE FIVE HUN-
DRED DOLLARS, FROM McBRIDE
TO J. IRWIN ARRIVED HERE
DECEMBER TWENTIETH. POS-
SIBILITY MAILED ON TRAIN
FROM THERE. (Signed) McLEOD.

This latter piece of evidence at last

“showed definite sign that LaRue was in

possession of a sum of money to which he
might not be the rightful owner. After
some discussion with Sam Service, Capt.
Wheatley decided to visit T. W. S. Par-
sons, then Inspector of the British Columbia
Police at Prince George—this in order to
review the crime with him as to possibilities
of taking LaRue into custody and to further
check on his movements while in Prince
George. Examination of accounts in the
banks of Prince George in company with
Inspector Parsons showed little of value.
LaRue had an account amounting to $12.50
in one of the local banks, but it had been
there for several years and inactive for at
least two years. The results were disap-
pointing as the cash which LaRue was
suspected of stealing was in unidentifiable
bills.

However while checking through the
wires at the telegraph offices in Prince
George, another mysterious telegram was
unearthed. It was addressed to Francis
LaRue in McBride shortly after his return
from his visit to Prince George:

RECEIVED VISITORS. EVERY-
THING OKAY. LEAVING SUN-
DAY OR TUESDAY. WISHING
YOU LUCK AND A MERRY
XMAS. (Signed) LUCILE.

The wire of course referred to the visit
of Staff-Sergt. McNeil in which they had
discovered the large teddy bear in the Blain
woman’s bedroom. It also gave indication
that the lady knew something of LaRue’s
complicity in the crime. Inspector Parsons
instructed that the girl be picked up for
questioning. She refused to tell anything of
her knowledge of LaRue, saying she knew
nothing of the stolen currency. Further
check on her affairs showed that she had
sent $75.00 to her mother in Edmonton

Phone PA cific 4950

VANCOUVER — VANDERHOOF
FORT ST. JAMES — PINCHI LAKE

LEE’S TRANSPORT

LEE BROTHERS, Proprietors

Carriers
B.C.

Licensed and Insured Public
Vanderhoof, B.C., and Vancouver,

Vancouver Warehouse, 231 Gore Avenue

REID HOTEL

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e
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VANDERHOOF

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Vanderhoof, B. C.

Hotel Vanderhoof

O. N. Jacobson, Proprietor

Modern Throughout—Fireproof
FULLY LICENSED
Dining Room in Connection

Agents for
Fort St. James Stages

*
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K. L. JOHNSON, Manager
GENERAL MOTORS DEALERS
Automobile Repairs Brazing, Welding
Super Shell Gasoline and Body Work
Parts and Accessories
Firestone Tires

VANDERHOOF, BRITISH COLUMBIA

H. W. SMITH

GENERAL MERCHANDISE AND CAMP
SUPPLIES

Freighting to Fort St. James and Manson
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FORT ST. JAMES, B. C.

Page Forty-three