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-

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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

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