The Old Man in the Corner · Chapter
XVIII: The Theft at the English Provident Bank explained
The Old Man in the Corner discusses the role of motive and human passions in crime, arguing that a clever woman is behind the unsolved theft at the English Provident Bank.
What happens
The Old Man in the Corner discusses the role of motive and human passions in crime, arguing that a clever woman is behind the unsolved theft at the English Provident Bank. He details the bank's layout, the night watchman James Fairbairn's routine, and the discovery of manager Mr. Ireland unconscious after the safe was found open. The police investigation is hampered by Mr. Ireland's incapacitation and the apparent lack of forced entry.
Themes in this chapter
The Role of Women
The Old Man argues that a clever woman is behind the unsolved theft, highlighting the perceived influence of women in crime.
Deception and Forgery
The theft involves unauthorized access to the safe without forced entry, suggesting deception.
The Power of Observation
The night watchman's observations and the manager's collapse underscore the importance of noticing details.
Characters to notice
- The Old Man in the Corner
Narrates the story of the theft, emphasizing the importance of human passions and the feminine element in crime.
- Polly Burton
Listens to the Old Man's account and offers him a piece of string to aid his storytelling.
- James Fairbairn
Night watchman at the English Provident Bank; his testimony is crucial to the investigation.
- Lewis Ireland
Manager of the bank, found unconscious after discovering the safe open.
- Mrs. Ireland
Discovered her husband unconscious and took charge of the situation, sending for police and a doctor.
Key passages
“That question of motive is a very difficult and complicated one at times... to find the person interested in the committal of the crime is to find the criminal.”
The Old Man says that determining motive is complex, and some investigators believe the criminal is the one who benefits from the crime.
Introduces the theme of motive and criminal investigation.
“there is one factor in this world of ours which is the mainspring of human actions, and that factor is human passions.”
He asserts that human passions are the primary driver of all actions.
Emphasizes the role of emotion in crime.
“the reason why the thief at the English Provident Bank is still unpunished is because a clever woman has escaped the eyes of our police force.”
He claims the bank theft remains unsolved because a smart woman evaded police detection.
Highlights the feminine element in the crime.