The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

LEGEND OF THE BANK INSPECTOR

IN THE OLD DAYS, BANKS USED TO KEEP GOLD IN THEIR SAFES
WHICH WOULD BACK UP THE PAPER MONEY THAT THEY ISSUE OUT.
A BANK INSPECTOR HAD TO TRAVEL FROM BANK TO BANK TO
MAKE SURE THAT THESE BANKS WERE KEEPING TO THIS LAW, AND
NOT ISSUING MONEY THAT COULD NOT BE BACKED. THIS ONE
PARTICULAR BANK INSPECTOR HAD A ROUTE FROM KALAMAZOO
{MICHIGAN} TO MT. CLEMENS, MICHIGAN. HE WAS ON HIS
WAY TO BATTLE CREEK {MICHIGAN} WHEN HE NOTICED A
COACH THAT WAS MOVING FASTER THAN HE HAD EVER SEEN,
PASS HIM AND TRAVEL AHEAD OF HIM. WHEN HE ARRIVED IN
BATTLE CREEK, WHY THERE IT WAS! HE WENT INTO THE BANK
AND CHECKED THE MONEY OF GOLD. HE NOTED THAT IT WAS IN
THE SAME TYPE OF CHEST THAT THE ONE IN KALAMAZOO HAD.
BUT HE THOUGHT THEY MUST HAVE BOUGHT THIS FINE CHEST
FROM THE SAME COMPANY, SINCE THE TWO TOWNS ARE FAIRLY
CLOSE. THEN OFF TO MARSHALL {MICHIGAN} HE WENT. BUT THE
SAME COACH WAS RACING PAST HIM THAT HE HAD SEEN BEFORE.
HE THOUGHT THAT THIS GUY MUST BE CRAZY. WHEN HE GOT
TO MARSHALL, THERE WAS THAT CRAZY MAN'S COACH. DO YOU
KNOW THAT THE CHEST OF GOLD WAS VERY SIMILAR, IF NOT
THE SAME HERE, TOO? WELL, THIS WENT ON AGAIN, AND
AGAIN, UNTIL HE FINALLY GOT SUSPICIOUS. AT MT. CLEMENS
HE HELD UP THAT STRANGE COACH AND SENT AN ENVOY BACK
TO DETROIT TO RE-CHECK THE BANK THERE, AND SURE ENOUGH!
THERE WAS NO GOLD BACK-UP.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BATTLE CREEK

Date learned: 11-00-1968