The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-17
DREW'SPICKUP OF $4,000.
a POsTOFFICE ERROR MAKES a
HOTEL PORTER A CRIMINAL.


Bsrjamiu F. Drew(ColorsdJG Gets a Draft
Belonging TO Benjamin F. Drew
GWhite)-He Cashss 1t Through a Sa-
vannah Bank and Skips Out-Detect-
I've Hanley's Long Search and Final
Capture of the Fugitive in North
Caronna-Ali the Money spent-The
Prisoner Awaiting an Order Of Court
to Be Brought Back.
Detective Hanley returned yesterday
from Dudley, n. c., where he arrested Ben
jamln f. Drew (colored) on & charge of en-
bezzlement and sscreting a letter. The
crime was committed here last November,
but Drew made his escape Immediately
afterward.
Detective Hauley did not bring the negro
back with him, as an order has first to be Sc
cured for that purpose from the United
States district judge. 1t will be at least ten
days before this can be secured, and the pris-
ouer is not expected to arrive until May 2.
The case is peculiar one. In November
last Mr.. Benjamin F. Drew, travelling
business man, was in Savannah. NJ. c.
Guthrie of Southport, n. c., owed him
for that amount to him. The
colored Benjamin F. Drew was
porter in the Screven house
and the letter was delivered 20 him instead
OF the rightful owner. The postotlice people
knew no white Drew, and they gave the
letter to the man TO whom they supposed 1t
belonged.
GOT THE DRAFT CAsHED.
The negro knew well enough that the
letter had fallen into his hands by mistake,
but be determined to make the most Of the
mistake. The draft was drawn on the
Bank OF the Republic Of New York, and
Drew took it to one Of the Savannah banks,
and handed il in for collection. The bank
forwarded IL, and few days later the cash
arrived. Drew was notified, and, taking a
party with him, was identified, and got the
"a 900, less the cost of collection.
The bank officers thought it rather
strange that negro hotel porter should get
such an amount Of money, but he said he
had fallen heir TO a lagacy, and they
thought it was all right.
Mr.. Drew, who was expecting the draft
for several days, was q littlo surprised at
Mr. Guthrie's failure to forward it, as he
supposed, and he sent on an inquiry. He
was more surprised when he received al
answer that the draft had been sent some
time previous.
mASfOhADNh IN n RAhhs
He began to investigate and soon found
that the postoffice had surrendered his letter
to his colored nRmesake. A round Of the
banks followed with the result OF finding
record in one OF the collection Of 81 100
from the Bank of the Republic.
The bank at once called In the services of
Detective Hanley TO get the hotel porter.
The officer went to the Screven and was
told that Drew had windfall and had left
To- anw,Hry A
once started by the detective
The affair was kept secret
for fear the negro would
find out that his crime had been discovered.
He was traced 20 New York, but when the
officers undertook to locate him it was
found that he had drifted away. Detective
Harley, however, never gave up hope of
ultimately getting his man.
TRACKED TO WILMINGTON.
Drew belonged to Wilmington, N. c.,
and he felt satisfied that sooner or later he
would turn up in that neighborhood. He
kept himself posted with the North Caro-
lima officers, and about week ago heard
that negro answering Drew's description
was at Dudley.
Detective Hanley quietly had himself
sworn in as deputy United States mar
shall, got a warrant from Commissioner
Sesbrook, secured the permission of Acting
VI " l4S W ltdNb bkle CAL1 hIu 1917
without telling any one his business. Even
the chief of police didn't know what game
he was after
When be arrived at Wilmington ne Sc
CURED the aid of Detective Hunt and both of
them went to Dudley, which is sixty miles
above Wilmington. They found Drew
working at the railroad station and arrested
him without any trouble he was taken to
Wilmington and lodged in Jail until the
Judge grants the order to have him brought
to Savannah.
DREw's CONFESSION.
Drew confessed to the detectives that he
received the check and got the 1000 in
cash and then went to New York. Some
body there put him onto the green goods"
racket and for awhile he bought and specu-
lated in counterfeit money. A portion OF
his ill-gotten gains was then sQuandered by
a woman with whom he got acquainted,
and finally he drifted down to Dudley
bought out turpentine distillery and also
went to merchandising. From this he
turned to work at the railroad alton, where
he was caught.
The question is now, who will lose that
S4,OOOl Mr.. Guthriel Or who is RESPONSE
BILE for 1.-THE United States government,
which delivered the letter to the wrong
person, or the bank that csshed the checka