The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-01-07
handwriting almost as soon as he
MABRY TELLS HIS STORY.

MABRY TELLS HIS STORY.
When seen at the barracks by a rep
.resentative OF the Morning News Mabry
did not object to telling his story. It
seems his trouble began with mental
worry over a small shortage, and though
he had many friends in Brunswick who
would have gladly made ii up for him.
he said nothing about it, Being un-
able to resist the temptation which
came Upon him when he knew discov-
cry Of the smaller shortage was near,
he took the money and left
L have been with the company
since November Is, 1882" Mabry said.
Il was in Atlanta one year, and then
on the road eleven years, during all of
which time my work was all right. /
married while / was on the road. and
becoming tired of that work asked 10
be given an Office.
Il was given the Brunswick office
and, though 1 mad had no experience in
office work, / IA the nerve to tackle
anything. When I took charge l took
the safe without changing the combind-
ton, and my clerk had a picnic. Be
fore l realized it l was $500 short, and
for his 1 knew I would be held &C
countable by the company, and would
have to pay it. For that reason / did
not tell the comp as 1 knew no ex-
cuse would De taken. Then an English
man by the name OF Bennett forged a
1870 exchange draft on me, and for this
1 was held responsible.
That made a shortage of abgIt $50.
/ was saving on it along as I could,
and would get notice of the coming of
the route agent to check me UP. This
enabled me to tide over without my &C
counts showing any variation. But on
the night ofDecember %. 1 realized that
1 could not make my accounts because
/ did not knOW just now | stood.
That afternoon 1 received a package
containing 81, 500, and at night the &c.,
600 came from Savannah. Under the
circumstances the temptation was too
great for me I p and I couldn't
help it. 1 was desperate, and had been
for sometime, living a life of misery, so
that l did not care much what became
OF me. Had 1T not been for my wife
and two children I would long ago ave
killed myself.
Il walked all the way to Savannah
through the woods. I a intended to
take to the swamp and keep out of the
way for awhile, but could not stand it.
1 was afraid to tackle the trains be-
cause / was known on them. / became
desperate and once started or my way
here, to take my pistol and blow cut
my brains. I have always had respect
for the officers Of the law, SO mad no
resistance when they arrested me; but
l felt like doing so, for death WOuld
have been a blessing. 1 took the
chances on this thing, and lost, and
that's about all of it."
1t may be said hat it was practically
impossible for Mabry to have evaded
arrest. Within a 200 or 300 miles radius
from Brunswick there were men every
where looking for him. The day he
left Brunswick pictures of him with
description, were sent to every city in
the United States, thousands of them
being scattered over the country.
Though every vessel at Brunswick was
searched an extra p~recaution was
taken 10y cabling all the ports on the
other side to which they were bound.
The circulars all offered a liberal re-
ward, and sooner or later his arrest was
inevitable.
MABRY ATTEMPTS SUICIDE.
(By Associated Press.)
Savannah, Ga, January 2.-P. H.
Mabry, the embezzling agent OF the
Southern Express Company at Bruins
wick, who was captured lear this city
on Saturday, attempted suicide in his
cell in the police station during the
night. An officer who entered his cell
early in the morning found Mabry lying
in a pool OF blood on the floor, his
clothing soaked and his hands and face
red with blood. He was unconscious
and was at first thought to be dead.
Physicians were sent for. In the
meanwhile Mabry was seen to be alive.
He had opened an artery in his wrist
with q pen knife, which the police are
supposed to have overlooked when he
was searched on being put in the cell.
AS soon as he could be moved he was
taken to the city hospital, where he is
kept under close guard. While weak
from the loss Of blood, the physicians
say he will recover in a day or two.
Before he became too weak to move
Mabry smeared his open hand with his
blood and stamped the impression of
the hand upon the wall Of his cell. I'm
derneath he wrote in blood, with his
finger: Southern Express Company,
December 20, 1897 the date he COM
mitted the robbery, and below that he
drew a skull and .crossbones in blood.
The police are reticent as to the at
tempted suicide. Mabry was taken
from his cell early in the night to re-
turn to Brunswick, but at the railroad
station the officers decided On account
of the excitement at Brunswick that it
would be better to have the prisoner
here for a while. The police are in
clined 10 believe that Mabry got pos
session Of the pen knife after he was
taken from his cell, and carried it
back with him. As soon as he "a be
| moved he will be taken back to Bruins
wick.
Badly Hurt