The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-02
EXPRESS MYSTERY SOLVED.
AN ARREST MADE IN CONNECTION
WITH THE RETURN OF s3,7OO.

The Thief and the Sender OF the
Mysterious Package Claimed by
the Express COmpany's Detectives
to BE L. l.. Saunders-The Prisoner
Mail Agent on the Road at the
Time of the MISREPRESENTATION
to Lift a Cloud Hanging over an
Innocent Man.
Atlanta, Ca, Feb. 1.-The officials of the
Southern Express Company think they
have unravel,ed the mystery surrounding
the anonymous package of money recent
ly sent to the postmaster at Macon and
by him to the Atlanta office.
Not only has the mystery been cleared
up if the express company's agents are
not wrong, but at the same time the thief
who robbed the company of $1,000 has also
been discovered and is now in custody.
The alleged thief and the sender of the
anonymous package of $500 conscience
money are one and the same, his name
being L. L. Saunders.
This morning Saunders passed through
Atlanta in custody of detectives on his way
to Monroe 10 be put on trial for the ex-
press robbery.
The story of his alleged crime and the
incidents connected with it is an interest
ing one. Saunders was a mail agent on
the Gainesville. jefferson and Southern
road and was believed TO be of the
highest character. Ills home was at Win
der, and his family was one of the best
in the community.
AS express agent on his train. there was
young man named A. j. Butts. Butts
was also trusted, though quite young, and
when one day in January 1897, package
containing $4,000 was found missing from
the express safe, the officials were 10th
to believe that he had been guilty of the
theft.
The money was routed from the bank at
Wtnder to the Lowry Banking Company
of Atlanta. At Winder it was given in
charge to Express Agent Butts, who kept
it safely until Social Circle was reached.
At Social Circle Butts left his car for a
few minutes to see the station agent.
When he returned, according to his state
ment, he found the 5000 missing. The
company at once began an investigation.
Suspicion, of course, fell upon Butts and
though he was not arrested he was under
a cloud
The blow was so shocking to the young
mans mother that her mind finally gave
way and she is now in the asylum. She
could not bear to think that her boy
even the thought that others might be-
lieve him guilty
So far as is known, no clue was ever
obtained to the thief, until about month
ago the case was revived by the return
of $S,70O of the stolen $4,000. This money
was sent in a packet addressed to the
postmaster at Macon. On the inside was
another addressed to the agent of the
Southern Express Company at Atlanta,
and the Macon postmaster, without know
ing the value of the mysterious package,
forwarded it TO Atlanta, as directed. When
1t arrived here the express officials were
surprised, but pleased to get back what
they quickly came 10 the conclusion was
the money lost at Social Circle.
New efforts were made TO clear up the
mystery and as a result L. L. Saunders
the mail clerk on the Gainesville and JET
ferson train al the time the money disap-
peared, was placed under arrest in Gin
cinnati, The officials worked on the quiet.
nothing at all was known of their move
ments until Saunders was brought here
this morning en- route to Monroe where
an indictment will be secured and the
man put on trial.
The fact that nearly all the MISSING
money was returned if it is proven that
Saunders took il out Of the express car
at Social Circle, will be a mitigating cir
cumstance in his 'favor.