Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-10-30

afternoon to see Chief Ball regarding his
daughters release. Some Of the detectives
In the case were not at headquarters at
the time and Chief Ball made an appoint
ment for later in the afternoon.
Detectives Iangford Fitzpatrick. White
and Simpson have all worked on the case.
There was much TO do notwithstanding
the fact that the woman furnished the Of
fcers with the first information concern
ing the identity Of the man who had pass
ed the forged checks. The officers say
they asked the conductor TO have Thomas
arrested II he got on the train. hey
knew Mrs. Thomas was on the train with
two tickets and thought he was to get
on at some way station. They stayed on
the train as long as they could. and then
left the matter in the conductors hands
Thomas got on Immediately after the Of
ficers left.
Mrs. Thomas says she told the conduc-
tor TO have her husband arrested The
conductor seems 20 have been amply
warned as 70 the character OF the passen-
ger he was carrying.
A peculiar feature Of the case was Mrs
Thomas decision Monday to stand by
her husband at all events. She had sent
the picture and information about her
husband TO the officers before the Aaajes-
tic robbery. Immediately after the rob-
berry. Thomas went to Winder and the
following Monday afternoon both Thomas
and his wife returned TO Atlanta, Thomas
getting of the train outside the city. De-
tectives had been notified from Winder
that the couple were coming and wer at
the train.
Detective Langford had a talk with Mrs
Thomas that afternoon. This was the
first time she had talked with the. officers
herself. information before then having
been furnished through Miss Black She
told the officer Thomas had started to
Atlanta with her. but had got of the
train before reaching here, which was
true. She said she did not know where
he was and refused TO describe his clothes
She said she had decided to stand by .er
husband In the face of everything. even
death. He loved her and had told her she
was the only thing in the world he cared
for, she told the officer. and she proposed
to stick up TO him. She then said Thomas
had decided to kill himself If he was
ever caught. He tried this when arrested
in Athens. but was prevented from doing
so by the arresting officers.
At ; o'clock yesterday afternoon Mrs.
Thomas was released.
Thomas Makes Confession.
Those diamonds are in my wife's hat"
DR.. Thomas made this statement to
the city detectives last night, and as he
spoke his wife was standing facing him.
The prisoner said he hid the diamonds
In the trimmings of his wife's hat while
on the train Monday afternoon while go
ing from Atlanta. He would not say
whether his wife knew he placed the dia
monds there.
"You can search the hat" said Mrs.
Thomas calmly as she removed IT, It
was thoroughly searched, even the large
white bird being taken of and felt. II
he haA haor. rforad L., The hat
the question was what had become of
them. Police Matron Bohnefeld says she
searched the hat Tuesday night and there
was nothing IN IL
After Mrs Thomas had left the prison
last night DR.. Thomas said he was will
ing TO talk.
II don't care now what becomes OF
me-" he said, woefuliy, and he was the
picture of abject despair. 'T have acted
wrong and I know It. I took the dia-
monds from Davis & Freeman and
forged all the checks they say 1 did.
About my going TO Birmingham and
Nashville have nothing 10 say at pres
ent. I lost my position in the Nashville
hospital because I married I loved my
wife and love her still She is beaud-
ful and accomplished and has done moth
ing wrong. had to have work and
tried my best to get Il. I advertised in
the Atlanta papers and failed. I needed
money. My board bin was overdue and
I had not a penny. Then began 70 act
wrong. I succeeded so well that I kept
II up. II was my intention 10 get a little
money and secure work in some part of
the country. I don't believe my wife has
informed on me. That story about my
planning to kidnap a child in Atlanta for
a $4,000 ransom is a lie. and don't be-
Heve my wife told H. hid the diamonds
l. -
I can't say what has become Of them.
but suppose they dropped out and were
lost. am done for. but while ! am serv-
ing my time I'm the chain gang want II
distinctly understood that my wife is a
lady"