The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-10-06
AFTER THREE YEARS
cRAYsON w. MILLEN is BROUGHT
BACK TOFACE TRIAL.
A SOLDIER IN THE ARMY.
wIILEN HAS SERVED IN CUBA AND
THE PHILIPPINES.

Charged with Appropriating $40
While in the Employ of the Singer
Manufacturing COmpany-FideljtY
and Deposit Company of Maryland.
surety on His Bond, Had Traced
Him Demonstrating With Sew
enth Cavalry at Chickamauga
when Arrested - Chief Deputy
SUeeny Took a Night Drive of
Twenty-eight Miles, over Noun
tain Roads, to Keep Out of Tenn
essee.
For a crime that dates back nearly
three years, after term of service
in the army lasting two years and sew
IN months, Grayson w. Millen was
brought back to Savannah last night
and locked up in Chatham county Jail.
The final arrest of Millen, after
long search and when, doubtless, he
had become convinced that all. trace of
his evil conduct had been lost, makes
an interesting story, illustrating with
what determined and unfiinching per-
tinacity the big surety companies fol-
they have guaranteed.
Three years ago Millen was solic-
itor and collector for the Savannah
agency of the Singer Manufacturing
Company, and enjoyed the confidence
of his employer. This confidence was
not overwhelming, however, and in
conformity with the rule governing
to give bond faithfully to account for
the money he received in the line of
his business. This bond he furnished
with the Fidelity and Deposit Company
of Maryland, as surety.
Saw Service in Colonies.
The man made his exit from Savan-
nah quietly enough, enlisting in the
army and being assigned to the Sew
enth Cavalry. With that regiment he
has served since, doing garrison duty
al various stations in this country, in
the Island of Cuba, before Cuba was
evacuated by the United States SOL
diers, and in the Philippines. Recently
the regiment has been stationed at
Chickamauga Park. in this state, and
it was there that a bench warrant was
served upon Millen by Chief Deputy
Sheriff Sweeney and the man taken
into custody.
His defalcation was not very large,
amounting in all to about $45, but the
surety companies consider the princi-
pie and not the amount of their
losses The loss to the Singer Sewing
Machine Company has been made good
long ago, and the company at once lost
interest in the search for it's former
Ma III 4
Deposit Company of Maryland.
About eighteen months ago, largely
through it's fundamentally, an in
dictment against Millen, charging him
with larceny after trust, was secured,
and since that time the search - has
continued, always unfiagging and per-
sistent. For some reason he was not
sought in the ranks of the United
States Army, or if he was sought and
found, the surety company has evil
IDENTITY waited until duty should bring
him into the state of Georgia. Then
information of his whereabouts was
placed in the hands of the sheriff and
Chief Deputy Sweeny, armed with
bench warrant, was sent to effect his
arrest.
Given Up without Trouble.
In this no trouble was experienced.
The military authorities recognized
promptly the mandate of the civil gov
eminent and Millen was surrendered
without a moments delay. This was
on Saturday.
Here, however, Mr.. Sweeny faced a
dilemma. If he took his prisoner back
to Chattanooga he thought it possible
Millen might begin to give trouble and
demand eXtradition papers before he
would consent to return from Ten
nessee to Georgia. Under the circum-
stances of RI
adopt the course that promised safety
as reward for some trouble and hard
ship, and turning his back resolutely
on Chattanooga, only a few miles away
placed his prisoner in a buggy and
drove with him twenty-eight miles,
over rocky and mountainous road, to
little station within the Georgia line
1t took him all night to make the trip.
Yesterday morning he caught train
and last night reached the city with
his prisoner.
Millen has not been communicative
on the subject of his arrest He is
equally coy in speaking of the offense
with which he is charged, saying he
is altogether uncertain whether he is
short in his accounts with the Singer
Manufacturing Company.
Made No Effort to Hide.
But I have made no effort to hide
myself, ne says. Il nave been SerV-
ing in the army under my own name,
and the army rolls would at any time
have disclosed my whereabouts
Millen is well known here and has
many friends. They say he will be
able to clear himself of the charge
under which he rests and secure his
liberty.
The surety company has already
spent many times the amount of its
losses in tracing him and bringing him
back to Savannah, and it will not be
likely to accept a compromise. Pun
ishment for all who cause it loss
through wrong-doing is a rule of ac-
ton it shares with other companies in
the same business-a rule which is
necessary to it's own protection. In
seeking to carry it out it is relentless
in its determination