The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-06-30
TOOK FIVE 500
BILLS FROM LETTER
IN JACKSONVILLE P. O.
CLERK ARRESTED ON THE WAY
TO SEE HIS GIRL.

Confessed That He Committed the
Theft and Returned $3.50 of the
Stolen MOney-Said He Had Spent
the Rest-HOw the Case Was
Worked by POstofIice Inspectors.
The Young Man Given a Vacation
and Travelled with an Unknown
Inspector.
Jacksonville, Fla. June 29.-Arthur
r. Whitner clerk in the Jackson
Vile postoffice, was given a hearing
before United States Commissioner
Archibald yesterday. on a charge of
larceny of five 500 bills from regis
tered package. He pleaded guilty to
the charge and was bound over for
appearance before the United States
Court for the Southern district of
Florida at the December term.
The package from which the bills
were stolen was registered by the
National Bank of Jacksonville on June
4. 1t was addressed to D. H. Sprecher,
postmaster at Groom, Fernando coun-
ty, Fla. When the package reached
Groom it was found to be empty. The
matter was reported at once to the
postal authorities and Postoffice In
spector Fred D. Peer was detailed on
the case.
Whitner was on duty in the post
Office at night. After the day clerks
had finished work. Whitner had charge
of the stamp window, and also receiv-
ed any registered matter that might
corne in before 6 p. m. The package
containing the five notes of 500 each
was receipted for by him.
Was Granted n Vacation.
The inspector worked on the case
from first one end and then the 9TH
er. He finally became convinced that
the money had been taken from the
package before it left the Jacksonville
postoffice. A close watch was had on
Whitner, but nothing suspicious was
observed in his actions for awhile.
Last week he made application for a
two weeks vacation. By advice OF
the inspector it was granted and began
last Sunday.
Believing that if Whitner was guilty,
he would try to get the bills changed
outside of Jacksonville, and not car
ing to be seen shadowing the suspect
who knew him well, Inspector Peer
called upon Postoffice Inspector Lake
Jones of Savannah to assist him
Jones was unknown to Whitner and
| travelled with him.
Whitner went to st. Augustine and
while there had two of the 500 bills
changed. He then went to Palatka and
had another of the bills changed in
that city. He then went down the
| Florida East Coast Railway to New
| Smyrna and took the Orange City
| branch road over to Orange City juno
| ton, on the Atlantic Coast Line
Jones was with him, but Whitner did
not know it.
At the junction they boarded the
| Atlantic Coast Line train for Sanford
| Inspector Peer had been notified by
| Inspector Jones and was on board the
| train. The two detectives met, COM
| pared notes and at once placed Whit
ner under arrest He was carried on to
| Sanford and held there until the north
hound train came along when he was
| brought back to Jacksonville.
Wanted to See His Sweetheart.
Whitner has a sweetheart living in
Sanford and was on his way to Ae her
Upon arriving in Sanford and learning
| that they would have to rema, n there
several hours, Whitner begged the in
spectors to allow him to see his sweet
heart. They refused and kept him III
a hotel near the depot.
He had written the young lady that
! he would be in Sanford on the train
| upon which he arrived. When aOout