The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-05-03
WILL NOT GIVE
UP STOLEN RING
AUGUSTA CHIEF WANTS BOND.
SAVANNAH OFFICIALS TRIED TO
RECOVER PROPERTY.

Ring Believed to Have Been Stole N
from Mrs. Laura j. Boyd During
Fair Last Fall still in Hands of
Augusta Police Chief-AuEusta Of
fciaIs Insist That Mrs. Boyd Must
Go There, Identify Ring and Give
Indemnity Bond.
Savannah's police chief turned down
by Augustus police chief, and savan-
nal1's Mayor turned down by Augusta s
Mayor!
AS a result of this the Savannah Of
1icials are not at all pleased when the
names of the Augusta officials are
mentioned.
A ring that is believed TO have been
stolen in this city-not a political ring,
as might be supposed-has caused the
trouble. For some weeks Mrs, Laura
]. Boyd, formerly of Savannah, but
now a resident of oxford, has been
attempting to recover from Chief of
Police M. J. Morris of Augusta a ring
that was stolen from her here during
the fair last fail.
So far the efforts of Mrs. Boyd and
the Savannah officials, who have aid
ed her, have been fruitless, the Au-
gusta chief insisting that Mrs. Boyd
will have to go to Augusta to identify
the ring If she wants it.
Advised Bail TrOver Action.
Mrs. Boyd was advised by the of
ficials here to secure a lawyer and in
stitute bail trover proceedings for
the recovery of her property. She did
not want to do this and ii is not
thought she has followed the advice.
So far as is known in Savannah Mrs.
Boyd has not yet recovered her ring.
Mrs. Boyd's home on Liberty street
was robbed during the fair, 1t will be
remembered. One of the crooks who
committed the robbery was caught in
Augusta and detained for a time. He
was afterwards released, but the chief
retained two of the rings found in his
possession. one of these rings is be-
lieved to be one of the rings stolen
from Mrs. Boyd.
The man who was arrested with the
ring had boarded for day or two at
Mrs. Boyd's house during the fair and
had skipped out, when the robbery
was discovered. She was positive that
the ring was hers and wrote TO the
Augusta chief of police.
Turned savannah Chief Down.
At the suggestion of Chief Morris she
then took the matter up with the su-
perintendent of police of Savannah.
Supt. Garfunkel wrote to Chief Morris,
asking that the ring be sent to him. He
would be responsible for it, he wrote,
and would not turn it over to Mrs.
Boyd unless she could identify it posi-
lively.
The Augusta chief replied that Mrs.
Boyd would have to go to Augusta to
identify the ring. and would be required
TO give an indemnity bond to protect
the Augusta official in case a claimant
turned up in the future.
Mrs. Boyd then took the matter up
with Mayor Myers and he wrote to
Mayor Richard f. Allen. telling him
that Mrs. Boyd was thoroughly re-
sponsible person, the widow of one of
the most respected citizens of Savan-
nah Mayor Myers asked that Mayor
Allen do what he could for Mrs. Boyd.
Mayor Given Same Answer.
But there was nothing doing. Mayor
Allen replied very courteously. He said
no discourtesy had been intended, but
the matter had been before the city
attorney of Augusta and it had been
decided that Mrs. Boyd would have to
identify the ring in that city, and then
give the idemnity bond. If this were
done. the ring would be turned over to
her, Mayor Allen wrote.
Some of the officials here are wonder
ing what is to become of the ring in
the event Mrs. Boyd does not care to
follow out such arbitrary directions.
No such red tape is used here, when
property stolen in another city is re-
covered in Savannah. 1t is sent on TO
the police chief OF the city, if he wishes
it. That which is properly identified,
is given to the owners and the balance
returned.
Mrs. Boyd is now in oxford. and 1t
is not known what course she will
pursue. Mayor Myers and the superin-
tendent of police have done all in their
power TO recover the stolen property.