The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-12
HESTER SUSPECTED SINCE THE ROBBERY Numerous Packages Missed
 Along His Route QUESTIONED BY OFFICERS Inspectors Feel That They Have a Strong Case Against Him--Ae-
 cused Man Has Not Yet sgt Made Bond. iIl 
QUESTIONED BY OFFICERS

U Made Bond. I4 Montgomery, February 11.-(Special) ) The arrest last night of Eugene Hester postal clerk who was reported robbed or an Atlantic Coast Line train on the nigh of January 12, last. is the development ol suspicion that has existed from tho time of the supposed hold up.
 The members of the local police force and the postoffice officials have thought that there were circumstances connected with the supposed robbery that were not as clear as they might have been and there has been very little activity in the way of searching out the mysterious ban dit with black handkerchief over hi: face who was charged with entering the car and engaging MT. Hester in hand to hand struggle. It has also pretty well established that the postoffice inspectors have had Hester lon the list" for some months and that several registered pack ages have been lost on routes of which his runs have been part, and not been found.
 The specific charges are that Hester took letter containing valuable enclosures, one being a remittance of s2500 from the First National Bank of pothan, Ala to the Hanover National Bank, New York; another $12l.56 from Enterprise, Ala, to New Orleans. It is also charged that nineteen other packages are missing and that there is reason to believe that he handled them.
 Still five other packages were chargable to his car, none of them containing any thing of value and all found in the car after the supposed robbery. There are some other remittances that have not been located and that may yet be included in the list that ought to have come through safe with the accused. It is regarded that there has been made a good case by the officers. The arrest was made by lnspec- tors H. E. Thiele of Mobile and M. w. Mo- Crea of Montgomery.
 Sweating Process.
 The arrest of Hester was made after he came in from a run from Selma or the Western Railway of Alabama last night It was intended to take him into custody yesterday but he changed of with another messenger and went out or the new run. After he came in he went to the postoffice and celaned up his business, turning over all the registered packages that had come into his care on the trip.
 He was found by the inspectors in the registry department of the postoffice ant taken upstairs into the room assigned tC them on the second floor of the govern ment building. After apologizing for tho | lack of furniture in the room--it Is az bare as 1t ever was save a table and couple of chairs-a sweating experience was opened. The accused was put through a series of questioning that must hay, lasted two hours. for he was taken ir hand about S:30 and it was 10:30 before he sent over to the county jail by Deputy Marshal Frank Taylor. The whole timt was taken up in trying to get at wha MT. Hester had to say for himself and what he had to offer as argument agans his arrest.
 Think 1t Good Case.
 Inspectors Thiele and McRea were seel this morning by the correspondent of this paper and asked if they thought they had a good case against the accused Both agreed that they had. They con tend that the evidence Is so strong Ina there seems no doubt of his gulf. MT Hester, on the other hand. stoutlY ass art: his innocence and points out that raer, is no testimony to reasonably connect him with the robber, other than as try Ing to defend himself and the mail Iaat ter assigned to his charge. When brough before United States Commissioner Fl more last night his bond was fixed a 5000 which he has so far been unabl, to make He was taken again before tn, commissioner today to have a time O. trial fixed. He looked as neat and trin as q dry goods clerk. He had on turn down collar and his clothes neatl, 1 brushed and was all in all the most crm | fortable looking man in the office say, | for q slight nervousness. He sJid h, | had been unable to sleep at the jai |, which he was taken and felt somewha the worse for the wear.
 Story of Robbery.
 1 Early on the night of January last | report reached the police station that mail clerk on the Atlantic Coast Lin, had been robbed and shot and that tn, robber escaped to the woods. Tho repor had it that the man had gotten into tn, car in some way, and as the clerk, wh, was found to be Eugene Hester, turned a | the sound of the movement of foot found himself looking down into the bar rel of a pistol He was told to get III l the registered packages and say noth l ing. The robber, the story went on t, say, was about this time thrown to on, side by the lurching of the car. and Hes 1 ter jumped upon him, after which hand to hand struggle took place. In thu struggle the pistol said to have beer held by the robber was discharged an, | Hester was shot in the hand. He came or | to the city and turned over his run | after reporting the robbery, and that th | robber jumped from the train near Wash | ington Park, just outside the city. Hes | ter was laid off for several days by thu | accident, and then resumed his run, be | ing. however on the Selma run by specia arrangement on yesterday.
 | The loss of half a dozen registered packages other than those for January have been traced to routes over whicl Hester has been messenger for a who'll or part. within the past year or so. Tn details of these charges are not obtain able for the reason that the inspector are reticent about talking of the sub ject. When seen they had little to sa. either way.
 Strong Concern.
 l Secretary of State F. R. McDavid. wh is also insurance commissioner. has re | turned from Chattanooga, where he at | tended with the commissioners of othe | states in an investigation of the abilt, | and resources of the Volunteer Stat | Life Insurance company. recently organ | ized in Tennessee. MT. McDavid Is no | only well pleased with the trip and tn result of the investigation but quite eii | thusiastic on the question of Southerl states doing more of this kind of business l Alabama sent out of the state for If insurance premiums last year sG0OO.O00 Ii