The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-04-04
POSTMASTER RAGAN
 SHORT NV ACCOUNTS.

ly been away days at q time without creating any disturbance" she said. He told me before leaving that the au- thorities had been trying to set him to so after Roberts but that he had been unable to do so on account of the very urgent business at the office.
 T should think that his good name would hold him blameless in this ar- fair, and sincerely hope you will not publish anything further about the matter without ascertaining the facts.
 Ragan left Anniston Friday night stating to MT. Barker that he was Ko- ing to Montgomery and would be back Monday. A suspicion of crookedness in connection with his leaving was not aroused until Monday.
 Saturday the salaries of the employees fell due with no one here authorized to make payment. According to the postal laws no postmaster is allowed to be absent from his post of duty certain number of days only without permission from the department, and when an ofi1cial Is absent for greater length of time, his bondsmen have the privilege of appointing an official in charge.
 Ragan has made one of the best post masters the city of Anniston has eVor had. In SO far as enterprise and un. BelIlSn eH0TL ndS DGcH CoASCA hSo ~N-' he has hosts of friends in the Model City who refuse to believe he Is gull ty of the charges against him. v.
 Shortage of Registry Clerk.
 There is a remarkable coincidence between the disappearance of postmaS- ter and Registry Clerk Frank Roberts. who absconded about two weeks ago with $9o0, said to have been taken from malls, according to statement by In- spector Larry.
 MT. Barry gave out this information in reply to question stating that tns connection between the two was s" unusual that he had never in his ex- pcrience come across a similar case. He would not consent to say until his ex- animation was complete. however, m what manner the two cases coincided. MT. Barry says the secret service men are hot on the trail of Roberts ana that he will in all probability, be cap tured before the end of the week. He was located in a Northern city yester- day. and he will be caught tomorrow it is believed, if he remains there.
 Before leaving Anniston Friday, Ra- gan purchased large diamond stud valued at s20O from W. F. vanarsdei. who this morning levied an attach- ment on Ragan's automobile. It iat- CT developed that he automobile was mortgaged to Newt H. Reid, who holds A bill of sale for the vehicle.
 It is denied that Ragan drew the money from the bank to pay the em- pIoyees whose salaries. it is said ag- gregate $3,3300.
 Raean was appointed postmaster or Anniston to succeed L. T. Smith, whose term in office had expired. Ragan had been postmaster at Oxford, and was holding that position when the Oxford ofice was made sub station ana ID hls effort to get the appointment as postmaster at Anniston, Ragan had the strongest possible endorsements. and many influential friends, who wol'ksd hard for him. ..
 MT. Barry was called to Birmingham today but was expected back here to- night.
 May Have Been scapegoat.
 It Is suggested by the friends of Frank Roberts that he may not be as guilty as circumstances make him out to be. There are indications that young Roberts may have been made scapegoat and 1t Is freely talked by his friends today that he, perhaps. foolishly permitted himself to be made a fugitive. It Is said that Ragan had freauented a place of Ill repute here and that an inmate of the place. Lucille Leonard, disappeared at the same time he did.
 Other developments are expected to- morrow since 1t Is claimed that this same woman was implicated in the disappearance of Roberts.