The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-06-03
MAT RAGAN TALKS
FORMER POSTMASTER IS IN ANNIs-
 TON JAIL.
Alleged Embexxler Denies That He Took Woman With Him When He Fled-Tells of Trip To
 Weat,

Anniston, June 2-(SpeciaL)--J. Mat Ragan, who is in the county jail here charged with embedding postal funds, while postmaster here. talked freely to The Advertiser correspondent about his trip. He denies emphatically that he left Anniston with the woman, Louise Leonard, or that he wore the attire of a woman.
 While in Birmingham, Saturday, March 29. Ragan says he saw among other Annistonians. J. W. Coleman. He spent that night and the next day until noon in Birmingham, when he left for Kansas City. In going to catch his train he saw J. W. David son. prominent Republican of Birm- ingham, who spoke to him and asked where he was going. He told him he was going to Decatur to spend few days fishing, and got on the Louisville and -ashville train that was then in the station. However. he passed through the train and out on the other side. where he caught a train for Kan sas City.
 In passing over the Mississippi River at Memphis. he felt the enormity of his crime. as well as his trouble" and while standing on the back steps of the train, he was tempted to jump off and end it all in the river. He says dC iediiNcu thdt lle was CTdzy UT tHdl something had come over him that un- balanced his mind. and he had to use every effort to regain his composure in order to get back in the train. He said he did not leave the coach after that for fear he would kill himself
 Under the name of Mir. Randolph. of Louisville, Ky. he arr.ved in Kansas Cllv the next morning at 10 o'clock, and began to search -for work While in this frame of mind he visited a moving picture show. and in passing out he got in conversation with the nan at the door and he told him he would like to start moving picture how The man told him of an open ing at Pueblo. Col. and he set out and purchased an outfit, arriving in Pueblo. Wednesday. April 8.
 Ragan succeeded in getting a build ing and opened up business, Saturday, May IS. He ran it every day and Sun day, too. until he was arrested. He was carried to the office of the Chief of Police, where he was identified by Walter Johnston, son of the late Judge know Johnston. but that Johnston knew him.
 After his arrest he sold the business to the man who had been working for him in the moving picture show. He said the woman or girl that sold tick cts for him was Miss Eva Williams and denied that the Leonard woman was with him.
 Regarding the charge against him Ragan said he would not make a statement to anybody until he made ii to Judge Hundley in the court, when his whole story would be told. He said his bond was $7,000, but he would make no effort to make 1t, for he be- lieved that he would have a hearing in a few days and that he would then plead guilty. His wife and little daughter are still with relatives a, Oxford
 When he was spoken to about his father, he said that he was the only son of Mir. and Mrs. W. W. Ragan of Bremen. Tears came to his eyes as he spoke of his parents and said he would not communicate with then about hfs trouble.
 He said his back was nearly broker by the he'd he had last night, but that friends in the city had promised tc sent him a cot today. He seems to be in the best of spirits and talked free l ly of his travels.