The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-10-22
MISIONS OF THELAW
STEP into GAME AND
CUPID IS BESTED
CHARLES A. PRESTON Is ARREST
ED ON THE EVE or HIS
WEDDING DAY.
CHARGED WITH EMDEzzLEMENT
Took Diamonds to Get Even With His
Employers-Express Company Re-
fused Raise in Salary And Theft
Followed.

NASHVILLE, Tenn, Oct 2O.-Just
twenty-four hours before he was to be
married, Charles A. Preston, a South
ern Express messenger, was arrested
last night on a charge Of stealing -four
diamonds. Taken into custody by the
city detectives, he was turned over to
an officer from New Decatur, Ala
where he is wanted on the charge OF
embezzlement of $500 worth of jewels,
and was carried to that city this morn.
ing to answer the charge.
Crestfallen and shaking like a leaf,
he said to a reporter last night: 81
wouldn't care so much, but l was to
be married tomorrow night at $3.50
o'clock"
The offense charged against the
/ young man, to which he has already
confessed, was committed during the
latter part of 1906. At that time he
was in the employ of the Southern
Express Company, and was running
between Nashville and New Decatur
A package of diamonds being shipped
from New York to Louisiana was en-
trusted to his care as messenger for
the express company. Somewhere
between Nashville and New Decatur
four jewels from the package were
lost. The matter remained mystery
until just a few days ago, when the
theft was placed at the door of the
young man by a person whom Pres
ton says he considered one of his best
friends. When accused of the theft
he confessed to the Superintendent of
the company.
81 am guilty of the charge" said he
to reporter last night. Il took the
but when it came out to
the world l told them about it and
thought that would be the end of it, |
but l see it isn't.
1T happened during the fall of |
1906. 1t was running on the road |
then, and when the company refused /
me raise and better job l was
sore at them and did this to get even
with them. The diamonds were In an
express package, but it was broken
open and a number rolled out. In
putting them back | kept four of them.
worked on for the company until a
few days ago when that person told
IN me.
Nobody else knew it but my sweet
1eart and me. l wouldn't have had
his happen for the world. was to
De married tomorrow night at Glen
4even Presbyterian Church. We had
lad one rehearsal, and | was as hap
" as a lark, but now this has I'M
lone me-"
Chief of Police Henry Curran had
telegram from New Decatur yester-
ay afternoon asking the local police
o arrest Preston on a charge of en-
excitement. Detectives Cummings
nd Jacobs went to his home on Bel
1ont boulevard last night and took
mimic custody. When the officers ;
I'D him their mission he went to
ieces, and the family was unstrung,
3r he had never said a word to them
bout it, according to his own state
lent
Detective Cummings and Jacobs
ought him to police headquarters,
here he was locked up as fugitive
ON justice. He is 26 years old, and
as been in the employee of the South
m Express Company for several
ears. He will be given into the Gus
'dy of Deputy Sheriff w. B. Scott. OF
organ County, Alabama, and carried 4
ack to New Decatur this morning,
here he will be prosecuted by the
outhern Express Company.
All the diamonds have been recov-
ed. One or two of them were found
New Decatur, one in New York 4
Id still lanother in Atlanta They \
Id been set in rings. The young :
an himself told the company what 7
sposition he had made of them.
Preston readily agreed to return to
ew Decatur to face the charges and
AXE some disposition of them, II pos :
Bile, in order to get back tonight in
ne for his wedding. <
WILLIAMSON COUNTY +