The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-04-15
STRICKLAND HELD
ON THEFT CHARGE
Young Man and Woman Com
panion in Nashville
LEFT HERE ON APRIL 8
Is Charged with DefaIcation of $1,000
From His Employers, the Fufen-
wider Building Material Co.
VIII Return Today
LEFT HERE ON APRIL

John T. Strickland, formerly assistant
treasurer of the Fulenwider Building
Material company, and who has been
hunted since April by detectives all
over the country for an alleged defalca-
ton OF $1,000 from the treasury of his
employers, was arrested in Nashville by
the Nashville police department Young
Strickland made a full confession of the
crime after his arrest, in the following
statement:
81 am short between $1,000 and $4,000.
raised one check from Sc to $50. and an
other from 81 to $40, and another from
50 to 800. I had charge of the company's
finances. confessed all to the Rev. w.
NJ Anderson of the First Presbyterian
church. Nashville. I intended leaving
here last night, but my check was de-
layed'
Detectives Nation and Gray, in the COM
pany of Robert Fulenwider, president of
the company from which it is alleged
Strickland took the money, are expected
to arrive in the city today with Strick-
land in their custody. They left yester-
day noon for Nashville as soon as the
news of Strickland's arrest was received
here
When Strickland suddenly left Birming-
ham, April 8, it was discovered by the
officers of the Fulenwider company that
something was wrong with their ac-
counts, and suspicion was placed on the
missing assistant treasurer, Mr.. Strick-
land. The company gave the case into
but received no results from these, and
last Friday Mr.. Fulenwider put the case
in the hands of Chief Bodeker and the
local police force. Chief Bodeker sent
circulars with Strickland's description on
them all over the United States, with the
result that Strickland's hiding place was
soon found out.
Strickland's mode of operation was to
apply for his salary in small amounts,
getting the company's check for seven or
eight dollars and then adding cipher
to it and making the amount ten times
as large as originally. He had been en-
ployed by the company for about two
years as bookkeeper and was a well-liked
and trusted employe. He was a we'll
ing many friends here.
II is alleged that Strickland's downfall
is the result of the influence of an evil
companion. The superstition is that
Strickland stole the money for woman,
as they left the city together and were
arrested together Toward the latter part
of his operations it is claimed that Strick-
land forged names to different checks
which he wrote himself. Strickland led
the Pinkerton detectives. who were put
on his trail, a merry chase all over the
SOUTH He was discovered at different
times in Louisiana, Texas and Miss1s-
sippi, Int always disappeared before the
detectives could lay hands on him.
He was arrested at the Fifth Avenue
inn in Nashville by Nashville officers,
Christman and Rice, who will get the
500 reward offered for his capture by the
birmingham authorities. Chief Curran of
Nashville talked to Chief Bodeker yes
terday morning and told him of the cap
ture. He said that Strickland had ad-
mitted to the officers that he was wanted
in Birmingham. Bodeker made arrange
ments for sending after the prisoner and
1t was stated that Strickland had con-
sented to return to Alabama without
requistion papers. Strickland Is q years
old and was considered a young man of
good character by his friends in Biz
mingham. The woman who was with
Strickland and who was arrested with
him is unknown as yet to the local au-
thorities. and 1t is not known whether she
will become involved in the crime or not.