The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-25
Albert Cammayer Under
Arrest in Chattanooga
for Blowing Safe
CONVERTED SEVERAL
.CONVICTS IN ALABAMA
Under Name of Driscoll Was Given 20
Years for Cracking Safe in Mont
gomery-Became a Religious
Worker in Prison

Montgomery, July 24.-(Special.) )-Postof-
flee inspectors have positively identified
photographs of Albert Cammayer. under
arrest at Chattanooga on a charge OF
breaking open and robblng the postoffiee
safe at Green Cove, Fla, as those of Al
bert Driscoll. who was paroled by Gov
ernor o'Neal in 1911 after he had served
seven years of 20 year term for crachins
the safe of Hirseher Brothers in Mont
gomery, and securing several thousand
dollars.
Driscoll was convicted In May. 1904 with
]. e. Russell, his partner, i'm the Hirscher
robbery, and Immediately after he began
his service he announced that he had
reformed and decided to become preach-
er and religious worker in prison. lie
did much good among eonvicts and con-
verted several. Excellent reports given
by wardens caused large number Of
ministers and citizens. the persons who
were robbed and the state board of par
dons to recommend elemency.
Given Liberty in November. 1911
The convict was given his liberty Mo-
vember 3O 1911. after he had promised
Governor O'Neal that he would file
monthly report with the state convict
department, giving he name of every
place he had visited during the month.
his employment and his whereabouts at
the time of the report These reports
were continued for 12 months and when
Driscoll could not visit the state convict
department In person he would write a
letter and swear to its correctness.
Then Driscolls letters stopped coming
to the state because his agreement to-
report lasted only 70 months. Soon after
being released Driscol was employed by
the jefferson Powder company OF Bir-
mingham as demonstrator lie visited
different sections of the south and ham
died powder extensively, it is said. Finally.
postoffice inspectors got on his trail
again. This time it was though he had
something to do with the robbery of the
safe of the postofflce at Auburn.
Driscolls name was mentioned often
during the investigation and it is said the
ex-convict sold a suit of clothes belong
ing to the man who was supposed to have
robbed the postoffice after the man had
been killed in pitched battle with Of
fioers near Alexander City. Detectives
had trailed Driscoll since the Auburn al
fair but, it is said, they were unable TO
get enough evidence to warrant his ar
rest on a charge of completely In the
Auburn robbery.
Arrested in Chattanooga
Suddenly all eyes were turned to Green
Cove Fla. Robbers broke open the safe.
packed several hundred dollars worth of
stamps in "a package and left town. Dris-
coll was suspected. The trail began. lie
was found at Chattanooga and arrested
There he gave his name as "Cammayer.
This failed to correspond with the one
he used when he operated in Alabania
But Ii was later discovered that Albert
Drscol were the given names of tile
accused man and that his real name was
Albert Driseoll Cammayer.
Drlseoll or Cammayer is believed to be
one of the smoothest safe blowerst in
the United States. He and J. Il. Russell
came to Montgomery. attended show
at theatre, found out where the receipts
were kept at night, climbed through a
skylight, placed piano cover around
the safe and blew the door open with
dynamite. They took several thousand
dollars, left Montgomery and were ar
rested at Mobile a few days later.
When Driscol and Russell were placed
on trial they made remarks that they
WOulu never serve II senteHCe. Out uh3
Russell was allowed to step into a jury
room. The deputy's eyes were turned
in another direction for a moment and
Russell jumped from a second story win
dow. An ankle was broken and Russell
was unable to escape.
Another time Russell and Driscoll had
almost succeeded In saving through the
steel bars at the county Jail when dis
covered. Both were sent to prison. one
going to one convict camp and the other
to another. DriscolPs religious work
brought him his freedom and a few weeks
later Governor O'Neal granted a parole to
his partner.