Atlanta Georgian., 1913-10-12
Southern Express Mystery Still
UnsoIved After Scores Seek
CIeWs for Month.
EMPLOYEES ARE WATCHED
Companies GrieVe Most Over
Failure of 'InfaIIible System
of Guarding VaIuabIes.

There are all the makings of as
pretty mystery Gown Savannah way
as ever popped from the pages of
Conan Doyle or Poe. To-day, more
than a month since the theft of s71,-
800 was discovered by the Southern
Express Company. through which it
had been consigned to Georgia banks,
not the slightest breath of clew has
been found to fix any guilt
Yet every special agent and de-
tective in the employ OF the Southern
and the Adams Express companies has
entered the hunt, executive officers
are racking their brains and sighting
other duties, Pinkertons and local de-
tectives everywhere between New
York and Savannah have been COM
missioned to find the money or the
thieves, and thousands of dollars are
being spent in the investigation.
Every foot of right of way of the
Southern and the Adams companies
between New York and Savannah has
been secured. Every employee who
might be in any way connected with
handling or even viewing the money
aas been Investigated, his past and
present life, his habits, his tastes,
wen his thoughts, so far as possible,
lave been studied. Still there is no
lew.
Failure of System" BewaiIed.
1t is not the loss of the money that
,tings the two great express compa-
lies. Their officials have announced
hat they are prepared to spend much
more than that amount to find the
cobber. Their grief arises from the
TACT that their infallible System" has
gone awry. This system has protect
I'd valuables before this 1t was
thought impossible to disturb the
contents of any consignment without
sign OF some sort being left that
would point to the robber.
There must be some irregularity,
said the express companies men. with
serene confidence. There may be
thefts, but the thief could not get
away with his haul without discovery
ana arrest, they declared.
Until this $71 800 robbery occurred
III went well. But now the vaunted
system" has proved fallible, the
money has vanished as into air, with
out a trace being left of its disap-
earance.
Two express messengers are named
IN connection with the shipment Of
The 7.sS75Sy. ", L. Schindell, of New
York, came with the strong box from
New York as far as Florence, S. c.,
where ii was transferred to L. G..
Bryan, who took it into Savannah.
Both these men are at the DeSoto
Hotel in Savannah. They are being
kept there by the companies while
the investigation is conducted. They
are allowed to go where they please,
but are never out of sight Of one of
the companys men.
Both Men Under Guard.
The officials and detectives are
frank in admitting they have investi-
gated the two young men. Schindell
is said to move in the second class
vaudeville set in New York, but he
has never been known to drink to ex-
cess or to play the white lights. Bry-
an a country boy, lives at Florence,
and runs only as far as Savannah.
His habits are said to be good.
The 1900 was consigned by the
Georgia banks; $4,000 was going to
Georgia banks; $51,O0 was going to
the Savannah Bank and Trust Com
pany and $4,000 each to banks in Sa-
vannah, Albany, Brunswick ami VAL
dosta. The remaining 5000 was being
sent to a private commercial house.
The money was sent in bills of small
denominations, none being larger
than $40. To ascertain whether one
man could have successfully made
away with the amcDnt, similar pack
ages were made up. They weighed
I6 pounds, and were very bulky, prov
ing that it would have been impOs-
sible to conceal it about the person
of any man.
Sent in Steel Box.
Messenger SChindell received the
money at Jersey City, from the agent
of the Adams Express Company. 1t
was in a steel strong box with bills
Of lading on the inside. The top Of
the box was worked by a combination
known only to the agents at each
end of the line. There was an inner
door, locked by a key. which was
placed in sealed envelope between
the inner and the outer door.
When Schindell received the box at
Jersey City he complained of the
seals looking bad" But refusal to
accept a money shipment is serious
matter. The express companies have
a policy of severely reprimanding its
agents if they cause delays in ship
ments Of currency, as the banks file
claims for interest on the large
amount, even when the delay is for
one day. So SChindell, although de-
claring the seals were looking bad,
talked it over with the agent at Jer-
sey City, and decided to accept the