Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-10-12
100000 HUNT
| FAILS To LAND
1900 ROBBER
Southern Express Mystery Still
UnsOlved After Scores Seek
Clews for Month.
EMPLOYEES ARE WATCHED
ConDanies Grieve Most Over
Failure Of 'InfaIIible System
of Guarding VaIuables.
EMPLOYEES ARE WATCHED

There are all the makings of as
81 r-errv a mystery down Savannah way
As ever popped from the pages of
Conan Doyle or Poe To-day, more
Il than a month since the theft of $71,-
q g11 was discovered by the Southern
Express Company, through which ii
& had been consigned to Georgia banks,
Il not the slightest breath of a clew has
besr found to fix any guilt
Yet every special agent and de-
rec,iye 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, Plnkertons and local de-
terttves everywhere between New
York and Savannah have been COM
nissoned to ffnd the money or the
thieves. and thousands of dollars are
4 being spent in the investigation.
Every foot of right of way of the
southern and the Adams companies
4 between New York and Savannah has
4 been secured. Every employee who
might be in any way connected with
handling or even viewing the money
{ has been Investigated, his past and
present life, his habits, his tastes,
even his thoughts, so far as possible,
have been studied. Still there is no
. clew.
Failure of "System" 5ewailed.
II is not the loss of the money that
stings the two great express compa-
MES. Their officials have announced
that they are prepared to spend much
more than that amount to find the
robber. Their grief arises from the
+ fact that their infallible system" has
4 gone awry. This system has protect
& ed valuables before this. 1t was
& thought Impossible to disturb the
4 contents of any consignment without
4 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
,hefts but the thief could not get
3 away with his haul without discovery
4 ana arrest, they declared.
Until this 81 900 robbery occurred
all went we'll But now the Wanted
4 system" has proved fallible, the
& money has vanished as into air with
4 out a trace being left of its disap-
4 pearanCe.
Two express messengers are named
in connection with the shipment Of
the money w. L. Schindell, of New
York, came with the strong box from
New York as far as Florence, S. c.,
where it was transferred to l. c.
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 CompaDy's men,
Both Men Under Guard.
The officials and detectives are
frank in admitting they have invest
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 eXS
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 $1,000 was consigned by the
Georgia banks; $4,000 was going to
Georgia banks; $1,000 was going to
the Savannah Bank and Trust Com
pany and 5000 each to banks in Sa-
vannah, Albany, Brunswick AMI Val
dosta. The remaining $500 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 amount, similar pack
ages were made UP. They weighed
rs pounds, and were very bulky, prov
ing that it would have been impos-
sible TO conceal it about the person
q 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
Anown only to the agents at each
end of the line. There was an inner
door, locked by a key, which was
placed in a 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 a serious
matter. The express companies have
policy of severely reprimanding its
agents if they cause delays in ship
nents 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-
Caring the seals were looking bad"
talked it over with the agent at Jer-
sey City, and decided to accept the
package. Bryan made no complaint
concerning the seals when the ship
ment was placed in his hands at
Florence
The box was delivered in Savannah
september 10. The express agent
placed it in the hands of the super
ALendent, who opened it.
There was no irregularity. The
oils of lading called for $255 and no
more. That amount was in its place.
Search Costs 100000.
Funny" remarked the agent.
hats a mighty big box for such a
AtIe money"
The bills of lading for the big
amount had been taken together with
me money. Therefore the express Of !
L.lals in Savannah were astounded
T"en the Savannah Bank and Trust !
Company sent for its $4,000 A tele- /
sfam corroborated the announcement /