The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1915-06-15
CHARGED WITH ROBBING
UNITED STATES MAILS
T. H. SPEARMAN, MAIL CLERK, AR
RESTED IN GREENVILLE.
MARSHALL LyOu and Secret Service
Men Find MOney-Released on
$4,000 Bond.
Greenville News, 12tn.


T. H. Spearman, who for the past
Is years has been mail clerk in the
employ of the United States govern
ment, was arrested yesterday morn
ing by Marshall Lyon and held here
upon charge of robbing the mails
while on his run from Columbia to
this city. In tie preliminary hearing
held yesterday before U. S. Commis-
sioner Blythe he was held for the
Federal grand jury under a bond OF
$4,000.
I The story as told by the three gov
ernment secret service men VITO
trailed him, would tend to show how
carefully these officers work in ap-
pretending those wt5o break open
registered packages. Their evidence
as given before Commissioner Blythe,
was characterized by the commission
er as the most, complete case" ne
had ever heard.
According to the secret service men
Spearman is of a prominent Newber-
ry family and has been on the pres
ent run some nine years, between Co
lumbia and Greenville. Considerable
surprise was manifested on the
streets shortly after the arrest w6ich
occurred right after the Columbia
train arrived.
For the past month tho secret SER
vice men stated that many complaints
had been falling upon the run COW
cred by spearman, and that numer-
Gus losses Of money from packages
had been registered against him, so
the r:en were detailed to catch who
ever it was Jsat was taking the money
if possible. -.
They fixed up some decoy letters,
containing currency and the numbers,
that is the series and treasury num-
bers of the bills were taken. They
were made UP as cheap ordinary let
ters, purporting to have been mailed
by some ignorant negro to some 9TH
er negro. These they mailed so as to
come out on Spearman's car and be
handled in that car between Colum-
bia and Greenville.
When he was arrested, Spearman
was carried to the Office Of Postmas-
ter D. B. TraxIer, in t3e postoffice
building and here it was that he was
searched for the missing money by
the secret service men, assisted by
Marshall Lyon and in the presence
of the postmaster.
The pockets of his clothing were
searched to no effect and then he
was asked by one of the inspectors
where he had the money concealed.
He made no reply and was ordered
to pull off his shoes. He pulled off
the right one alertly enough but as
he pulled off the left one he took
in his hand. Quickly the
was observed by the keen
eyed detective and he grasped his
hand, Marshall Lyon taking hold of
it also about the same time He
tightly clinched his nand and Mar
shall Lyon bent back Spearman's
thumb while the secret service man
opened the palm.
The officers stated on the witness
stand that they took out of his lhand
s19, of which amount s13 they swore
they had placed in the decoy letters
and they had the numbers OF the
notes put down in ink which they
exhibited to show that the number,
series and denomination was correct,
and tailed with the notes which were
taken from Spearman.
The additional $6 the officers stated
Yesterday they were unable to ac-
count for but would try to see If any
of the other packages were short any
amounts, and they showed that they
knew what they were tbout when
they gave the names, numbers and
destinations as we'll as the mailing
points of the other packages that
went along on the same train. They
cannot know whether or. not any of
these packages are short Of money,
until they investigate their arrival