Hide Article Text (OCR)
SUSPECTS IN THEEXPRES SROBERYQUICKLY LANDEDi:Burglar-Proof Safe In Local Office Opened WhileEmploye Is Decoyed Away, and §5,000 IsTaken—Police Department Prompt and Effective in Placing Two Against Whom Suspicion Is Said to Point StronglyFollowing' the robbery of the safethe Southern Express Company shortly after midnight Friday when approximately $5,LOO was**arrest.s were rt*f .e* by the police -at 4:35 o’clock Saturday morning, and ’Chief Crenshaw Is positive that he ihas the ■ eight men. The three who are held on a general .charge pending a ■further investigation are Harold E. Burr,' a fish dealer; William T. Merri-weather, a clerk, both of whom wereformerly employed b * the -company, and Terrence E... Will It. ms, a bartender.When the eases were called before Judge Edinglon in the recorder’s court Saturday morning they were continued until ’ May 19. The robbery, 'was effected while James' O’Rourke, clerk, was at the Manhattan Cafe drinking coffee w11h WiIliams and Burr- Ctaief Crenshaw is sure that the .work was done by Merriweather, according to his statement of t'?« ca.se. Upon returning to the office, O’Roti:ke discovered,.thesafe open and papers strewn about floor and he n riffled the police.r.rd Cntreiner. right money clerk, had gong to meet the Louisville and Nashville train which was due with money. •The arrest of thy three men was made by Detectives Adams and Bolts; at Warren and ,,Kt. Louis streets. When searched Williams had a roll of bills containing $200 upon his person besides $5. a watclr,’ knife and keys' Burr only had $1.26 and Merriweather $7, ’ The men were drinking when arrested *. a n d 'w er e- a bout to on t er th e houre of Freda Hearst, 606 St. Louis street. . ,Holbrock Estimates Loss,Manager Martin Holbrook arrived at the office ‘ as Hutekly as possible -**cL after obeekiag-wp’' mommIs,i;tBurr. The arrangement, according toinformation received by the police,was f^»r the other two to meet Merri -weather at. .Lawrence and St. Michael streets. In the only statement- made 1, by eft her of- the . men Williams savs !that ft Was there that he received the $200 from Merriweather.Money Clerk Un trainer, who had gone to meet, the train, told detectives that be locked the safe on his departure. Clerk O'Rourke said he was not out of the office more than five minutes. The ^afe was of burglar proof type, and it is the opinion of bothManager Holbrook and Chief Crenshawthat it could not be opened in that ..length of time. . The conclusion, of the iwli.ee i* that it was left unlocked by- Cntreiner, although he maintains stoutly that It was not. !William T, Merriweather was formerly in. the employ of the company. He is twenty-four years old and lives at 356 St, Michael street. When arrested he had $7.02, a watch and a knife... Harold E. Burr was also formerly 'employed by the company, and later was way'bill clerk at the Louisville . and Nashville Railroad. He I* twenty-five years of age and. lives witfi his wife at northeast Baytra and Conti streets. He had only $1.25 when ..arrested. Terrence E. Williams, of 1060Washington avenue, was formerly .. a bartender at • Leo Eldrldge’s place. He is twenty-eight years of age. He carried $5, besides the rollWatch, keys, knife *»nd plftfg!Never In the criminal history of Mobile was a robbery handled more effectively. according to the oldest members of the police department. Upon discovery of the crime, Chief Crenshaw.. Detectives Burch, Harris:,. LacyqtNewborn and Murphy of the day forcewere summoned and were still on dutythat he est.ini.actd me vaiue^ox me roods taken at $5,000. SaturdaySaturday mouupg. Night .Detectives Buitd. Adams and Berge were onlymorning he'isaid that a great amount of this was in parcels and orders, theremainder being currency and silver.A bag containing $500 in silver was found in: the back alley by detectives which had never been touched. Aside from the $200 found upon Williams the real of the loot has not-been discovered .The robbery of the safe is thought to have been • the work of Merriweather, who was former night and then day money clerk in the office until March, 1915, when he. left the employ of the company, and was committed while O’Rourke, was detained drinking coffee at the restaurant by 'Williams andtfjthe track of the robbers.Detective Burch, watched the southpart, of town, and went to Pascagoula to ascertain whether or not the menhad. gone that way. The country to the north was covered by telephone.Cltronelle and other towns were notified to keep 'a lookout immediately. Detective Harris was, in a Ford autp-molHls and,, went from: place to place,as directed by the chief. Detectives watched 'the residences of Burr and Merriw€*.t.her. the rest ricted district, the-express.'office and all the depots.In this manner the town was completely covered and had the_burglars been even more cunning, there -was, only a slight chance of their escape,according to the pf tiers.iif**. L.. amjirih .nila- Jk.I
Newspaper Details
The Mobile Item
Mobile, Alabama, US
Sat, May 15, 1915
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Lara E.
NA, 24 Jan 2022
Other Publications Near Mobile, Alabama
The Mobile News Item
The Mobile Item
Sunday News Item
Mobile Tribune
Mobile Register And Journal
