The Expressman and the Detective | Page 6

at once telegraphed to Maroney for an explanation.
Receiving no reply before the train started for Montgomery, he got
aboard and went directly there. On his arrival he went to the office and
saw Maroney, who said he knew nothing at all of the matter. He had
delivered the packages to the messenger, had his receipt for them, and
of course could not be expected to keep track of them when out of his
possession.
Before Mr. Hall, the route agent, left Atlanta he had examined the
pouch carefully, but could find no marks of its having been tampered
with. He had immediately telegraphed to another officer of the
company, who was at Augusta, and advised him of what had happened.
The evening after the discovery of the loss the pouch was brought back
by the messenger from Atlanta, who delivered it to Maroney.
Maroney took out the packages, compared them with the way-bill, and,
finding them all right, he threw down the pouch and placed the
packages in the vault.
In a few moments he came out, and going over to where Mr. Hall was
standing, near where he had laid down the pouch, he picked it up and
proceeded to examine it. He suddenly exclaimed, "Why, it's cut!" and
handed it over to Mr. Hall. Mr. Hall, on examination, found two cuts at
right angles to each other, made in the side of the pouch and under the
pocket which is fastened on the outside, to contain the way-bill.
On Sunday the General Superintendent arrived in Montgomery, when a
strict investigation was made, but nothing definite was discovered, and
the affair seemed surrounded by an impenetrable veil of mystery. It was,
however, discovered that on the day the missing packages were claimed
to have been sent away, there were several rather unusual incidents in
the conduct of Maroney.
After consultation with Mr. Hall and others, the General
Superintendent determined that the affair should not be allowed to rest,
as was the ten thousand dollar robbery, and had Maroney arrested,
charged with stealing the forty thousand dollars.

The robbery of so large an amount caused great excitement in
Montgomery. The legislature was in session, and the city was crowded
with senators, representatives and visitors. Everywhere, on the streets,
in the saloons, in private families, and at the hotels, the great robbery of
the Express Company was the universal topic of conversation. Maroney
had become such a favorite that nearly all the citizens sympathized with
him, and in unmeasured terms censured the company for having him
arrested. They claimed that it was another instance of the persecution of
a poor man by a powerful corporation, to cover the carelessness of
those high in authority, and thus turn the blame on some innocent
person.
Maroney was taken before Justice Holtzclaw, and gave the bail which
was required--forty thousand dollars--for his appearance for
examination a few days later; prominent citizens of the town actually
vieing with one another for an opportunity to sign his bail-bond.
At the examination the Company presented such a weak case that the
bail was reduced to four thousand dollars, and Maroney was bound
over in that amount to appear for trial at the next session of the circuit
court, to be held in June. The evidence was such that there was little
prospect of his conviction on the charge unless the company could
procure additional evidence by the time the trial was to come off.
It was the desire of the company to make such inquiries, and generally
pursue such a course as would demonstrate the guilt or the possible
innocence of the accused. It was absolutely necessary for their own
preservation to show that depredations upon them could not be
committed with impunity. They offered a reward of ten thousand
dollars for the recovery of the money, promptly made good the loss of
the parties who had entrusted the several amounts to their charge, and
looked around to select such persons to assist them as would be most
likely to secure success. The amount was large enough to warrant the
expenditure of a considerable sum in its recovery, and the beneficial
influence following the conviction of the guilty party would be ample
return for any outlay securing that object. The General Superintendent
therefore telegraphed to me, as before related, requesting me to send a

man to work up the case.

CHAPTER III.
Mr. Porter had a very rough journey to Montgomery, and was delayed
some days on the road. It was in the depth of winter, and in the North
the roads were blockaded with snow, while in the South there was
constant rain. The rivers were flooded, carrying away the bridges and
washing out the embankments of the railroads, very much impeding
travel.
On his arrival