Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 102, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 August 1902 — MYSTERY IN $28,000 ROBBERY. [ARTICLE]

MYSTERY IN $28,000 ROBBERY.

Express Agent and Alleged Accomplice Arrested in Kentucky. The alleged theft of $28,000 from the agent of the American Express Company at Fordsville, Ky., has resulted in a queer complication about which there is much mystery. J. W. Boatner, who shipped the money to Fordsville, is under arrest at Irvington, and J. C. Schlitzbaum, the agent of the company, is held at Falls of Rough. Several days ago a man giving his name as J. W. Boatner. of Memphis, Tenn., appeared at the office of the (depress company at Deanefield, five miles from Fordsville, and said he wished tosend $30,000 to the latter point. Boatner -took a receipt for this sum, ami then the agent remembered that he was slewed to ship only $5,000 at one time, and made Boatner take the cash back. Boatner kept the money until the other night, when it was sent to Fordsville by express, where it arrived late the same night. The express agent, it is said, informed a number of people that the money had arrived. It was not put in Sank, as Boatner sent word that he would be there early the next morning. In the morning SChlitzbaum appeared it Falls of Rough, ten miles away. He said he was held up, robbed and kidnap?d during the night. He first decided to Stay at the depot all night, he says, but inally got nervous, and started to the lotel, which is only one square away. Berween the two places he was set upon ind robbed of the money by three men. The express people and the officers say that the, whole affair was a conspiracy to defraud the American Express Comwny out of $28,000. Boatner has the express company’s receipt for $28,000. When arrested the money was not found on his person. Boatier refuses to give any history of himtelf or his family other than that he ?ame from South America, and that his' father gave him the $28,000, which he iad won on horse races.