Merrill Confesses; Is Also Deserter

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Philadelphia Inquirer, August 20, 1915 -- Merrill Confesses; Is Also Deserter
Philadelphia Inquirer, August 20, 1915
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MERRILL CONFESSES; IS ALSO DESERTER. Defaulting Express Agent Would Now Like to Return to British Service. It was a sudden impulse that prompted Albert Merrill, or Mayall as he is also known, to take the $8000 entrusted to his care last Saturday as an agent for the Adams Express Company, according to his story to the Camden police last night, after his arrest at North Adams, Mass., Wednesday night. The arrest was the result of the police of that city being apprised of his supposed presence there by Detective Captain Schregler, of Camden, whose clue was a letter left by the man and which was addressed to the New England town. Merrill appeared to be rather pleased that he had ended his trip when he reached Camden. At least he did not take his plight very seriously, telling the police that he thought it very likely that if he made a clean breast of the matter the court would be lenient with him. He confided the fact that he had formerly been in the British navy and that he had "jumped" his service some years ago. Because of this and his offense he said he thought it likely the United States authorities would be willing to deport him and that his native land would be as pleased to have him aboard one of the warships. It was asserted by Merrill that there is no woman in the case. He had often acted as a messenger for the Adams Express Company during the three years of his employ, in which he had transferred large sums from various points, but had never been tempted to purloin the cash, according to his story. When he was sent to Wildwood Saturday to bring the $8000 to a banking institution in this city, however, he declared a sudden impulse came over him to convert the money to his own use. But for the fact that he decided to visit his brother at North Adams before he left for Canada the chances of getting him would have been slim. When he packed the money in his suit case and after he thought he had destroyed everything that might lead to his whereabouts, Merrill left immediately for North Adams where he went to his brother's home. It was when the two went to a hotel that the detectives made their appearance. The brother was mistaken for the man sought and he was surprised when he learned that it was Albert who was wanted for the embezzlement, nothing having been said by the express agent as to his peculation. Merrill admitted to Captain Schregler that it was his intention of going from North Adams to Detroit and thence into Canada and after that to make his way to Australia. After a time he said he planned to return to England.

Defaulting Express Agent Would Now Like to Return to British Service

It was a sudden impulse that prompted Albert Merrill, or Mayall as he is also known, to take the $8000 entrusted to his care last Saturday as an agent for the Adams Express Company, according to his story to the Camden police last night, after his arrest at North Adams, Mass., Wednesday night. The arrest was the result of the police of that city being apprised of his supposed presence there by Detective Captain Schregler, of Camden, whose clue was a letter left by the man and which was addressed to the New England town.

Merrill appeared to be rather pleased that he had ended his trip when he reached Camden. At least he did not take his plight very seriously, telling the police that he thought it very likely that if he made a clean breast of the matter the court would be lenient with him. He confided the fact that he had formerly been in the British navy and that he had "jumped" his service some years ago. Because of this and his offense he said he thought it likely the United States authorities would be willing to deport him and that his native land would be as pleased to have him aboard one of the warships.

It was asserted by Merrill that there is no woman in the case. He had often acted as a messenger for the Adams Express Company during the three years of his employ, in which he had transferred large sums from various points, but had never been tempted to purloin the cash, according to his story. When he was sent to Wildwood Saturday to bring the $8000 to a banking institution in this city, however, he declared a sudden impulse came over him to convert the money to his own use. But for the fact that he decided to visit his brother at North Adams before he left for Canada the chances of getting him would have been slim.

When he packed the money in his suit case and after he thought he had destroyed everything that might lead to his whereabouts, Merrill left immediately for North Adams where he went to his brother's home. It was when the two went to a hotel that the detectives made their appearance. The brother was mistaken for the man sought and he was surprised when he learned that it was Albert who was wanted for the embezzlement, nothing having been said by the express agent as to his peculation.

Merrill admitted to Captain Schregler that it was his intention of going from North Adams to Detroit and thence into Canada and after that to make his way to Australia. After a time he said he planned to return to England.

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