Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 31, Number 363, 24 March 1907 — Page 8
Page Eight.
The Richmond Palladium and Sun-Telegram.
HOW UNCLE SAM'S POSTOFFICE INSPECTORS CATCH. THOSE WHO PILFER VALUABLE MAIL
One Who Has Served Long in the Work Tells of the Tricks of the Long-Fingered Employes, and How They Are Detected. In view of the fact that in recent months there has been investigations carried on at the local postofflce, by federal Inspectors which have Invari - ahlv resulted in canturine those who ,mn0r with th. Tnails a recent Interview with a United States govern ment inspector, stating how the work of running down postofflce thieves is accomplished and the cases in which he himself was interested, are parti cularly interesting. During the course of his conversa tion he said: "No thief is harder to entrap than .. ... - fco uhn rnhr tho TTnUert States mails and in looking after this class of people last year the government spent $347,448.48 during the fiscal year. Postoffice Thief Ingenious. The methods of the postofflce thief are so ingenious, his plunders is easlJy "hidden or destroyed and his rascalfty is so well masked by the honesty and Integrity of his associates, that iti i3 an extremely hard tasTc to locate him. The culprit not infrequently -.Tvir,0, -hi nnorotinnQ fr irAnra befor he Is finally overwhelmed with the proof of his guilt, disgraced and eent to prison. Though letters and Taluable ones, too, are stolen every day and keen eyed inspectors are hunting high and low for the thieves, arrests for this class of crime are comparltively few. There Is a very good reason for this, as the govern ment postoffice inspector has to be reaRonahlv sure of his man before the ,1 ,r,cf TOni B,M, ho ln9nr is sure or his ground. Many months elapse before guilt can be established. The postoffice Inspectors take no chances of failure and when they ar-1 rest a man for tampering with tne l malls they are confident that they are . , , A . . stances, where the culprit has always home the best of reputation they may easily prove an alibi. Yes sir the inspectors have to catch a man with the goods on him. Circumstantial evidence plays no part whatever. It be positive evidence before the man Is arrested. The inspectors keep a close watch on the out of office actlons of the men under suspicion and when it Is reasonably established that he is spending more money than that which his salary will justify, a trap is laid and he falls in sooner or later. Occasionally thire Is a verdict of "not guilty" when a man is tried be fore the courts, but he is given to un derstand tliat he Is not wanted in the service any longer after he receives such a verdict. It would Indeed be strange if the thousands of clerks who constitute the geat mail army of the country were all honest men. It would be stranger still if all of them could withstand the temptations that con stantly arise a"s they handle the mil Hons of precious letters and parcels which are carried in pouches througn all the ramifications of the railway systems. The government does not guarantee the safe delivery of letters or parcels, but as a matter of precau tion it provides the money order and register letter system to prevent me sending of valuable letters and parcels through the general mail. But even letters and parcels sent by money or der or registered letter are not sacred to the mail thief. He robs them with j as little impunity as the humblest letter that falls into his possession. Culprits Generally Caught. The only protection against the tbiieves which the public has is the postoffice Inspector. His" influence ovear the morals of the men throughout the great and intricate postoffice department Is simply amazing as his ways ana actions are always mysSerious and he seems to be the proverbial 'Johnny on the spot.' I do not want you to ieei tnat i am nattering tayself while talking, as I am not. I am speaKing- vi tne posioince mspecti . . . I tors tnrougnout the United btates. But at any rate a postoffice inspector is peneraiiy successrui in rounding up Ills prey. It -nay take weKs and it may take months and sometimes years or probably only a single day but In the long run the culprit generally meets the fate of which he is deservtne unnea btates inspectors are conimed to uneen durerent divisions and they work in tracing criminals under the direction of a chief. Ours Js the greatest detective system in the world With our badges cm we L can go into any postoffice and gain Immediate access to the books, stamps and cash. It makes no difference to us whether the postmaster is looking for us or not, we do not care. Our best work is accomplished when they are not looking for us. Of course in hunting for criminal employes we have to consult with the postmaster in all cases and he has to help us. Postmasters Easily Caught. "Crooked postmasters are much easier to catch than clerks and carriers who rifle letters. This is due to the fact that all postoffices are inspected at regular intervals and should there be any delinquencies in the books we are bound to catch them sooner or later. Postmasters cannot keep up their crooked work long with out detection, but a crooked clerk or employe may go for years without the slightest suspicion, in that he is better able to cover his tracks. Men in t le service for years learn to tell by trie touch and smell of letters whether It contains money. It is an easy matter for a clerk to put a "feel good" letter into his pocket and open it in the privacy of his home, take out the money and burn the envelope and letter. Sometimes the letters are opened by holding the envelope over a kettle and steaming It, which causes the mucilage to soften and the fold to ep-j
en; the money taken out the envelope
resealed and the letter sent on to its destination. Two Ways to Catch Them. "There are two ways to catch a postoffice thief. One is by constant watching and the other by decoy letIters; with these and a large supply of patience the game can generally be landed. It often requires months to catch one of these thieves. It is one of the most annoying and difficult Mines of detective work a man ever 1 engaged in and requires the most earnest application. Not a single cir cumstance or detail must be overlook ed or neglected. Of course luck helps us out sometimes as was the case in a certain city where several inspec tors were trying to ascertain where and who was taking valuable letters. There came an exceptionally heavy rain one day in the town where the office was located, and it was founS that there was a leak in the roof I 1 4, t "" lUK waier uirecuy upon assorting table. The roof had to ,e'Jd"eu ana A worKman was caI1" I f d TT B?U opened a Sd sized hole 111 Lue vv"en ims noie was Pen" ed an inspector went to the postmastCI uu lo wunaraw tne om me rooi as ne wantea l" , uuse"BUOM irPm inat p,oint- Jhe superintendent immediatwuikiuiu ana uie "per went 10 me rooi amidst tne aownpouring rain. He looked down thl?"fh J hole several moments fnd Ms efforts were soon rewarded as he .saw ?e of the clerks clsely exauiiue a. idier una. men sup it into his pocket. The inspector Immediately left the roof and went into the office and fronted the man. At first he protested his innocense but when the inspector reached into the clerk's "u 1U11U lue ieiier ine """" l" nas anu e was Placed within the confines of the come alones. It is needless to say r " " " n,T . enams' " ,7" J ',,U,M.U , a'"u s- " T J J " , m" , 7 ' eral letters containing money had f " "i"8 hs ce- hfe " , rC L " " 7" Xr'Jl""" , r "u .u,777"? " yusmuu wmcn ; " " " r 7 7 . afure yu; a I had to sit in the bfslJet twenty minutes before the tici xuautr lueir appearance upon the scene. My back was breaking but I stuck to it, determined that I was going to see all that was going on. My efforts were soon rewarded as one of the clerks had a letter spot ted. This I could tell by his warv
News of the Railroads I by Local and General o.owenkuhn
LOCAL AGENT NOTIFIED. PULLMAN AND SLEEPER CAR SERVICE OVER C, C. & L. Loca People Can Leave Here at 7 and Catch a Sleeper at Muncie For the Windy City. In conjunction with the announcement that the through trains would begin running through to Chicago April 7, the local C. C. & I,, ticket agent has also received the Pullman and sleeper car arrangement. Richmond people desiring to take a sleeper for Chicago on the nig'at trains can leave Richmond at seven o'clock in the evening and on arriving at Muncie can immediately enter a sleeper wnich wni be dropped there by the morning train, south bound. The sleeper northward is held at Muncie until v ht exDress from cincinnatI to Chicaeo Dicks it ud. There was gome thoueht of dropping the sleeper at Richmond each morning but it was not thought feasible as there was no use ln bringing It this far south This arrangement for the north bound sleepers will remain in vogue untn the more elaborate trains are Diaced in service.' At that time it is pr0bable that Pullman cars will be I run thrniiE'h the entire distance from Cincinnati to Chicago and vice-versa PAYS NO ATTENTION. According to the information just irlvtm nut fVio Ponnsvlvania Taimart hauling fruit cars to the east' from California and when the cars return they are loaded with other kinds of freight, such as farming implements and merchandice. The owners of the private car lines, it is said, are kicking but the "Pennsy" is paying no heed, as the road is badly in need of cars and is using the private car lines in order to help relieve freight conditions. WILL BE TAKEN OUT. The Pennsylvania offices here have received notice that all thirty thousand pound capacity freight cars will be taken out of service owing to the fact that the shippers are demanding cars of greater, capacity. The S0.000 lbs. capacity cars are being greatly favored by shippers and the railroad is building cars of this size. There will be several thousand Pennsylvania freight cars thrown out under this order, although a car of most any character is needed badly at present. 4 PAINT WILL BE TESTED. The Pennsylvania has issued notice, that several brands of paint will be used in the different shops over the southwest system, in order to find the kind which will be best for painting of engines. The wear on the paint on engines. Is considered the worst.
actions. He was a green horn at the business I could tell that, for an experienced man never hesitates when he wishes to pilfer a letter. The clerk sized the missle up for several seconds and then slipped it into his pocket. Well I didn't do a thing , but raise up out of the waste basket right under his nose. I wish you could have seen the expression on the boy's face. He turned as pale as the proverbial ghost and the next thing I knew he was lying at my feet in a dead faint. I really thought for a time he was dead but he came to after several moments, and I soon hustled him off. Back of it all however I felt sorry for the man, for he must have had at least a thousand and one conflicting ideas and emotions running their way
through his mind, soul and body as I raised out of the waste basket. Likes to Catch Robbers. "There is a class of people who I take great delight in capturing and that is postoffice burglars and robbers, those men who break into offices and blow the safes, secure the loot and make their get-away. "As a general rule these men are 'yeggmen. those bums and hoboes who are confirmed crooks, and go travelin? over the country, looting everything that comes in sight. As a general thing they carry no tools with them, but use those materials with which the can get a hold of, when arriving in a town, where the depredation is to be committed. Some ot them carry small drills with them all the time, but as a general rule such is not the case Thes 'yeggmen are the worst crimi nals with which we have to deal, but they are not as hard to capture, as we can take the police departments of the different cities into our confidence and as the result, the whole country is keeping a look-out for this class of crooks. But when we are after a postoffice clerk who is rifling the mails we have to work single handed and as th remit it lakes much more time." Secret Passageways Always Locked Owing to the great publicity which has been given the arrar gements of the passageways in the local federal build ing. Postmaster Snekenhier is almost daily besieged with requests by those unacc ".aiiied with poslolfice ruies to go through the passageways, in which the federal inspectors watch the move ments of the clerks and others in the office. Crowds of school children coming to Richmond from country schools, invariably seek the postoffice building, and ask to get a glimpse of the passageways. This they cannot do for two rea sons. The postoffice rmes forbid it, and second there are no keys in the city which will fit the' door leading to the inspectors lookout. These are owned solely by postoffice inspectors, all locks on such doors being of uniform pattern. i and the brand that more successfully goes through the tests to be made, will be adopted by the road for future use. The Pennsylvania uses about 700,000 gallons of paint each year on its engines, and the firm that gets the plum will be decidedly lucky. TRAINS TO COME OFF. It is given out at the local Pennsylvania station that according to rumors circulating along the entire Pennsylvania system there would be many accommodation trains taken off on the various divisions because of recent adverse legislation regarding passenger rates and mail contracts. Local ticket agents are awaiting the new Pennsylvania time cards, which will be i3sued within the course of the next few days and It is understood that at least two accommodations on the Richmond division will be taken off. It is thought but not known, that an accommodation will be, taken off east of Richmond maKing a total of three. The removal of the latter train however is merely conjecture. It is learned at the local Pennsylvania station that all division operators will soon be required to give all telegraph operators along the division an examination in the book of rules of the company. The operators it is said are fearing the examination as no date will be set and all are study ing their spare moments in prepara tion. SCORE BIRD ORNAMENTS. Kokomo Women Condemn the Use of Natural Plumage on Hats. The following probably will be of interest to a number of Richmond women and especially to the club circles of the city: Kokomo, Ind., March 23. At the meeting of the Symposium the use of birds as hat ornaments was condemned. The women, In particular, singled out the abuse in relation to aigrettes, where the mother bird is killed for a tuft of feathers, while the young are in the'nest and need her so badly. The women declared this practice wicked and cruel and defended by no just reasons. Several of the women of the club wore hats with bird plummage on, but it was found that this ornamental work was artificial ajid that the life of no bird had been sacrifioed. The action of the Symposium is all the more noticable as it is one of the most conservative of women's clubs In Kokomo. The chief paper of the occasion was read by Miss Minnie Bruner of Wabash. The meeting became a defense of the English sparrow. Its virtues and good points were exhaustively discussed by - the Symposium. It was determined to be the "cheer of the winter reason."
IS SATISFIED III
WASHINGTON STATE Goldie Moore Writes of Big Bend Country and Its Many Advantages. LAND IS RISING IN VALUE. HARVEST COMMENCES IN JULY AND IS SELDOM EVER BOTHERED BY. RAINS THE ELEMENTS ARE QUIET. Goldie Moore, who has located 160 acres of land in Douglas county Washington the Big Bend county sends a long article to relatives in Wayne county descriptive of the country. The following are extracts: The altitude of the country is 1.300 feet above sea level, which accounts for the excellent climate to be found at any time of the year. Pure air blows up the valley of the Columbia and makes it exceptionally healthful at all seasons. Our winters are usually mild, the thermometer rarely going as low as zero. The summer weainer is nevei too hot and the nights are always cool, one or more pair of blankets be ing needed for comfort. Such a thing as sunstroke or a tornado is unknown, and electrical storms are very rare The government records for the past ten years show that the annual preci pitation has been 18 1-2 Inches. The soil is a very light brownish substance, slightly resembling ashes, and is mostly volcanic ash and sandy loam. The value of land in the Quincy val ley ranges from $5 to $25 per acre, the changes in the value being the loca tion and not the soil. To show the county Is coming to the front it might be stated that four years ago any of this land could be bought from 50 cents to $1 per acre. A few of the homesteads and honestead relinquishments can yet be obtained in this valley, but newcomers are rapidly taking them In. Douglas county has the purest of soft water. Wells are dug or drilled from 60 to 300 feet deep, and the sup ply of water is inexhausible. , Failure to obtain water within that depth is unknown. The Columbia river bounds the country on the west and south, and with the railroad offers excellent advantages for transportation. Harvest commences about the first of July and continues until October, and is very seldom if ever bothered with rain. The Big Bend country is the land of big green crops, big red apples, big pumpkins, big melons and big. pros pects. Short mild winters and long mild summers. The cnincn cmg, poiaio bug, Hessian fly and weevil are unknown here. Vegetables are immense and always good and tender. Irriga tion is not necessary. No fertilizers are used, not even manure, and our old settlers will tell you their land is becoming more productive each year. Fall seeding commences about Sep tember first, and continues as long as the weather will permit, sometimes until nearly Christmas. Earthquakes, cyclones, blizzards droughts, sunstrokes, grasshoppers, ' potatoe bug, chinch bug and crop fail ures are not known in this fortunate land. The Symposium is closing a rarely successful and profitable year under the presidency of Mrs. W. H. McClurg, who retires soon to be succeeded by Mrs. M. P. Elliott, a leading society and literary woman of Kokomo. Bad breath, coated tongue, a 7an guid feeling, is entirely unnatural. Your lazy liver and bowels neej a tonis. The best soothing tonic to every organ is Holllster's Rocky Mountain Tea. 33 cents, Tea or Tablets. A. G Luken & Co. Chicago, Cincinnati & Louisville Railroad Excursions. BENEVOLENT and PROTECTIVE ORDER OF ELKS Philadelphia, Pa., July 15th-20th, 07. Round trip fare, $17.15. Sell ing dates July 12th, 13th and 14th, good for return trip until July 23rd, '07. KNIGHTS TEMPLARS CONCLAVE AT SARATOGA SPRINGS, N. Y. July 9th to 13th inclusive. Round trip, $15.45. Selling dates July 5th, 6th and 7th, good for returning until July 13th, 1907. JAMESTOWN EXPOSITION AT NORFOLK, VA. Opens April 26th, closes Nov. 30, 1907. Coach fares, in coaches only, $12.85 for the ROUND TRIP; these tickets on sale every Tuesday until close of Exposition, limit 15 days. 30 Day Tickets .....$18.10 60 Day Tickets ........v. 21.40 Season Tickets 24.00 CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR CONVENTION AT SEATTLE, WASHINGTON. July 10th-15th, 1907. One fare for round trip. AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION AT ATLANTIC CITY, N. J. Selling dates June 1st to 4th, good for returning June 10th. Fare for ROUND TRIP $18.40. For Further particulars, ask C. A. BLAIR, Home Phone 44. Pass. A Ticket Agt. Use artificial eras tor Uihl and beat.
PennsyByanii
LINESEXCURSIONS TO Jamestown Exposition Norfclk, Va. April 19 to November CO. Choice of a number of attractive routes. LOS ANGELES, CAL. April 27 to May 1 Mystic Shriners May 7 to 15 German Baptist Brethren. Good going one route, returning another. ATLANTIC CITY, N. J. May 31 to June 3 American Medical Association. SARATOGA SPRINGS, N. Y. July 5, 6 and 7 Knights Templar. BOSTON, MASS. July S, 9 and 10 Y. P. C. U. PHILADELPHIA July 12, 13 and 14 B. P. O. E. One-way Second-class Colonist Tickets to Idaho, Montana, Mexico and Pacific Coast Points at Unusually Low Fare daily during April. AROUND THE WORLD. Tours $610 and upward. For full particulars consult C. W. Elmer, Ticket Agt., Richmond, Ind. WOT H. C. Eullerdick . Son are in posi tion for making contracts with grow ers, who are raising Corn and Toma toes, for Canning purposes for iau. Anyone wanting to contract can call at factory or call phone 1235 and let us know and we will send one of our representatives to call and see you. We are contracting for Tomatoes at $8.C0 per ton, for this season. sfr. l New Quick Meal Gasoline Stoves J Just received at Hall's Hardware Store 915 Main St. .1. ) MORE I lTEiiT NO LESS US WHY PAY MORE? FOR SALE A good 160 acre farm, sugar tree land, 25 acres in timber, 700 standing sugar trees. Good buildings, abund ance of water. A bargain if sold soon Write, WM. G. BAKER, R.'R. No. 1. New Paris, Ohio. DR. PARK, DENTIST, 8 North 10th St., Richmond, Ind. SETS H. R. DOWNING & SON, UNDERTAKERS 16 N. 8th St., Richmond, Ind. Both Phones 75. BURPEE'S BULK. SWEET f rr- a crcne kjii ven f r I ADC DWARF AND TALL NASTURTIUM. PHONE 292. HADLEY BROS. 4 M lit! n DR. W.J.SMITH DENTIST.. m I i 1103 Main Street, Ground rioor i $ Schneider Carriage Factory. : Bring In your Vehicles ana nave them repaired for the spring -j and summer. Rubber Tiring New work to order. All work 4 guaranteed. 4D n. tttn si. 1 i Moore tOgborn a Write Fire and Tornado InsurT ance. We will bond you. Loans from (100 to $2,500. Phons Home 1589, Bell 53 R. ROOM 16 1. O. O. F. BUILDING. SEE THAT MORGAN, 8th and N. E. Want to Sell: Have had 15 years successful. A $24 renter, good loca tion, $2,000; a $22 renter, $2,500; a 5 room house, $S00 ($100 cash, baL $3 per mo.); a 3 room $500 ($100-50 cash, balance $7 per mo.); cash to loan from $500 to $3,000. Quite a number good investments. Good Place For Him. Shopwalker What's to be doae with Jenkins, sir? He's turned quite deaf temporarily, I hope, but still It's awkward, you know. Proprietor Ob, Jenkins! Turned deaf, has be? Tben send bim to the customers complaint counter. Smiles.
ICES
Artificial gas. the 20ih century fuel 10-tL
lucumona nonumeni lo.
33 North Eight SL Fhone 1457 Richmond, Ind. JOHN A. HABING 331 S. 6th St. Staple and Fancy Groceries FLOUR and FEED. I'honk H70 The Morris Nursery for all kinds of Hardy Ornamental Trees, Shrubs, Vines. Evergreens. E. H. BELL, Prop. Phone 309. Nat. Road East. DR. A. B. PRICE DENTIST 14 and 15 The Colonial.. Phone 6S1 Lady Assistant. 4 Notice, Farmers ! "Doddo" 22721 the Imported French Percheron Stallion, better known as the "Clevenger" horse, and Prince Wilkes, will be at my farm this season, 22 miles north of Richmond, on the Middleboro pike. The public is invited to call. A. H. PYLE, Phone 805-C. R. F. D. No. 4. WM. WAKING Plumber and Gas fitter Bicycles and Sundries Phone 1482. 406 Main St. Riley's Seed Corn Big Four and National Seed Oats and Seed Potatoes. Lawn and Garden Seeds, Fertilizer, Etc. Wm. Hill & Co. Both Phones 398. 913 Main Street. Kid Gloves Cleaned : Richmond Dry Cleaning Co. :: Office 1024 Main St. Old Phone 412 New Phone 15S1 raoHuraEHTS And MARKERS Best Material and WorkmausnTp. II. C. H ATT AW A Y", No. 12 North 6 th Street. PALLADIUM WANT ADS PAY.
Brs. Chenoweth & Dylteman DENTISTS Masonic Temple, Cor. 9th and North A Ots
1 RICHMOND AUTOMOBILE AGENCY I
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AND GARRAGE WE ARE AGENTS FOR THE WELL KNOWN MACHINES Dayton, Stoddard, Mitchell, Pope Waverly, Electric, Maxwell, Holseman See us before you buy. t 1207 MAIN STREET PHONE 425
The Time, the Place and the Show Always is THE THEATOCSOUCl' 620 MAIN STREET Where the Latest Motion Pictures are shown. For Thursday, Friday and Saturday they have the Fairy Tale in Pictures entitled, "The Troubadour and the Witch," and the Pretty Rough Rider Ballad, "The Boys in Brown." They also have the Comic Picture entitled "A Skating Lesson." Get the habit Visit the prettiest little five-cent theatre In Indiana and the cost is only 5 cents. , THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY. The Fairy Tale Retold in Picture. "The Troubadour and the Witch.' Teddy's Favorite Rough Rider Ballad, "The Boys In Brown." Continuous Performance from 1 to 11 p. m. Admission 5 cents.
ROLLER SKATING AT THE COLISEUM TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY SSTla AiZ;-t Music furnished by the Monster Military Band Instrument at all times. Prize Mask Carnival April 4
THE LATEST
No. 4 FOLDING Pocket Kodak 4x5 Built Like the No. 3 A and same price $20.00 We have a very complete line of Photo Supplies. W. H. ROSS DRUG CO S04 Main St. Richmond. General Furniture Repairing. Upholstering and Refurnishing. Second-hand Furniture Taken In Exchange. J. B. HOLTHOUSE, (Successor to S. P. Weiss) Thone 472. 124 S. 6th SL -fi ati if ati A tl 1 ROBT. HERFURT & SOU Repair All mnas UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE 1237 MAIN. PHONE 1717. - - l i t i I I ill ill iti if i rfi A 4 I The GOLD THAT HANGS Oil t is more dangerous than t Why not try Z COLD TABLETS? fThey drive a cold right out J f A. 1 'M. J X oi your system ana it aoes t not come bade it tney oo t not we reiuna ine money. Price 15c Per Bottle I ADAMS' DRDG STORE. H'H"Hfi'mi MONUMENTS AND MAKTTEHrti We have a large stock to select from. Prices, reasonable. Rtohgaoad Marble and Granite Works.. Jobs Hallowell. Prop. 15 S. 10th. FHONE 794 cor the best grades oV COAL AND COKE. JL HARSH COAL AND SUPPIT.CO. FOB SALE BR0WNELL ENGINE, In good condition. Second-hand Well Machine, ' Fine Shape. JACOB KERN. 1st and Richmond-AT, PENSION Attorney and Hotarj PabK'o with an office on the first floor el the Court House will gtre 700 bef service ln all pension, matter. Alonzo Marshall. Richmond. Ind. SPECIAL Phone No. 936 'Calls the Large Empire Moving Cars. At- WINTERSTEIN, Prop. 623 Main St.