Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-09-10
ROBBERY OF THE MAIL.

Robbery OF THE MAIL.
very dark and niyxtei ious transaction has
come into view during the present week. On
Monday morning Treasury dt aft on the
Branch Bank OF the u. ). was presented "a, the
counterof the bank for payment. Mr.. Priddy
(the Teller immediately recolle cted that this
very draft had already been paid and cancel
led, and saw IN II the marks OF the cross with
winch discharged checks are uniformly stamp
cd. his circumstance, of course, gave rise
10 some suspicion aud OIL further enquiry il
came out, that this Treasury draft, with two
Others. had been made up, in one of the week
~ ieturns OF August, by the Cashier of Tins
office. put into the post office, and foryrai ded
TO the Mother Bank in Philadelphia. "A letter
had been received from the Mother Bank,
stating the failure of that weeks returns.
L he man who presented the draft, and gave
OUT lis Dame tn he John Croker Cor D0ckard)
was carried before the Chief Justice, To whom
lie stated thai he had obtained the draft from a
man OF the name of Webb, on Saturday last, III
tins city. lie WAS ordered into custody. On
ms way TO the Jail, lie spIed man standing AT
the Bell Tavern. whom he pointed out To the
ofhcer III attendance as y ebD. 80. Webb was
accordingly taken into custody and committed
Jail. His person was searched, and 10 dis
coseries made but from the lining OF his hal
was taken pocket book. which contained Sc.
verai papers. These, Webb Snalched from
Tie hands oil The officer aud attempted 10 de-
stroy thenl-but they we've again wrcsled from
him by main force
He said thai his clothes were in the trunk OF
gentleman, }. A. Caldwell, then AT The Bell
with whom he travelled from Frederick burr
10 ilils city. Mr.. {. readily gave up the packet
oharphc alton. enclosing with some clothes tw o
other pocket books. The three puckgt books
Contained, among others papers Of Tie follow
Ing description. ...i. The iwu other missing
treasury drafts. z. draft for s IU1O ircm
the NewDein Bank, OF Angus; q drawn on The
ta>iher OF the Bank OF Pennsylvania. endois-
ed, aud RENTED Gti supp 1se;D by Archibald
Bdn:b, Cashier OF the Farmers Branch Bank
nj for ~htItn a a
nan Branch bank note Of one hundred dollars,
renited by Philip Ei>trr. OF tBis civ TO
Benjamin Warner Of PhIiadelI,i,in A so
dollar note OF the Planters ~ Mechanics Bank
oil South Cai DINA, WHICH had been cut in two
by TIE remtier, and the two piece, VI which
iao Deen subsequently pasted together by a
narrow sip OF White paper cut from larger
piece fonnd III The rockei book. The slip eN-
aclly and curiousS tiiied The part cut ont s.
a 10 dollar note oil The bank OF The Stale of
South Carolina. .,.t
webb conie>ses his real nau.e 10 be John Il
Rice: liz appears, HAL he is a slater, once re-
side'. perhaps IN Lancaster, Penn is SAID TO
have worked ~ las i,dtlr in this clty and 4,
supposed 10 have resided last ia Fredericks-
burg. lie asserts that lie picked up these PIT
pers Oh the ROAD lew miles on this side OF
Alexandra
NIr. Caldwell asserts his perfect innocence
| III The Whole transaction. He came 10 tins
| cIty ~ company with Rice, To sell pair oil
horses, aud 10 receive some money for which,
RICE WAS Indebted To him.. RIVE by coming
here, eApectedto convert some South Carolina
hoiea into funds more suitable tO.his wishes
IL Is aScerIaIned, that the mail which was
robbed was made ~ at the Richmond past
Office, or the night OF Monday the 10Th Aug
acheck sent on Ia the same mail by the Virginia
| Bdnk has not yet reached its destination =.
| expected bnt what other papers are yet ini.s
| ihg. where aud how the rubbery was perpe-
| tIaied, whether III a house or on the road are
| d wrap IN perfect mystery Ii l. suspected
that the mail was robbed between ths eat,
and alexandria. II Rice he guilty, il is sns-
| rected he had acconpIices ia his guilt.