The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-09-26
Arrcst ON llniI lsobbcr.

On Sunday morning last our village was
thrown into much excitement 10y the ares, Of
Mr.. RsxsglarR WoonnuFr, assisian, deputy
postmaster a, this parc, for robbing the mail al
this office. The particulars arc, as near as we
can assertion them, rs follows:
For the last MONTHS i, has been known by
the proper officers tina, dcprcIaors were cont
mi,,cd on the moil bags ,.mewhere b,twten
Springfield and Chicago, and vrrious o'her
points TO the n,rh' BY careful VIZ .lancc on the
part Of Gen. stewar., thepo, nas.cr at Chicago,
snd his energetic clerks, they were fiually con-
,,nccL that the robbcries were commitcl somt
where between Henncp'r md Chicago, onl ,fom
continued excrtions and examinations were led
to strongly Suspicion The Office at this place.
Accordingly the moai cautious and effective
means were used to feri,, GU, the william end
bring him to justice. Several traps were Sc, by
the pos, Office a, Chicago, hut they all failed ex.
cegt the lost enc, which led TO the discove and
arrest on Sunday morning LIST.
The department, had employed Mr.. Larabee,
masters in the suspected quarter, and he accor-
dinghy accompanied the mel end made cxami-
nations. On Saturday a'iernoon It, after the
mailacft this Office, he found that the " bait
il, but yet wus no. satisfied tina, any guilt could
be established unless further examination would
prove il. lie accordingly had the necessary
papers prepared on Saturday evening for the ar
rest on the morning, should the circumstano's
warrant. The sheriff and his deputy were noti-
fed, Che papers placed in their possession, and
every thing IN rca illness. Early on Sunday
morning Mr.. Larabee repaired to the post Office,
the sheriff and his deputy keeping at the proper
distance SO as not % csuse suspicion sWd to pre-
vent escape. The agent entered the bed cham
Der Of Woodruff, found him in bed, informed him
'ihS he was post Office agent, silqured about
the management Of the Office and also those in
the neishborhood, all Of which were propoundcd
by the agent for the purpose of fully ascehaining
and fastening the robbery on him. After the
conversation ended Woodruff remained uncon-
soioas VI sDy thing being suspected. The agent
became satisfied Of his guilt, gave the prope, sip-
nal to the sheriff, who at once arrested him.
During the excitement attending the arrest, Mr.
Alison Woodruh, who is postmaster and lives
some distance from the Office, came in the room
and invit the agent 10 make a thorough cxam-
nation and fully satisfy himself on the subject.
During the search the wife Of the prisoner mani
tested much uncaSncss, and several times asccn
dcd and jeccndcd the stairs leading from the post
office TO the second story. Her movements were
closely watched by the officers, End she was f.
nally seen by the deputy sberF gathering up
some paper going out the back door end en-.
tcring the privy. The deputy sheI # pursued
her. accused her ofhaving The "m'sscd package,
&C., oil Of which she denied. The ag,n, was
'informrl Of tho a;'o"7's,' sc, who Immediately
osicrcd the floor Of the pr,y to I've taken up Fnd
search TO be made in the vault, where the pack.
age, containing six letters and $40 in money was
found thus placing the guilt beyond question.
The prisoner was then taken before Judge "a
ton, who after hearing the evidence, held him to
rail in the sum Of $500, for bis appearance
h'"' December FERN OF the U. :. Circuit Court
" w merit Springfield, in default Of which he
was com"''N-'o the county Jail, where h. now
remains.
is proper Tor US to s.. in this connection that
Mr.. Alison Woodruff the pos,n. ,,er is in now ise
implicatsl in this dreadful transac,.,. The Of.
familiar Ia n h,ntb..r o,l ,,hn h.r.tnIt
good character amor -, our citizens. The b,,.v
falls heavily on the family ana many sSmpalzc
ui,h them, but the requirements Of jus &C dc.
mani that the offender suilrr the penoiy Of The
law which ''nat !, than nytss in the .l,e's
prison.