New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-06-17
BOGUS POST-OFFICES.
DOhtS O'i WI II ~
To lA< Editor Of The ". y. Tibsne.

To A< Editor If The ". y. T,,bsae
Sir: The frauds upon the post-ofice revenues by
extensive countereiting OF postage stamps, said TO
have been recently brought 10 light, will, is hoped,
lead 20 thorough investigation OF the different rami-
fcstions OF the whole department. The facility with
which counterfeiters could successfully initiate the
genuine stamp was 80 great as to hold out strong
temptation 10 those rascas TO undertake lucrative
Job, one in which there little probability #
their being detected There were no signatures 10
forge 10 1ecuted vignettes TO initiate no water
or other peculiar mark to counterfeit in short there
was nothing at all TO do but engrsve a very rough,
ordinary plate, print thousands OF sheets nom H. gum
the backs peroraie the sides and ends and put them
in circulation. And who could tell the counterfeit, from
the genuine original article
The washing system, though simple IN Itself wa, Tar
more difficult TO carry to any extent; a. II required
the completely of other parties and the proceeds must
be comparatively limited. Yet, To such an extent may
that also have been carried on a. to be serious cur
,amen Of the receipts Of the department. lrecoect
a conviction in England, think il in 1919, for AT
ingenious yet simple fraud Of this kind. house IN
London in the habit Of sending, through the Post
Office hume pack ages to branch houses agents
in the provinces. These packages were always pre-
paid with stamps the face of which was washed over
with transparent gum, and allowed to dry. In the
Post Office, the celebrating mark and number was
stamped 3D. and all appeared to be rgnt--the packa-
ees were forw srded and delivered. sponge and q
tie water removed al traces Of the oblteraton,
and there stood the row of stamps, clean aud new
looking ever-ready TO be sent back the same way,
and used over and over again as before.
But there IT, believe a species of fraud practiced
on the Department at Washington which comes nearer
home TO il than either Of thesel refer to bogus Post-
Offices. Let me explain: Some patent medicine man,
qusck doctor, dscoyerer OF wonderful Invention,
publisher of some important work for "the treatment
and of all diseases that flesh, and bone too,
are heir to, other sharp, far-seeDg .windler
settles in outof.the way country place builds n
cabin and with all the apps industry OF an actual
bona de settler and respectable man. ingrstiaes HIM
self into the favor Of the farmers IN ms
neighborhood. He, having the prosperity OF the
place, which may be appropriately called Dodge
town. at heart gets the aforesaid farmers to Join lim
in a petition for the establishment of Post-ohlce
there In due season the prayer is granted and Ut.
Quack is. postmaster OF the new Post-once. mls
PORT thus gained be goes to work and mails his pills,
books circulars, pamphlets pros pectuses, &c stamp
ing them, 90 Dodgetown, APl |, 1859. Pad. Ac-
cordiDg to the regulations Of the Department Mr.
q. gets one-ha of the proceeds If his office, under
certain amount, per annum Tor his services, anu .ns
other half he coDtrves never to pay over unless II
suit his interest TO do He orders ana receives
without payment large quantities OF stamps
and stamped envelopes from Washington, OF which
an account is kept and he il called upon to settle
up half yearly. At the end of the hall year
the department draws upon him for the amount and he
pays the draft promptly because it suits his Interests
10 do co. He then orders large quantities OF stamps
ard receives them without question. Indeed ne IL
looked upon by the department as one of its most
efficient agents, and through his energy and ca
pacity, his Post Office is one Of the most pros
porous in his neighborbood. He Games on TINS
for time, and, shortly before the next hLfyesry
settlement required be sold out by his CREDITORS
those who printed his books and supplied the material.
for his pis-and when the dra comes Mr. Quaek has
" left the place" The department may or may not
write 10 the next Post Office and the Postmaster may
write back. informing the bureau that the gentleman
inquired for has busted up sold out and cleared o1f
and there's an end Of the matter This Willy swinder
has mailed several thousand books and packages for
nothing pockets many dollars worth oftanps which
| are money and walks away with impunity.
believe Sir that cases simer n this may be found
If the investigation Of the department be a. thorough
a. il ought 10 be. 1--WE
Ns,s- York June 8, 1859.