Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-04-11


MAIL RoBBERIEs.-Two important arrests
have been made in this vicinity recently, on
charges preferred by Mr.. Holbrook, of the
post office department. of depredations upon
the United Stctes mails.
1t appears that some time in October last,
a very valuable package was made up by the
cashier OF the Falmouth Bank, at Falmouth,
Mass, and deposited in the post office in that
town, addressed to the cashier Of the Suffolk
Bank of Boston. This package contained
valuabes TO the amount OF SoO00 S1700 in
the notes OF various New England banks, and
the ba ance consisting of checks, drafts, and
notes of hand. This package failed to reach
the Suffolk" and the mail records of the
Boston Office were silent as TO the receipt of
any such package, although the Falmouth
mail pouch came through us usual on the day
Ill question The loss was promptly reported
to the post office department, and tile special
agent sent 10 make investigation. He soon
made discoveries which satisfied him that the
package never got beyond Monument, a
small Office twelve miles from Falmouth,
kept in the railroad station, by Mr. Il. o.
Parker, who performs the double duty of de-
pot agent and postmaster. Matters were kept
quiet, secret investigations being continued
and a close watch kept upon the movements
of the suspected parties. A few weeks since
a 5000 bank note, known to have been in tile
missing packet, made its appearance, and was
with little difficulty traced to the hands of
Joseph 5. Hewins, the driver Of stage coach
running between Falmouth and the station
above named. Hewins' intimacy with the
postmaster, and his freedom in and about the
| post Office, were well known. The former
accounted for the possession of the $500 bill
by asserting that he had received it through
the mail from Boston, without the slightest
int h,,, - -
enclosed in an envelope bearing his address.
The envelope was produced and exhibited the
Boston postmark of Jan IL, 1861. The facts
(. beyond this, since developed, are not in our
possession, nor would it be proper to give
them publicity at this time, if they were
But we understand that they are quite con-
elusive as to how the envelope produced got
into the post office, and who put the address
upon it.
j. s. Hewins having been indicted before
the grand jury on the above charge, was ar
rested by the United States marshal few
days since, and is held for trial before the
United States circuit court.
| The second case is that of John J Gorham
of Berica, who is now under arrest awaiting
| his trial for unlawtully obtaining letters from
| the post office in Lowell, the same being the
| property of other parties. The accused it is
| said, has been i'll the habit OF visiting the
Lowell post office frequently, and calling for
letters not belonging to him, and purlonirg
| the contents when they contained any thing of
value. In this way he got possession it seems,
of two letters addressed to lady whose hus-
band is in California, both containing drafts
sent by him. These drafts were enclosed to
the cashier of the Exchange Bank OF this city
with request TO forward the proceeds to the
writer, GorLam. In one instance the money
was so sent, but repetition Of the same, led
to his discovery and arrest. 1t is believed
that other parties have been concerned with
Gorham in these bold and mischievous trans
actions.