Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1867-03-01
Curious CASE OF MAIL ROBBERY,
Arrest Of Suspected Parties-A Complica.
" ted Affair.

CURIOUS CASE OF WALL
Arrest Of Suspected Parties-A Complica-
" ted Affair.
from the Chicago Times, Jan. 3lst j.
An alleged mail robbery came up,for
adjudication before Commissions Hoyne
Yesterday afternoon, which, in more
than one respect, is the most remarka-
BILE that has ever received a hearing be-
fore that magistrate. In brief, the sub
Joined sets forth the particulars of the
case:
Sometime during the month Of July,
1866, D. Markley, a merchant of Henne-
pin, ILL.,, forwarded at the same time
Eve or six different drafts on certain
banks of the city, to the credit Of va
rious parties, amounting 1.-the aggre-
gate to about $1,000. These drafts
were sent each in a different envelop.
Parties in this city failing to receive
their expected allowances, in the course
of Il month informed Mr.. Markley Of the
fact, and received answer that the drafts
had been properly dispatched. Acall
upon the banks revealed the fact that
the drafts had already been presented,
and the amounts they called for paid
over. As this was evidently a case OF
| mail robbery, the matter was given into
the hands Of special agent Wickizer,
who eventually traced the matter to
Joliet, and thence to one Of its most
prominent and wealthiest citizens,
named Patrick O'Connor. This indi-
vidual has hitherto been a sort OF Or
acle among the Irish people Of that sec
ton, and his opinion, good, bad or in
different, has always been accepted as
truth. When positive proof had been
adduced that O'Connor was the indi-
vidual who had collected the money on
the drafts, he was called upon for an
explanation. On the first accusation he
denied all knowledge Of the transaction,
but when the matter was more closely
pressed, he acknowledged to the fact OF
collecting the money on the drafts.
When Intercepted as to the n in
which he got possession Of the papers,
he gave the name Of Mrs. Margaret
Rogers, of Miuoka, IA small village near
Joliet, and Charles McPartier, Of Troy
(also heal Joliet, as the parties from
whom he received the same. These pnr-
sons were thereupon also arrested, and
brought for trial to this city.
Mrs. Margaret Rogers told such n
straightforward and apparently honest
story, and her own truthful c%ountenance
was so much in her favor, that she was
allowed to become a witness on the
part Of the State, and thereupon made
in substance the following remarkable
deposition /:
She stated that she resided with her
family in q small shanty, in the town OF
Minoka, near the railroad track. One
day last August, while engaged in pull,
ing grass for her pigs, she found deeply
imbeded in the mud, near the track, a
small package, done up in a piece o.
brown paper. Picking it up, she carried
it home, and, not knowing the value Of
its contents, she gave the engraved bills
TO her children for playthings. Neither
herself nor husband were able to read,
In the course Of the day she observed
the drafts more infinitely, and, at last,
thinking they might possibly be Of some
value, she took them to the house Of
Mr.. Charles McPartier for examination
This person was also ignorant Of the
mysteries of the spelling book, but knew
enough about money matters to see tina,
those little bits Of paper were drafts,
and perhaps valuable. To settle the
question be advised the woman to take
them to 0'Conuor, of Joliet, for m opin.
ion. This individual told her that they
were drafts, but unqueStionably Of nc
value.
But he expresses himself quite willing
to take charge Of them, and if anything
could be made by the transaction be
would give her part of the proceeds. To
this she consented. A day or two after
this a priest came to the house of Mrs,
Rogers, and she informed him Of the
circumstance. He instantly advised her
to re-possess herself Of the papers, and,
if possible, forward the drafts to their
legitimate owners. With this intent
she again paid a visit to 0'Connor, and
was informed that the papers had al
ready been dispatched to the proper
persons, but had proved Of no value.
Here the matter dropped until resusci-
tated by the active endeavors Of the de.
t~ective. This version was substantially
c~orroborated BY McPartier, who was
also allowed to appear as a witness.
How the drafts came into the pack
age, when each had been placed in a
separate envelope, is still a mystery.
The probabilities are that some post
office official is at the bottom of the
matter. In fact, if the story Of the wo-
man is true, and as to this there is
scarcely a doubt, there is no other solu-
ton. It is evident that some person,
being cognizant Of the contents of the
letters, and having access to the mail
on the train, riled them, and tying the
contents together, threw the package
out of the window, with the intention
of picking up and making use Of the
contents at his leisure, but, that, either
installing the locality, or for some other
reason, he subsequently failed in regain
ing them.
This evidence certainly cleared 0'Con-
nor of the charge Of robbing the mails,
but not of sundry other grave crimes,
and although the Ease was now some
what beyond the jurisdiction of a Com
missioner, Mr.. Hoyne, nevertheless,
held the prisoner TO bail in the sum of
s., 900, until he can be examined before
a more qualified tribunal. Take the
case in all its bearings, and it is GER
tainly q most intricate and remarkable
one. ..| ..' rrr'
A LEARNED DUTcHMAN.-A young
graduate of one of our colleges drives
up to the door Of q country hotel and