Delaware State journal and statesman., 1869-06-29
Robbery of the Brooklyn Pot Office

There was considerable excitement about the
Brooklyn post office on Wednesday morning, |
caused by the discovery that one OF the clerks
had been guilty Of purloining letters contain
ing money and articles of value, which he had
opened and had appropriated the contents to
his own use. The name of the clerk is Eugene
b. Tunnson, aged about 26 years, and who
occupied the position OF stamp clerk. His
countenance must be familiar 10 all who had
aonasion TO visit the post office for the purpose
of purchasing stamps. When the present
postmaster, the Hon. Samuel Booth took pos.
session on the 18th OF May last, he retained
all the employees, of whom large proportion
had been appointed by his immediate predeces-
sor, among them the accused Complaints of
missing letters were made to the Postmaster
before he fairly learned the routine of the Office
and became more numerous daily, until at last
he was convinced that there was a thief about
somewhere, but whom to suspect among so
many employed, he did not know, and so con
suited with MIR. James GaylOr, the special agent
of the post Office department. Both gentlemen
set to work quietly; night and day they
watched every one, Experimental with decOy
, letters, and every other expedient known Ia
. them was resOrted to in order to detect tho
i guilty party. Meantime, more complaints
4 came pouring in. Finally, ON the morning o
n the 10Th inst, the ianitor, whose duty it is Il
| sweep ont the Office, had occasion TO visit the
6 water closet (Which is under the stairs leading
y to the second floor, and Immediately opposite
i the Postmaster's private oiice,) The accusec
IS had been in the place inst before the ianito
= entered, The latter observed some mutilatet
letters in the basin, and secured few of them
| After he had cleaned the closet he came ont
and proceeded to other duties, at the sam
time keeping watch on Tunison, who, within
very short time, entered the closet for til
=. second time. On the second examination b.
the janitor he found more letters, and, ON til
e. arrival of the Postmaster, informed him {
no what had transpred. 1t now became evider
as to the identity of the guilty party, but pos
a; tive proof being deemed requisite, nothing wa
limited about the matter, but arrangement
Ils were perfected which resulted in the detectiu
1T of the accused, thus reducing a moral ce
tainty to a legal certainty. The Postmastt
u and Mr.. Gayler stationed themselves in til
y" private Office, and another party was stu
re. toned at place more convenient to Il
", closet. The accused entered, and after r,
w. naming for some time the door was opent
g, suddenly, and he was seen in the act Of placiI
n. ~ mutilated letters in the basn while in h
a coat pocket was large bunch OF unopened le
ters which he had not had time to dispose c
ay He was at once taken into the private Off
tIe and charged with the offence. While standil
there he leaned against the window sill, up'
a which were number Of books, and behil
ddl which he succeeded i'll placing the unopeh
Y' letters numbering sixty five - unperceive
sof twenty nVe iettefs We're taken lronl tnc sill
i, a The number of mutilated letters found in Il
ioi sink OH the 18th was forty, thus proving til
the accused did very extensive bnsines
ioo The residence of the accused was search
has during the afternoon, and a number of articl
of jewelry were recovered. Some of the
els were identified by MIR, Jas. McAluray, jewel,
ted isdi as having been put in packages and handed
for TunisOn in the post-office for mailing. u
Brooklyn post office has had bad reputati
M. for the past ten years, and the agent cOmplai
NsI- Si. that until Mr. Campbell, and now MIR. Boot
orth had charge of the Department, he never cou
do anything in ferretng out delinquents
nth the lack of o-operatfon.-N Y. Tribune.