Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-01-05
SECRETS OF THE POSTAL SERVICE
A TALK WITH A'DETEcrIvE.

A correspondent writes from Wash
ington an account of the skillful detec-
tions Of post Office robbers. lie saws
very large percentage Of depreda-
tions on letters is made by the families
of men who suffer (said DIR. Depro, the
detective,) as an example of which !
recall just now, the name of ceebra-
ted claim agent of Washington City.
Hewas in the habit of receiving every
day large fees from his clients in all
parts OF the country, and he came to
the post office to complain that guam
titles Of his letters were daily robbed
Of their remittances and returned to
the writers with taunting remarks
appended, as, "Didn't you think this
money was going straight" "You're
fool to think your cash can reach the
agent" "Robbed by the post office
man; try againp' The agent came
to the post Office with loud complaints
Of dishonesty there, and the postmas-
ter asked a detective to investigate
the case with the following result:
A son RoBBING HIS FATHER.
/ saw speedily that the emptied and
returned letters were superscribed
with the left hand. 1t bothered me
to know what object there could be
in thus returning the covers Of rob-
berry, and was sure that no post Office
clerk would be so absurd.
! dropped couple of letters to the
claim agent, and in day or two called
upon him.
eAYho gets your mail from the post
office p
"My son brings it every morning" I"
"Well, it's your son that is robbing
you"
The old man flushed up Indignantly
"My son, sir that's slander! 1t is
impossible! He is the soul OF honor,
and my chief assistant -
"Well, do you want me to examine
him?"
ayes, sir; but you will find It vain.
lie is my only SON"
Directly the boy came in, and | ad.
dressed him
'Did you receive, yesterday, two
letters from B--and J-P
"No, sir -
As he said this red line started
from his jaw and ran up TO his temples.
"Look here, said TO the father, 81
don't always believe in marks OF guilt,
but how is it your boys face flushes
like that when ! merely mention two
nhmesy Thomas, it is necessary that
/ search you"
"Therew said the father, "you never
were more off the track in your life. "
Thomas, said "where do you
sleep? / should like TO 90 TO your
room"
Arrived at his room opened cham
Der secretary, and there | saw one OF
the envelopes bad myself directed.
Thomas, what are you doing with
that envelope p
lie threw up his hands.
al own up" he cried ~ am the
depredator."
What did you return those letters
with remarks for, in your left hand
writingp
because did not want my father
to lose that money / wanted the
people to know that it had not come tc
hand,so that they might re-enclose it. d
took the boy again to his father
who said 10 tone Of triumph:
@Well, sir | suppose you are salts
fedp
"Yes I" said /, al am satisfed-that
your son is the thief"
"Father," said the boy, "he's right
lam guilty ("
The old man burst into tears.
al leave your boy with YOU" | con
oluded, "there is no charge against
him unless you make it,"
The son was soon after sent TO visit
the West
You would be surprised TO see, some
times, continued the detective, how
people become thieves by the mer,
habit Of handling valuables which ar,
exposed by somebody's carelessness
A short time ago package Of bond,
TO the amount Of $4,000 was stoler
in the New York city postofiicc They
had been sent from Newport, Rhod,
Island, and were for soldiers widows
warrants, etc, so that the outcry wal
natural, and it came from all sides
The bonds were too bulky to 20 insid,
an envelope, so they were tied 10 th,
envelope, but this fact VIC did no
ascertain till we found the thief TIL,
package was put in a ed-backed en-
velope, signiiying Registered letter
Now at the postoflice mail is tum
bled upon large table, and consecn
tive clerks 60 through il energetically
each picking out his portion. Firs
OF all comes the clerk Of rcgistcre,
letters-whieh are always importan
letters-and him We surrounded witt
spies for two years, in vain; for moth
ing was seen in any place or at an,
time to give Us q wink Of evidence
that he was the culprit.
The real thief-let me anticipate
was the nowspap per clerk, who handled
the mail some time aflerward. tn,
red-backed envelope turned undermos
IN the ransacking, and LETT the wrap
per on top, so that the registry clcrl
mistook il for a covered newspaper
lie therefore left il, aud so did success
sivc clerks, till the newspaper sorte
came along. Discovering this priz
among his hooks and newspapers. tn
latter was seized With sudden i'm
pulse to steal IT, aud it was at ono
transferred 10 the pocket Of bis over
cost which was hanging close by.