The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-03-28
A Mali Robber apped-Incident I'm
! the Experiences OF q Detective I'm
the Posa-Office Department - The
Danger Of Using Plug Tobacco.

!
A special detective connected with the
Chicago post-ofilce some time ago "worked
up" q case and brought it to successful
termination, which has in it many elements
which are calculated to impress themselves
In marked manner upon the minds of those
who peruse this article. A registered letter
was forwarded to this city which ought to
have contained five huDdred-dollar bills; but
when the envelope was opened the money
was missing. AS is usual in such cases, the
matter was placed in the hands of IN expert
enced and skilful person assigned to the duty
of bringing criminals to justice, with in
structions to make thorough and rigid In
yestigation. The task was one well calcu-
lated to battle the skill Of even these experts
in the art Of detecting crime. The envelope
arrived here intact, and to all appearances
had not been tempered with In the least.
What, then, could be done? There was not
the slightest clue, and the detective finally
abandoned the matter in despair Of success.
But one day, from what motive he did not
himself realize at the time, the officer took
the envelope, soaked it in water, and care
fully removed the portion where the sealing
process had been effected. BY the assist
ance of microscope, he found that small
particles Of plug tobacco still adj
hered to the paper, and from this
fact became convinced that whoever
wet the muciiage of the envelope
must have used that description of the
weed. Here, then, was found faint clue
upon which the investigation might be con-
tinued. He determined, in the first place,
Of the offices through which the letter had
passed used tobacco of that descriptions.
Office after Office was visited, from Chicago
to the locality where the letter was first
mailed, but in not one of these was there a
single person who masticated anything but
''tine cut" lie arrived at the last office
with faint heart, fully convinced that the
last clue by which to entrap the guilty party
had utterly failed in its accomplishment.
The postmaster was an old acquaintance
and friend of the detective. He was an up
right, respectable citizen; was loud IN his
denunciation of the crime ; and regretted,
could not be brought to justice. The Chi
cago official had not the slightest suspicion
in the direction Of this honest country post
master; but he had asked so many people
for ga chew" that the habit had grown
upon him, and, addressing the worthy P.
NJ. by name, he said:
CIVIL you give me chew Of tobacco3"
Greatly" was the reply, ~ don't think
l have any tobacco that you would use. 1
nerer cheac anything but plug!" -..
The detective was dumbfounded. That
respectable man, whom he had known for
years, and who maintained character
among his neighbors above reproach, was
the only man in all the officers through
which the letter had passed who chewed
plug tobacco; the person who sealed the
| envelope used that article; consequently,
the conviction unwillingly forced itself
upon the officers mind that his friend was
the thief.
Detectives never hesitate in cases Of emer-
gency, and with them friendship is a mat
ter of no consideration when it is calculated
to interfere with business. The party in
quest Of the thief who stole the five hun
dred dollars in question did not for mo-
ment pause. He believed the postmaster to
be guilty, and. acting upon this belief, at
once informed that functionary that he was
n prisoner. OBTAINING the suspected party
in custody, n search-warrant was procured,
i and the residence of the village postmaster
was visited. The house was subjected to a
thorough oyerhauliug from cellar to garrett.
: Every crevice, every drawer, every hole in
the wall, every trunk, all places where
money could be concealed, were searched,
but the examination was understanding
could be found which would implicate that
honest man. Just as he was about to leave
the detective noticed upon table in the
parlor a daguerreotype case, such as were
! used years ago. before the art Of photo
! graphy was discovered, and before ambro-
types were known. Carefully folded up,
behind the picture, he found five one bun
dred dollar bills.
; The mystery was solved. The postmaster
-, was tried in the United States Court in this
city, convicted, and may now be found at
Joliet, where he is working out the pen.
! atty assessed for his crime Chicago Post.