The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1871-12-30
from the Louisville Ledger, Dec.
Arrest Of Mail E0bber.

has been known ut the louisville post
Office that some one connected With
the Office was engaged in stealing from
the mail i'm transit tlTo' this city let
ters containing money. drafts and
postoflice orders. These depretlations
became so frequent and extensive in
amount as to excite general alarm
among the heads of the Office who
were let into the kecret Of their com
mission: and it was finally determined
by MIR. Tuiey. the Deputy Postmaster.
that the thief should be detected at
every hazard, and at any cost that
might be necessary.
To thiS'cn Mr.. TiIlcy set on foot
the most searching inquiry into the
habits Of all the clerks: how many. If
any. We're living beyond their means
whether ANY Of them were what is
known as fast men" and such other
particulars as might throw light upon
or give Il clue to the robberies in the
po<toslice. 1'hese inquiries led to the
development Of the fact that oae OF
the clerks. Thonas W. Lendrum. was
sporting some fine diamonds; two
gold watches, one u heavy hunting
case gold watch. the other fine
| eaiameicd. diamond studded la,y's
watch tiltt nc was supporting Il
| woman. and held in possession a fast
horse, AID spending 4 good dea! OF
money besides; al this upon a salary
| OF 5000 per year. and .o other Income.
Now, Mr.. Tuley being u plain
! practical sort o. a man, felt great sur
/ prise vixen lie heard these ficts. and,
naturally enough, in lis mind connect
| Ell Thomas ". I.cndrum with the
| thefteof letters from the post-otfice.
! So strongly d:d tiliS suspicion flSten
/ Itself upoI him that he set Il trap to
solve tile mystery. ANIL either fix the
guilt upon, or eSeilpate from it tins.
suspected man. Ii N.ts Gone in this
manner:
Lendrtsm was upon duty between ,
and O'Clock \. NJ. when Il good
many Of the clerks We're out OF the
office. Several! times he had been
observed by clerks. ut the distributing"
case, hand.ing tic letters. He had 10
business whatever ut this ease. and
being there only Strengthening the
suspicion against him, and 50 Il strict
watch was placed over him. This
watch consisted OF another clerk and
policeman. who We're stationed at
point where they could observe al Of
Lendr,im : actions. They waited and
watched patiently until yesterday
morning, when their labors were re-
WarCled with success.
-Iendrun Went to the distributing
case yesterday morning, where he re-
manned for some time engaged i'll
sorting such letters as lie supposed
contained money. He Went through
the entire mail and from it selected a
number OF letters, which he placed III
his coat pocket. Th"Cleri> and police
| man were i'll plain view OF the whole
proceeding, and when Lendrun had
secured the letters and left the dis
tribution case they walked III upon
him, and the policeman, tapping him
upon the shoulder. said: II
| want you." Lendrum replied: q
know what you want The police
| man then demanded the stolen letters.
Lendrun "a number OF letter-carf.iefs
having arrived and being in the room
| replied ''Step this way aud [ will
give them to you He then went
of the letter-carrier, and drew from
| his pocket eleven letters, the number
he had taken short time before from
the distributing case, and handed
| them to the policeman, acknowledging
| that he had stole them.
Upon his person We're found tli;,-
! mOnd breaStpin, a diamond cross
worth $1,000, the two gold watches
| referred to above, and some other ar
| ticles OF jeWelry. lie also had in his
| possession Il valuable horse. He
| states that he took the horse and dia-
mond cross III pawn for money he had
| advanced to two gentlemen, and held
a certificate from the party Of whom
| he had received the diamond cross to
| this effect. His plans Of operation
was to take letters mailed at other
| points and in transit through the
| Louisville postoffiee. 1t is not known
that he ever stole any letters mailed
here. He was lodged in jail yester-
| day, and will have Il hearing before
| the United States commissioners this
morning.
Young Landrum is native of
Covington, KY, where his parents,
who are highly respectable people,
now reside. His father is i'll straight
| ened circumstances. and looked to his
son for aid in support Of his family:
Iendrum has been employed in the
| postoflice here for two years. A fast
life has led him into lis present
condition.