The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1872-04-05
From the New Albany Ledger.
4 RADICAL POSTMASTER DONE FOR.
George III. Knapp, Postmaster at
PaOli, Suspected.

u On saturday morning last we were
confidentially informed that George H..
Knapp, the Radical Postmaster at Paoli,
Orange county, had disappeared from
this part Of the country, under circum-
stances which led his friends to believe
that he had been guilty of robbing the
government of large sums of money.
Upon the urgent solicitation of the Off
Gals having the matter i'm charge we re-
Trained any publication of the facts, as
! it might have prevented the officers ap-
pretending him in case he was in this
section OF the State. AS the matter has
gained some publicity. and we have the
consent of those interested, We will give
the facts as far as they have come to our
knowledge.
On Saturday last Mr.. Arthur j. Simp-
son. highly respectable citizen of Paoli,
and one Of the sureties on knapp's ofli-
cial bond, came TO this city and inform
ed Postmaster Voyles that Knapp had
been absent from Paoli for several days,
and that it was his opinion there was
something wrong about the office; and
he believed that Knapp had been prac-
Using some swindiing game. As Knapp
mad been under suspicion of the Gov
ernment at Washington for about eigh-
teen mouths. the Postmaster was not
hard TO convince that there was some-
thing wrong. lie soon discovered that
Knapp had drawn on the office in this
city. on the 18th inst. pOstof'ice order
for $50 and during his absence from
the postoifice had collected ii. DIR. Eoy-
les Immediately went TO Louisville and
lascertained from the money-order clerk
in the po>toflice there that Knapp had
also drawn $50 from that Office the
same day he drew on this office. The
clerk, who paid the order. stated that he
saw quite number of orders in knapps
possession. but knowing him TO be post
master at Paoli. and having no suspicion
of his honesty, thought nothing OF it at
The time.
\ Not so with DIR. Voyles lie believed
that Knapp had been playiIg sharp
game. and Immediately tclegraphed the
facts 10 the Department at Wasbingt' n.
The Department responded by fele-
graphing special mail agent Beard. at
Chicago. 10 proceed TO Paoli at once.
and examine the ease. In the meantime
an affidavit was sworn ont by Mr.. Sirnp-
Ion. before Commissioner Noble G.. But
lcr.c:iargin. Knapp with cnbezzling one
hundred and fifty dollars OF the govern
.nlent funds. Uut Il telegram from Wash
ingion being received. stating that spc-
.al agent Beard had been ordered TO
rauli. no active measures were taken by
the officer. 10 arrest Knapp. aS his where
abouis could not be asccrtained.
\ Special Agent Beard arrived at Paoli
on Monday last and found the vile oi
Mr.. Knapp i'll charge of the Office. lie
Immediately took charge of the premises
though not without little difficulty. as
-he was not disposed tn give up the
books and papers. Upon making an
examination OF the money order book
.lhe discovered that about four Thousand
dollars worth Of orders were taken from
the book with no money deposited or
accounted for TO correspond with the
issue. Mr.. Beard Immediately turned
.over the office to a. j. Rhodes. who
some time since received the appoint
iment of Postmaster i'm the place OF
Knapp. who was turned ont by the De.
par.Iucnt OF suspicion of tampcring with
The mails. Mr. Rhodes had been una.
Bile tn receive his commission. else he
would have taken charge Of the Office
several weeks ago. 1t is thonght that
Knapp withheld the commission OF
; Rhode, until he got through with his
speculations.
! As most of our readers are not posted
in the money order business, we give a
brief statement OF its workings. The
i, ,Governmcut furnishes cash money order
,ollice a book containing numbered
blanks, for which the postmaster re.
ceipts. These blanks are first, letters o
advice. and the money order. Any per-
son desiring purchase, say S1O0 order
on "A pOstoftice, pays the office where III,
order is made the amount. and receives
a filed up blank which they forward 10y
mail 10 the party in another city who i,
,.to draw it. The postmaster also fills uI
a letter of advice to the postmast cr o
rthe office against which an order ha.
: been issued, notifying the postmaster
.iihat such al, order has been issued 10 :
: party named. and that he is authorized
: TO pay the same. Upon the receipt o
.the letter of advice. and the presentation
lof the order. the money is paid to III,
.person entitled to receive il. 1t is tn
eduty Of every postmaster to registe
levery order drawn by him i'm booI
Kept for that purpose. giving date. name
fimount. and upon what Office drawn
tIf one of the blanks in the money orlc
book is spoiled in drawing an order.
elis the duty of the postmaster to remov
!, ,it from the book and return il TO III
office at Washington. with the statemcn
r'spoiled in making else he would b
il-uspecied 1T unfair dealing and coul,
no, close his accounts by reason OF III