New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-10-19
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OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE UNITED STATES
OFFICIAL JOURNAL Of NEW ORLEANS
Arrest or a Thieving POstmaster-RO bbins
the Mails.

Attest Oh a TEHeVlng E0stHlabteF-1RoDO1ng
the Mails.
The Monroe Hatelljge,acer Of Wednesday
contains the following report
Some time ago the attention OF Major
SeeIye. special agent Of the Postoffice De-
partment, was drawn by w. II. .Dinkgrave,
assistant postmaster in this city, to the fact
that letters arriving in the mail brought by
the Shreveport stages were being tempered
with. Daily were the incoming mails ex-
amined, and still the depreciation continued.
Taking one or two gentlemen into his
confidence, after considerable watching,
it was positively ascertained that the mails
were being interfered with between Area
dia and Trenton. Major Seelye Immediately
started for Arcadia, and an examination
there convinced him that everything was
all right. He then came to Vienna, and
found matters there straight. Returning
to Monroe, he found that there was no
change for the better, and his attention
was also drawn to the fact that nearly all
the packages in the way mailbag were one
day behind time. Evidently the thief had
full access to the mails, and took the letters
out one day for the purpose Of examina-
ton, and replaced them the next day:
Again going to Arcadia, Major Seelye, on
the twelfth instant, dropped a letter ad-
dressed to Messrs. Harper Brothers, New
York, and cOntaing $50 greenback,
marked by himself and Captain w. w. Far
mer. into the postoffice there Immediately
after leaving Arcadia he examined the way
mail bag, made memorandum OF its con
tents. and found his letter all right Con-
tiuuing on past Vienna he found, after the
stage left this place, that the contents of
the mail bag were still in good order About
eleven miles east of Vienna is the next
office, known as Douglas, whereof Z. G.
Pipes was postmaster. This was the point
to which the registered packages were
traced last winter, tor the abstraction of
which Donnelly, alias Pony, a stage driver.
now stands committed before the United
States District Court in New Orleans.
After the stage had left Douglas, Major
Seelye again examined his mail bag, and 10
and behold there was an entire change Of
mail On leaving Arcadia the bag had con
tanned number Of small packages-now 1T
contained only one or two large packages,
the letters in which did not correspond with
his memoranda; moreover, his letter to Har
per Brothers was missing. The major began
to smell large sized mouse. lie felt salts
fed that he had found the place where the
mischief was being done. Keeping on the
stage he reached this city early on Sunday
morning, the thirteenth instant, and imme
diately went before United States Commits
sioner Cald we'll, charging U. G. Pipes, post
master at Douglas, with Tobbing the mails,
and, at the Same time, procured search
warrant for the purposes OF searching his
premises. In company with Mr..James S.
Ray deputy United States marshal, Major
Seelye Immediately returned to Douglas IN
a four-saated buggy.
Mr.. Pipes, the postmaster, had small
shop, where he done repairing of various
kinds and kept the post0ftice. about $50
wards from his dwelling. On arriving at
Mr.. Pipes house, about $50 P. NJ he came
to the fence to meet them, when Major
Seelye told him that he desired to see him
on postoffice business at the office. The
three went into the Office, and as soon
as they had entered MIR. Pipes was in
formed that he was under arrest. The
p0stofice and shop being searched,
nothing was found; but, on inquiry, Mr.. :
Pipes stated that the missing letters
were in trunk in his dwelling. Major
Seelye proceeded to the house and there,
in the trunk, he found the greater part
of the missing letters. Returning to the store
he asked Mr.. Pipes what had become of the
letter to Harper Brothers and the missing
$40 bill. Mr.. Pipes stated that he had
burned the letter, and had given the $40
bill to his brother Robert, in change, that
morning. Being DESTROYS to secure this
bill, one Of the strongest links in the, chain
of evidence, Messrs. Ray and Seelye pro-
cGeded toward the residence of Robert
E1DpS, bUuuU i've UlllGS WG5U Ol DUuSlhSs
Finding that II. Pipes resided about mile
from the main road they stopped in front
of the house of DR.. Mcdowell, and sent q
cOlored man after Pipes.
While waiting the return of the cOlored
man, two white men came riding up to the
buggy and desired them to return to Mrs.
Pipes at once as she was very sick. Mr..
Ray told them he would be back in an
hour. Finding them crowding around the
the buggy, he ordered them away and they
retired across the road. Finally, Robert
Pipes arrived. Being asked for the ten
dollar bill, it appeared he had suspected
something and given all his money to the
colored man to carry, but the latter return
ing the same to him he handed out the den-
teal bill that Major Seelye had been look
ng for,
The parties occupied the following posi-.
tions about this time: Major Seelye on the
front seat; U. G, Pipes on the back seat;
Mr.. James s. Ray on one side of the buggy;
close by Mr.. Ray, toward the back of tue
buggy, was Robert Pipes; a driver was
standing near the horses, while the two men
spoken OF above were about thirty feet off.
Suddenly q. G. Pipes jumped out Of the
buggy, calling on his brother for help.
Robert Pipes ran toward him, but Mr. Ray
was too quick. Presenting revolver at
Robert Pipes, he stopped him short, while
Major Seelye Jumped from the buggy, and,
collaring q. G. Pipes, he presented q re-
vOlver at his head whichst0pped any desire
to leave. As soon as Z. C. Pipes called for
help the two men standing at the side of the
road came running up, but were stopped by
the driver.
Robert Pipes, finding he could effect
nothing just then, left with his friends be-
fore the stage came up, which was in a very
few minutes. There being two stages with
passengers, Mr. Ray called on the pas
sengers and driver to act as posse c0nlitatuS,
and came to Monroe with his prisoner.
When passing Douglas, number of men
were seen posted on each side Of the road
evidently armed; but they made no demon
strations toward the passengers and officers
no doubt, by the number present
Major Seelye is entitled to the greatest
credit for the vigilance he has displayed in
ferreting out the guilty party In this matter.
For nearly ten days and nights he has been
backward and forward trying to |
unravel the mystery, and finally he has
been successful.
Mr.. James S. Ray, deputy United States |
marshal, deserves commentator for the |
prompt execution of the warrant when |
placed in his hands
The postofice at Douglas has been closed |
for the present.