The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1873-07-17
Extensive Mail Robberies Arrest of the
Perpetrators.

/
brazen of outlaws, aud with cunning
that for long time insured success and
baffled the skill Of the most expert detcc
tives in the country. Through the eff
forts of Mr.. j. S. Elwell, 1.-The special agent
of the Post Office Department in this city
assisted by the National Detective Agency
of Allan Piukerton, the bold rascals have
been brought to bay, and are now confes-
sing their crimes and begging for mercy,
behind the strong walls and bars of an
Eastern prison w r. Wales and Robert
Il. Dudley are the names of the young
men who have made themselves famous
in the ranks Of robbers. These two men,
before commencing operations, natured
their plans and perfected their plot very
much as the writer of romance is sup
posed TO mark out his programme before
he enters upon the material labor ncces.
sary to the production of his work The
first step was the most important of all,
as upon its success depended, in a great
degree, the futnae prosperity of the am
bilious brace of rascals. Wales was a
young man of some standing in society,
on as honest aud trustworthy. The semb-
lance of these traits of character secured
his appointment as postal clerk on the
Lake Shore 4 Michigan Southern Rail
road, between Toledo and Buffalo, about
two years ago. While thus employed he
made the acquaintance Of other route
agents, among them a mau named Har-
mon. For several months Wales dill
gently performed his duties, and secured
not only the confidence of the officers of
the Department, but the friendship and
esteem of his associates and fellow clerks
Having accomplished all that he desired,
and not caring to continue in a position
where labor was required, the young man
resigned his position, with the view of
commencing a series of robberies that
have terminated in his disgrace aud
prospect of his imprisonment for many
years. Dudley, in the meantime, had re-
maiued in the back ground, patiently
awaiting the development of their deep
laid schemes. Harmon was the man
whose friendship Wales had most asst
duously cultivated. They were bosom
friends-at least Harmon so regarded,
Wales, althou.h the latter probably lelt
no further friendship than does the con.
fdence operator toward the luckless vic
tim he fceces without twiuge of con
science. After leaving the service, Wales,
as was the custom in those days, and is
still, among members Of a common fra
teruitv. frequently took short trips on the
car of Ha armon, and was freely granted
on account of his former con.
uection with the service, that would not
have been permitted but for that circum
stance, no matter how close might be the
bond of friendship. During these rides,
the shrewd rascal never failed, before he
left the car, to steal whole packages of
letters.
Having secured as many as he could
well conceal about his person, he would
leave the car at some place previously
fixed upon between himself aud coufed-
crate, and, with the assistance Of Dudley,
the work of rifing the letters would be
performed. If money was found it was
appropriated. If drafts large enough to
warrant the risk were found, they were
negotiated through the various express
companies, forged letters of Endorsement
being sent in When the mouey was re
ceived in this way, Dudley, who transact
ed this part of the business, always made
it convenient to change his base of opera
tiOns, assume new name, aud ostensibly
establish himself in some business that
would establish his identity with business
men. When this had been accomplish
ed, and everything was in readiness,
Wales would take another ride, secure
more letters, and repent the operations SO
successfully performed in previous eff
forts
The first draft known to have been
fraudulently negotiated by them was mail
ed by Governor Washburn, of Wisconsin,
on the 9th of May, 1872, and was col
lected on forged Endorsements, through
the Adams Express Company, at Pitts
bursh. Dudley receiving the money on
the Sd OF June. and decamping on the
same day From Pittsburgh he made
his way to Buffalo ; from Buffalo to Ro
chester, thence to Albany, aud stopping
briefly at New York and Newark, n. j
aud Philadelphia, he finally reached Mat
tapan. near Boston, and quietly located,
with the intention OF suspending business
until the storm should blow over, aud it
would be safe to operate once more.
While performing this journey, the
keen scented blood hounds of the law
were upon his track. They followed him
with relentless purpose, and unceasing
perseverance,, sometimes only missing him
by day, and then losing track OF him
for week, and perhaps a month. But,
on the 3 lst day of May last, in his quiet
retreat iD the New England suburb, the
shadows that had followed him so long at
last found his hiding place, and he was
transferred from the comforts of indolent
ease to the hardships of prison life.
His confederate, Wales, the man who
had perpetrated the robbery, had been
arrested on the 7th of the preceding
March and the fnct was kent a nrofound