The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1873-05-31
THE RAILROAD MAIL RoBDERIEs.
More Pointed Facts.
SCI Am Here and Intend to Stny.''
Cards Still in Order!
MONROE, La, May 30, 1878

inst AS it contains insinuations which
seem to reflect on me, 1 shall i'll as brief
a manner as possible review the whole
transaction, SO far as I have had any
thing to do with it.
The facts are as follows: 1t is gene
rally known that the car used for mail
purposes was an ordinary box car which
had been fitted up by running a parti-
ton across the car. Now, in order to
fully understand the matter, it will be
necessary to describe the fixtures and
general situation of the mail ROOM
Upon the left side of the car was q broad
shelf running the entire length of the
room, and underneath this shelf for
about half the distance was a paper
case or two rows of large pigeon holes.
This shelf and case was nailed in Il very
strong manner to the floor, to the lin
ing of the car to the partition and to the
end of the car. Running across the end
OF the car, was Il similar broad shelf
which laid on the paper shelf and the
two were firmly fastened together, not
only by nails, but by an iron rod
screwed to the floor, and also nailed to
the end and side of the car. Upon this
broad shelf was fastened the letter case
and upon which the letters were dis
tributed. l state these facts for the
purpose of showing that it would be
necessary to take down the letter case
first, then tear up tho shelf on which it
rested, and then to take up the paper
! case before it would be possible for any
one to get at the robbed letters. Now,
tho 1nfforS-thn l,ft
found behind this paper case and be-
| tween the two walls OF the car and it
was still necessary to take off the inner
wall of the car before exposing the
letters, SO that it would have been an
impossibitity for any one to have got at
tho letters in less than an hours time,
and then only by the free use of ham
MGR and cold chisel.
Now as to my part in the matter. On
the morning Of Dec. ID, 1872, l went
into this car for the purpose Of taking
out the letter case, &c. preceded by the
foreman of the shop, Mr.. j. Il. Parlcc.
We proceeded first to take down the
partition, but before We had completed
it, and probably about ten minutes
after our first coming into the car, Mr..
ID. L. Grant came in to assist us, and
remained in the car the whole time
w
proceeded to take down the letter case
in the end of the car and behind this
case we found the two unopened letters
and one newspaper, and no moro. Next
was torn down the paper case located
on the side of the car; and upon remov-
ing the case and tearing Off Il portion of
the inside lining, the robbed letters
came into view. l was personally as
sisted all this time by Mr.. Parlec, and
he and myself took some of the letters
out from between the walls, they lying
at the time on the floor. Mr.. Grant,
coming over to tho part of the car
where was, also picked up some Of
tho letters, and after looking at them,
and noticing particularly, as he dis
tinctfy remembers, that they were
open, handed them to me. l should
have mentioned that two or three of
the letters were lying on the brace
which runs from the corner to the floor.
Just rs we had removed the letters
found on the brace, Mr.. G. II. TuN, the
master machiniSt of the road, came in,
and saw Mr.. Parlcc and myself remove
the balance of the letters. l was, pre-
ViouS to this time, never within this
car, and so far as 1 remember never
made any repairs on the outside even.
AS to the "oscillating' motion which
Mr.. Selyc charges with having placed
those letters where they were found, l
will say that this car was no more of a
"dilapi,latcd CONCERN than are all of
the cars on the road. Its trucks are
precisely similar to those used ON the
new baggage car Which took the place Of
this onc-cNactly like all the cars used
by the road without exception; it has
tho same springs, the same amount of
side motion, and the same amount of
rock. Nothing loss than an earthquake
Oran upset could have "oscillatcd' those
letters into the place where they were
found.
| am no more the ''iirSt Uiscovercr''
than arc Mr.. l;,rlcc and Mr.. Grant, and
1t IS not Il reasonable Supposition that
three different mon should hlvc..adopt-
cd tho same pian' of entering Il mail
car in broad daylight and spending an
hour or two in tcaringa car to pieces to
rob II few paltry letters, liable ut any
moment to be surprised by other work
men, or even the superintendent of the
road.
The article in the lntclligcnccr must
be treated as Mr.. Selves for if NOT