The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-20
RICHMOND NAIL ROBBERIES.
Development Following
Harris Arrest.
RICHMOND, Va, March 10. II

RICHMOND, Va, March 49, 1874.
The investigation to-day before United States
Commissioner Peasants into the robberies OF the
mails by q negro wagon driver named Andrew Har.
ris developed one OF the most extensive and whole
sale pluudering operations recently heard Of The
accused negro is OF the genuine African type, with
features not remarkable for Intelligence, about
thirty years of age, and had been about
year In the employment OF Messrs CARRIER
a. Co., who have the contract for the carrying
the mails to and from the railroad depots to the
Post ONCE. The loss OF valuable and other letters
for over month past IN transmission from thls
point to places principally North, and even as iar as
cities in Canada, has caused such arrangement IN
business circles that merchants here experienced
not only great inconvenience, but several VI them
were seriously embarrassed by the thets. Com
plants were made to the Post Office Department at
Washington frequently that the Postmaster
General is said to have had it in contemplation TO
suspend every official in the Post once here il the
missing letters were not traced to the theving
source. Detectives had been at work in the mail
on the entire route between here and New
York, Boston, and also in the various post Offices
through which the missing matter passed, but
without arriving ut any definite solution OF the
mystery.
THE MYSTERY SOLVED
AT last however, Special Agent John Frey, find
lLS lcIIeTS were III Illc fOSI OICc
here nor on the postal route North, after examin-
ing and counting the packages IN the office here
before they were taken to the depot to be trans
1erred North, then went on the train and eX-
amned them again. To his establishment
several packages were missing and he
at once got clew to the real leak.
On the following Qast) night he arrested
Andrew Harris, the negro driver, and found upon
his person several packages OF letters just stolen
AS soon as he discovered these the officer at once
searched the quarters of the negro, where an i'm.
mense number of puroined drafts, checks, Post
ONCE orders, photographs, &c, were found.
Nearly all the letters mad been DESTROYED;
in the opened letters taken from the
accused. AS the merchants. bankers and business
men IN New York, Boston and other cities North
are deeply interested, and, in many Instances,
very much aggrieved by the non-receipt Of their
checks and drafts, | append partial list OF those
that were dIscOvercd:-
SOME OF THE MISSING CHECKS.
Checks drawn in favor OF NJ 5. Valentine
Co., endorsed to Cochran, Mclean Il Co.,. $263
BY the Merchants National Bank on the
National Park Bank of New York, In favor
or Z. +. Simpson, Cashier ................ 221
BY the Planters National Bank, on the Ma
tonal Park Bank. New YORK, In favor of
BY the Richmond Banking and Insurance
Company, on the New York National City
Bank, III favor OF Blair " 1haxton. ........ 1000
In favor OF cashier German-American Bank,
New York, Thomas II. White 4 Co...... 1908
In In favor sayar Oh Hayes MoOpc :nao:: @ 50
Barlow & Co. Observation-Disclosures. 90
In favor OF Dumont CLARK, assistant cashier. 1l6
BY National Bank OF Virginia Hanover
National Bank, in favor OF Coleman
Workman, endorsed to william Beers,
Actuary of Lille Insurance Company 116
BY Brown, PemDerton Il Co. First
National, in favor OF Church 4 Co.. ......... 100
Sight draft drawn by b. Beecher on Eldridge,
Dunham IL Co., New YORK, in favor OF cash
Ter Merchants National Bank, endorsed by
Ii. w. Ford. cashier, signed by }. Il. Nor
ton cashier. 49,. .:..:.:......... $500
Sight draft drawn by James e. Dill on G. W.
ABBOT 4 Co.. Boston: -. :......... 1000
Sight draft drawn by Thomas ID. Neal in favor
o1 }. b. Morton, cashier, on W. 3 klmbaii
& .......................... 1897
Total Observation-Disclosures. ..............$5 6lS
Besides these, 1t Is not known what amount OF
money has been stolen. A rough estimate places
the amount at $4,000 1t Is strongly suspected
that another party has been in COLLISION with the
accused negro, Tor whom the oflcers are now on a
sharp lookout. Harris, being unable to give bail,
Was committed for ndlctnent by the United States