The New York herald., 1874-08-12
TIE LATE MAIL ROBBERY.

How the Theft Was Discovered-Em-
Cheney Of American Rcgistrat1on.
the case Of the Post once CLERK, Carey, arrested
last Sunday on charge Of embezzling letters In
trusted to his of1ctal custody-the particulars Of
which has cost some pains to ascertain-aGords q
marked illustration or the vigilance exercised at
the city Post once In matters OF this kind. Some
months ago circumstances led Special Agent Shar-
rett to suspect that Carey-then employed at one
OF the uptown stations OF the oflce-was guilty Of
dishonest practices and he accordingly took meas
ures with q view to test the correctness OF these
suspicious aud to detect Carey II facts warranted
it, For the purpose OF carrying out the plan he
had adopted, MIR. Sharret ITS took one OF the clerks
into hts confidence but the latter, although
upright and trustworthy, was not gifted with the
detective talent and by emitting to follow strictly
some detail OF the instructions he had received,
thereby thwarted the schemes OF the special
agent, and at the same time unintenti0nally
placed Carey on his guard
The facts developed Dy the attempt, however,
pointed toward q confirmation OF Mr.. sharrett's
theory but not with sufficient dstinctness to jus
tlfy direct accusation. When questioned by Post
master James, Carey strenuously asserted his In
nocence; but would nevertheless have been I'm.
mediately dismissed from the force but for Mr..
Sharrett's representation that 1t would be but
his cnafacter and not 20 out into the world with
stigma upon mis- name. The Postmaster, therefore,
at The request OF Carey, transferred him to the
General Post ONCE. MIR. sharrett, whose
reputation as a shrewd and efficient agent
stands very high. quietly continued his
Operatlons; but 1or long time Carey,
doubtless rendered cautious by his narrow
escape from detection showed no symptoms OF a
return to his evil ways. The close and patient
him was, however, rewarded lew days since by
the discovery OF unmistaKabie signs OF guilt, and
plan Tor his complete detection was soon devised
and put into execution with the successful result
already stated above and published in yesterdays
HERALD.
There has been some exaggeration of the facts
in prcvo1s reports OF this case, and the number OF
letters actually lost through Carey's dishonesty
greatly magulned. Although he admitted having
taken about 1000 letters from the once. all but
his custom to secretly replace those which he
supposed not to contain money.
The small percentage OF money letters among
the large numDer taken shows the extent to which
tered letter system. The latter, by the way, Is
the invention OF an offlcer OF the New
York Post ONCE, Mr.. James Gayer, now General
superintendent OF the City Delivery. In 1867 Mr..
Gayler, then special Agent OF the -rost ONCE De-
partment, being impressed with the utter failure
sented his views to Postmaster General Dennison,
By whom he was requested to devise an improved
plan. which he did. 1t was adopted and has been
in operation ever since. That the system was an
while previous to the above date IL was not an un.
common occurrence at the New York Post Ofice
to nave fifty registered letters las not received"
reported In one week, whereas for the past seven
years there have not been ten registered letters
lost or gone astray II is firmly believed tnat the
present American registration system is equal n
rot superior for safety and efficiency any In the
world.