The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1874-01-23
coLvAx,s BRorHER.IN.LAw.
davenport Democrat

One OF the most astounding systems Of
mail robbcries ever known In this stato
las lately been unearthed by special
agents of the post Office department, and
the whole matter WAS made public yester-
day BY the arrest Of Elisha Cowlos, post.
al agent on the Chicago, Rock Island and
Paoinc railroad. To begin At the Begin
ming, suspicious we're excited against
Cowles last fall, for the firsttime. On De-
tober G, 1873, Mr.. Charles Stewart, tho
dry.goods merchant Of the city, mailed .
letter containing $40, directed 70 . party
ct Downey, Iowa Tho letter left Daven-
mort on the morning Of October I, on
Cswles' run, bat IL never reached Ito des.
tination. Postmaster Russell i'm.
msdiatsly reported the case
70 the department at Washington,
and he, together with special agents, J. X.
Srsurt. Of Iowa City, and J. d. Furray Of
Omaha, proceeded 70 investigate the case.
Il took some time 10 work up the matter
90 a. 10 fas,sn tho robbery directly on
Cowles, but the agents were fully satisfied
Of his guilt q few days after taking the
case In hand. 30 decoy letters were sent
out, and other measures were taken 10 eff
feet their purpose. On Monday morning
last the special detectives Stuart and
Furay arrived in Davenport and were in
consultation with Postmaster Russell for Q
long time. They also remained hero Mon
dsy night waiting for Cowles to take hi,
run, they having at last brought the case
20 focus. On Tuesday morn.
ing Cowles loft the city In
charge Of his car, and the detec-
tives were also passengers on the same
train. Yesterday morning Mr.. Russell
received . dispatch from the detectives,
stating that they had just arrested Cowles
in his car near Avoca. 1t also stated that
when arrested Cowles had ono Of the de-.
GOV letters In his hand aud others 10 his
possession. lie made full confession of
al his robberies. The confession will not
be made public, but it 10 stated that no has
been riding letters for years past, and that
for several weeks he has been stealing let.
ters Q. the rate OF fifty day. he appears
| 70 have exercised little caution In his OPP
creations, and TO have broken into letters
By the wholesale In 4 perfectly reckless
and indiscriininate manner. The prisoner
WAS taken to Dss Moines and placed in
Jail.
Elisha Cowles has had an eventful life
and has seen much trouble and many
| changes. He 10. ffty.two years old, is q
] native of New England; he went from
his native state TO Michigan, where b,
| went into business and amAsscd much
wealth, being ct one time one Of the rich
est men in tho town where he lived. A
that time he owned and operated two
large saw mills and WAS prospecting finely
when misfortune came, and he was tw,c'
burned out, loosing each time over thirt,
| thousand dollars. About eight years Ago
no came to Iowa and bought tract o
land near Kellogg, Jasper county, snt
uron this farm DO has ever since resided
| With his family. He has been married
| twice, his second wife being half.sister &
Schuyler Collar. He has o large family
consisting Of his vito and nine children
the eldest being son TWEEN.
ty.one years of ago. Mrs. Cowles IL said
| 70 be very fine woman, much superior K
her husband In many respects, and hos 81
ways besn . good and true wife and
mother. She deeply feels her husband
| disgrace. Cowles hes been mail agent or
the Davenport run Of tho G. Il. !. and r
| for seven years; he has always been 70.
| garded 40 % . good reliable clerk, bu
never 40 . very smart or efficient one. H,
| had always been regarded - strictly hon
ost up to the date Of the disclosures, las
October, and what melted him 10 choose q
career OF crime which he certainly mus,
have known would result in disclosure and
disgrace 10 not known, his actions cAnno
be accounted for. Hi, case will come be
| fore the United States circuit court at IL
| next term, and his punishment, no doubt
| will be imprisonment for term Of year
in the penitentiary.