The New York herald., 1874-12-09
THE YOUTHFUL MAIL RoBBER.
Some Account OF the BOY Carleton's Be
ginning in Crimc-A Wonderful Prod
,rfC

NEW HAVEN Conn.,, Dec. 8, 1874
In the HERALD's issue OF Sunday there appeared
Tor the nrst time brief story OF the boy George
Carleton ana the extraordinary method by which
he gained possession Of letters containing bank
checks and other valuable mail matter from
the Post once IN this city. 1t may be
proper, perhaps, to state that the drop
box in the Post once marked "Southern
and Wesiernn was the place selected
for operations. The orince TO this box is unusually
large, and there is wood slide provided over
which the letters find their way into the recepta-
Gle beneath. Watching hts opportunity young
Carleton passed his hand through the oritce and
stuck number Of brass pins into the wooden
Slide In such manner as to intercept the letters
In their downward progress; then. selecting mo-
ment when no one was present to observe his mo-
tions, he went to the orice ana removed such let
ters as had lodged against the pins. In this way
were captured twenty or thirty letters. perhaps
more. Young Carleton reached this city from
New York on November 2s aud put up at the Union
Hotel His actions excited some suspicion from
the fact that he was alone and exhibited pre-
cocity not usual with boys at the age OF fteen In
particular when they are among strangers and In
strange CITY, The clerk OF the hotel was accordingly
instructed to watch the boy. In doing so an ac-
quaintance sprang up, during which the clerk got
into the boys confidence and drew from him
glowing account OF his previous life in Brooklyn,
where, according to his story, he had engaged
with another boy in the business of peddling kero
sene oil, going around from house TO house.
On one occasion, at = house In Williams
burg, he saw sls5 in bills lying upon window Sill
and, watching his chances, stole the roll and
made good his escape. He was afterward seen by
detective on the street, but was not molested.
HIS companion was captured and locked up. Tnis
theit took place on or about November 20. Upon
advised oy his parents TO 60 TO New York
York aor Nec carlepons iasbsr sis' wrote to nm
ec.ves ter 70 tas he as 6e de-
M ma VINO ed to s
proprietor or the hotel tlat the lad might want to
stay two or three weeks and all his bills would be
promptly paid Last Thursday the boy received
letter as follows, brought to him Dy a brakeman
on rhe New York. New Haven and Hartford Rail.
road
s9 You wTs letter to 70 M s York ans
me the Forty second rect depot am afraid that
pss ias
or % 70 % 20 sy o@
sa mSer any more 2aS HO qE se
the hotel clerk as the bows conndant caused q
closer watch OF the boy to be kept, but it could
crime here. Last Friday, however, as already
stated ota' IN the HsHALD, c., the lad gave
York Hs party. % drawn By sH Calhoun Co., OF his
city. telling him TO go equal shares II he got any
thing on 1t. The lad displayed another checK
ingy went 10 the Merchants' Bank, on which the
checks were drawn. 1t happened 60 be after
whom whom ne showed the a. check which Garle.
ton mad given him. me teller pronounced
calhoun 90 and tel how ne came IN possession
OF II. He did So and Mr., Calhoun was surprised
to behold cnecx he had dropped IN the Post once
that very day, and which he supposed was on its
way to New YORK. few questions resulted
~ pointing out the source from which the
theft came, and shortly after young Care-
ton was arrested. In prison, on saturday morn
ing, the youthful offender, BUNDLED by contact
with iron bars and damp BRICK walls. confessed
TO stealing the letters and the manner In
which he had accomplished the job. He was
anxious TO know what would be done with him.
Early sunday morning the prisoner made des-
perate effort to escape through an iron yentilator
| In The side wall BY means Of pair OF old hand
Guns, used TO fasten the door inside in place or
paddock, ne was able by diligent WORK TO make an
orlnce large enough u admit bis body. He tailed
! TO connect with the outside world and has since
been consigned 20 a cell from which escape by or
dinary means Is Impossible.
Last Tuesday q man called on young Carle-
ton at the union Hotel The clerk states that he
saw the lad give the man three $50 bank notes.
After this transaction they took hack and drove
TO the steamer on which the man LETT for New
YORK at eleven O'Clock. The lad returned to the
hotel theory prevails that this man is the boys
father endeayoring to settle the case IN which
$3.50 were stolen IN Williamsburg, py returning the
to the man was portion OF the proceeds OF that
tneft. Another theory Is that the man Is one who
that his visit WAS made with design TO receive
his portion or the illgotten gains, The case Is ex-
citing interest here, and at the trial on Friday
next before United states Commissioner s. f.
Baldwin, the prisoner Will undoubtedly be bound
over to the United States District Court for trial.
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