The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1877-06-15
\ Special Agents Story.

Out in Iowa, some time since, railroad
postal clerk was suspecting OF defrauding
the department in a small way by using pos
tage stamps a second time, and shrewd
special agent was detailed to work up the
case. Knowing that his reputation was at
stake, and that nothing short of the most
positive evidence would secure conviction,
he laid his plans with unusual care. His
first step was to call on the postmaster at
small town along the road, make himself
known, and ask il he had received any let
ters, addressed to him, by that days mail.
He had received two. "Now," said the
agent, 81 wish you to carefully remove the
Cancelled stamps from the envelopes, and put
private mark on them, which desire not
to Sec" The postmaster obeyed orders
Now" continued the agent, handing him
bottle of acid, 81 wish you to write your
name across the stamps, with pen dipped
in this colorless solution" The autograph
was written as directed "Now, write two
letters addressed to parties at some town on
the branch road putting out from the main
line Mt D, inclose them in envelopes,
and when the mail train comes along take
them unstamped to the mail car, hand them
to the clerk with the request that he stamp
them properly, and at the same time hand
him dime to pay the postage The post
master did as requested. AT this particular
station the train stopped the usual time tc
allow passengers to breakfast, and the pos
tai clerk likewise took his rations with com
mendabe regularity. Having received thu
letters and money, he deposited them OF
the desk in the cor and hurried ont for hi
meal. Taking advantage of his absence
the agent, accompanied hy n witness, enter
ed the mail car by means Of a private kc.
and dropped the two cancelled and marked
STAMPS, one on the desk, the other on tn
floor, to avoid giving the suspicion Of de
sigu. The agent then took Il seat in one o
the rear coaches, and the train sped onward
to the junction. The moment the mai
pouch had been transferred to the brancI
line, and before it had been opened, tn
agent was in the car He ordered the cler
to open it in his presence, and examine
carefully for the two letters, the addresse
of which he gave. The clerk made tn
search and readily found them, A glanc
sufliced to show that his scheme had worke
perfectly, as, adhering to the envelopes wer
the identical stamps which the postmase
had put his private mark upon, and tn
agent had dropped in the mail car on th
main line. Take those letters" said he t
the clerk, write your name across then
wrap them in 4 paper seal it securely wit
wax, put your private seal thereon, and the
give it to me- And it was done.
Three times did the special agent Of I'll
department go through this same pr,
gramme in all its details, and invariabl
with the same result, before he ventured
, arrest the pecuating clerk. He then ha
him SO deeply in the tolls that there was i
possibility of escape, but the youth, his pa
. ents, and his attorneys, not knowing any
the details of the case, laughed at the id,
Of conviction, and went to trial as tn,
would to Il circus. As the agents work W
,, uniolded to them, each point being trip
guarded by indubi able testimony, tn
were overwhelmed with CONSERVATION al
moved for a continuance. Before the Gu
4 came into court again, the clerk plead
. guilty and incontinentiy threw himself
the c'encncy Of the court