The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-05
MAIL ROBBERS TRACKED.
The Discovery OF nm Organized Gang under
an Experienced Leader.

The persons who were arrested on Tues
robberes from Dodds express wagon, were fully
committed by United Statos Commiss ioner
Shields yesterday. II Is believed that Clinton
Eddy, the son Of Edward Eddy, the deceased
tragedian, who was arrested with the others,
Will provo his Innocence Tho Post once au-
thorities do not suspect either him or his COM
panion, Queen. the actor. The latter was not
arrested. The oflicers Ct the Post ONCE ana tho
special agents and detectives who have thor
ouebly investigated tho recent robberes do not
lay any blame upon the express company. They
say that the defect Is In the kind OF wagons en-
ployed In the work. The advertisements for
bids for new contract are soon to be published
and II Is said that they viii call for specially
made wagons after the pattern OF the English
mall yaDs-haviug locked compartment boxes
that can be opened only in the railr DAD stations
and In the post Offices.
When. less than three wears AGO, several
drivers VI Dodd's wagons were arrested for dis
honesty, Chief Special Agent ID. Is. Parker IN
troduced the existing plan Of placing locked
wire gates at the front and back Of the wagons,
So that not even the driver could tlmper with
the mails. these wagons are used In trans.
porting the mails from the Post once to the
Drafcn oMces and TO the Grand CentIai Railroad
station. he vehicle from which tho recent
robberies were committed is an open wagon.
driven between Cortlandt street aud the Post
ONCE. Tho roooers intercepted II somew here
between the two points. and while De Freest,
the driver stopped his horse. the robber Hung
an oyercoat over one Of the natl bags. and after
ward took both bag and oyerco at on his arm up
town. In this way the valise belonging to Ste
venson the route agent, was stolen on Saiur-
dav under the supposition that, as had often
been the case, Il contaiDod money letters anu
valuable packages.
Special Ofiicer sharrett and Superintendent
Y eoinan spent many days and nights tirelcssly
watching for the robbers, and their attention
was as closely directed 10 the wagon that De
frecst drove US to tie railroad anu Post once
employees; but the unfaithful driver was never
OF his guard while he WIS watched. The OIL
Gals Of the Post Onice. from Postmaster James
10 the least OF those VINO were investigating the
rohberies, spent an ANXIOUS holiday week, but
they do not regret 1t, now that IT Is proved that
none Of the offenders are Post ONCE employees.
The detectives, on the other hand, were as
tonished at discovering the startling fact that
the men they were shadOwtng belonged to a
well-organized band. with a leader and system
OF percentages and commissions according to
tho WORK done by the operators. Before the
prisoners were arrested they were sh dowed
from place ~ place until the detectives found
themselves watching the hauhts Of out
laws in Bleecker, Aniity, Houston, Prince,
Oliver. Mercer, aud Greene streets, aud ia
Broadwa'. When the arrests were made In
Clinton place, Kelly, who Is an ex.cOnyict.
fought the otfcaf and gave them no end OF
trouble before he succumbed. Mary Collins did
searched her premises In Prince street out
when the mutilatcd letters were found In her
trunk she denied all knowledge OF them, al
though she admitted that Kelly often visited
her, and that he had been there that very morn
lug. De Freest. the faithless driver, was per-
mltted TO run his wagon unmole0ted until We'd
nesday afternoon.
Mr.. ID. u. Parker, chief Of the special agents
department. SAWS that MIR. Dodd has had the
contract for carrying the mails to and from the
Post Oflce and the railroad depots and steam
SHIP lines for many years past lie furnishes a
driver aud a guard on the large through mail
wagons. The Post Once also has route agent
ton. The mail that was robbed was a through
mail, which arrived In New York a. about4 A. N.