Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-05-08


Of the United States, only melting
such other person to open cummuni-
cation with the person so desiring or
intending, shall, in and for executing
such scheme or artifice, or attempting
SO to do, place any letter or packet in
any postoffice Of the United States, or
take or receive therefrom, such per-
son 80 misusing the postoffice estab-
lishment shall be punishable by fine
of not less than $500, and by impris-
0nment for not more than eighteen
months, or by both such punish
ments.
THE SIZE OF THE FRAUD.
The postoffice authorities claim that
the encroachments upon the postal
revenue through the illicit barter and
trafficking In postage stamps, stamp
ed envelopes and postal cards by
postmasters at fourth class postoffices
and parties acting with them, are
very heavy. 1t is estimated that the
government is defrauded out of the
enormous sum of half million dol
lars annually, the benificiaries being
the fourth class postmasters aforesaid
and their confederates, who are usu-
ally patent medicine men, sewing
machine agents. and sometimes sub
mail contractors, as the letter given
from postmaster will show. This
is only q sample of the many letters of
similar import now in the possession
of the Postoffice Department, which
will be given to the public shortly;
REPENTANr DEALER.
LITTLE Rock, Ark, April IL, rs.
IR:-It is with great shame and
sorrow that have to confess to you
my having trafficked in stamps and
stamped envelopes amounting to
about $500, to one William M. Alli-
son, at discount of about 20 or 25
per cent. Allison led me to believe
that there would be nothing wrong in
this business so long as the govern
ment's share of the commissions was
promptly paid over, and he so rep
resented matters that l came to the
same conclusion, and accepted his
proposition. He used his influence
to secure my appointment, with the
distinct understanding that we were
to engage in the traffic of stamps.
regret my inability to refund the
commissions which have been inn
properly and illegally allowed me
for the stamps and stamped envelopes
thus disposed of. I am poor man,
crippled and have q wife and two
small children dependent upon me
for support, l therefore pray your
clemency aud kind consideration in
the matter.
Allison is the sub-contractor on the
route between Little Rock and Tulip,
and represented himself to mo as
partner of s. b. Kirby, Of Little Rock,
who Allison said was in the same
business, that is, trafficking in stamps
etc. Yours very respectfully,
| Ed. w. PLUNKETT,
Postmaster at Rosedale.
TOt the Honorable Postmaster General.
THE MOST ENTERPRIsING
and successful of these confederates
or go-bctweens has been Sam1 B.
Kirby, referred to by Plunkett in the
above letter. 1t is generally believed
that Mr.. Kirby has amassed q large
fortune through his operations with
postmasters in this line in fact he
has stated to agents of the Post
Office Department that he has sold
100 machines every time he has sent
out his circular to postmssters.
The following 10 . verbatim copy
Of one of the many circulars used by
Mr.. Kirby to carry out his scheme ol
enriching himself at the expense OF
the government through the com.
plicity of its agents:
THE LAST GRAND orrERl
NO. H. c. WHEELER & WILSON SEW.
i ING MACHINE, A NO. 3 N. F. FAM
Il lily SEWING MACHINE,
NO. DRoP-LEAF AND sIDE-DRAwEI
WEED MACHINE,
Worth, Retail Price, $75 Each,
FREE TO ALL PosTMAsTERs IN ARKAN
sAs!
DEAR Sir IR:-Considcring the bene
fit Postmastcrs have been to me il
helping to advertise my business ant
sending me customers, ETC., max,
you this offer, which is the last one
expect to send you, and no doubt viii
be the last opportunity you will eve
, have to obtain q Sewing Machin
tcithout cost to you.
i THE OFFER.
Send your order. January I 1875