American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-03-22
The Story of IL Lettcr---An En-
beZZler Fooled.

The st. Paul Pioneer Press says: Let
tiers sometimes have a peculiar history, |
and one was delivered at the Minneapo-
lis Post office yesterday which was of
considerable Importance to parties in
Europe as well as TO the consuls and |
high officials who have been anxiously
inquiring about it and watching for it
these many days.
On the Sth of February, one Anton
Herkommer embezzled from Heinrich
Bauer, banker at Augsburg, Germany,
the sum of 5000 marks (S4 ,500.)
About 1900 marks of this amount, in
bank notes, were mailed at Esslingen
Baunhof, Germany, in a registered let
ter addressed as follows: " Michael
Boesser, for Joseph Huber, Minneapo-
lis, Mimi, North Amerika." On the
goth of February, Herkommer was ar
rested at Metz, and is now in custody
awaiting developments.
The foregoing facts were telegraphed'
to the German consul at New York, and
were known to the postal authorities
many days before the arrival of the let
ter. The police authorities were con-
suited, and were very anxious to get
hold of that letter, as they were instruct
ed to attach it. But money in sealed
letter in the hands of Uncle Sans Of
ficials is not easily got out of them.
Mr.. F. Willius, of the German Ameri-
can Bank, of St. Paul, was also notified
of the embezzlement, and telegraphic
communication was Immediately open
ed with Postmaster Keith, of Minneap-
polls Some days in advance of the
arrival of the valu tble registered letter
at the Mime apolis Post-office, DIR.
Keith informed the Postmaster General
of the embezzlement and expected ar
rival of the package, and full authority
was telegraphed back to the Minneapo-
lis official to hold the registered pack
age until the facts could be obtained.
| In accordance with this instruction
full history of the crime was obtained
from Mr.. Willius and forwarded to
Postmaster General Key. In the mean
time writs of replevin had been obtain
ed and placed in the hands of Sheriff
Thompson to await the arrival of the
opportune moment. After every thing
was in readiness, Mr.. Michael Boesser,
an old citizen of Richfield, to whom the
registered letter had been addressed by
Herkommer or Huber, was informed of
its arrival at the Minneapolis Post office,
and made his appearance at the Min
neapolis Post office to receive the
letter and its contents. This occurred
at $3.50 O'Clock yesterday afternoon.
Prior to the delivery of the letter, how
ever, Mr.. Boesser signed duplicate re.
ceipts for the package, and when DR..
Keith passed the same over the counter,
Deputy Sheriff Stoddard happened to
be standing near by, armed with the
necessary documents in the shape of re-
plevin papers, and took possession of
the letter and the contents. Such pro-
ceeding would not have been justified
at any former step in the matter, be-
cause all letters are beyond the reach of
the executors of the law while they re-
main in the custody of the post-office
authorities.
The recovery having been judicious-
ly and successfully accomplished, SUBJ
stantially as above detailed, the regis
tered letter and its IA, 900 marks will be
held subject to future and proper or
ders, until they can be returned to the
Augsburg banker, from whom they were
originally and unlawfully taken. The
fortunate recovery reflects high credit
upon all who have been connected with
it, and shows that transgressors can not
easily make the postal department a We
hicle for rascality at home or abroad.