Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-03-22
A TALE OF THE MAILS.
The $4,000 Embezzled from a Bank in
Germany Recovered at the
Minneapolis POstOfice.

Letters sometimes have a peculiar
history, and one was delivered at the
Minneapolis ~postofice 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 forit these many days.
On the Sth of February one Anton
Herkommer embezzled from Heinrich
Bauer, a banker at Augsburg, Ger
many, the sum of Is, 1000 marks ($45O0)
About $4,000 marks of this amount,
in bank notes, were mailed atEsslingen
Baunhof, Germany, in a registered let
ter, addressed as follows: Michael
Boesser, for Joseph Huber, Minneap-
oils, MINI, North Amerika." On
the 10th Of February Herkommer was
arrested 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 author
ity many days before the arrival of
the letter. The police authorities
were consulted, and were very anxious
to get hold of hat letter, as they were
instructed to attach it. But money
in a sealed letter in the hands of
Uncle Sans officials is not easily got
out of them.
Mr.. +. Willius, of the German
American Bank, of st. Paul, was also
notified of the embezzlement, and tel.
egraphic communication was immedi-
ately opened with Postmaster Keith.
Of Minneapolis. Some days in adj.
vance of the arrival of the valuable
registered letter at the Minneapolis
p~ostofice DR.. Keith informed the
postmaster general of the embezzle-
mept and expected arrival of the
package, and full authority was tele-
graphed back to the Minneapolis
official to hold the registered package
until the facts could be obtained. In
accordance with this instruction a full
history OF the crime was obtained from
Mr.. Willius and forwarded to Post
master General Key. In the mean
time writs of replevin had been OBJ
tanned and placed in the hands of
Sheriff Thompson TO await the arrival
otthe 0pportune moment. After every
thing was in readiness, Mr.. Michael
Boesser, an old citizen of Richfeld.
to whom the registered letters had
been addressed by Herkommer or
Huber, was informed of its arrival at
the Minneapolis postofice, and made
his appearance at the Minneapolis
p%ostoffice to receive the letter and its
contents. This occurred at balf.past
three o'clock yesterday afternoon.
Prior to the aligned delivery of the
letter, however, Mr.. Boesser signed
duplicate receipts for the packages
and when DR.. Keith passed the same
over the counter, Deputy Sheriff
Stoddard hanpened 30 be standing near
by, armed with the necessary docu-
monts in the shape of replevin papers,
and took possession OF the letter and
It's contents. Such a proceeding would
not have been justified at any former
stem IN the matter, because all letters
are beyond the reach Of the executors
OF the law while they pomaln the Gus
tody OF the post0Aeo authorities.
The recovery having been judicious-
" and successfully accomplished. sub
stantially as above detailed, the regis
tered letter and its 140O0 marks will
be held subject 10 future and proper
orders, until they can be returned to
the Augsburg banker, from whom
they were originally and unlawfully
taken. The fortunate recovery reflects
nigh egedt upon all who have been
connected with it, and shows that
transgressors cannot easily mako the
postal department a vehicle for rascal
ity at home or abroad.