The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-08-16
tnuReLARs IN WEST vIRersIA. 4
HOW they. Successfully Robbed the Cour
@ try Posi- Ofliees. .r.

PARHERsBuRG, w. Va, August l5.-For
the last year and half an organized gang
ofburglas has been successfully operating
through West Virginia, Western Pennsyl-
vanis and Southern Ohio. The.postottices
in the small country towns have received
special attention from the members Of the
gang, aud few in the section Of country
named have escaped visit. Il is under
stood that majority Of the thieves are
from New York, and it has been a
remuneratiye business for them. The
postage stamps taken found ready
market through agents in New York. In
February last the gang received some
thing OF q setback through the exertions OF
Inspector Newcome, OF New York, and
Detective Bonk, attached to the postotfice
In that city. Then William Hart, alias
William Raymond, John 0'Neil, alias
Frank jerome, and JEFF Tanning, alias
Joseph Fields, all well known New York
burglars, were arrested for robbiug the
postoffice at Central Station, West Va, and
evidence secured them resulted in each
being sentenced 70 FIVE years imprison-
discontinued their operations, and when
they renewed their work 1t was ascertained
that their local headquarters had been
moved from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati. the
main headquarters being in New York.
Two more Of the gang were arrested
Inspector Newcome and Detective Blonk,
and on trial were convicted.
On the night OF the 10Th OF April the
postoffice at Flemington, W. Va, was bro
ken open and large amount OF stamps
secured, and other valuable property was
taken from the store connected with the
postohice. On April 18th Chief OF Police
Mehans, Of Parkersourg, arrested two men
as suspicious characters who gave the
names OF j. Hines and Frank Bowen.
Upon searching them number OF ten and
fifteen cent stamps, number OF pocket
knives, and an incomplete set cf burglars
tools were found in their possession. In
the meantime the news OF the robbery OF
the Flemington postotfice had reached Par
kersburg, and suspicion at once attached to
the men under arrest as having been con-.
nected with 1t. 1n.pector Shallcross, Of
Washington, wrote to Inspector Newcome,
OF New York, that he was satisfied that the
men under arrert were connected with the
Pennington robbery and with many others
IN adjoining towns. He also said that he
had reason to believe that they were mem.
bers OF gapgof travelling postofice thieves,
having headquarters at No. l73 Stanton
street, in New York City. The evil
dence against the men was consid-
ared sufficient to hold them to await
the action Of the Grand Jury, and alter
further correspondence between Inspectors
Shallcross and Newcome, the latter placed
the matter in Detective B!onk's hands. He
inst called at No. l73 Stanton street, where
Max Schwartz keeps cigar store. Sch
wartz denied any Acquaintance with the
parties named. Mr.. Rottenberg, OF No.
1872 Stanton street, upon whom Detective
BLonk also called, volunteered the state
ment that he had received quantity oi
stamps from West Virginia from Hines,
whose real name vas Hertz Among these
were 700 one-cent, 6S3 two.cent, 40 FIVE.
cent, 9l tifteen.cent, and l2Q ten.cent
stamps. The ten and fifteen cent stamps
he returned, at the same time sending
the face value OF the others. Detective
Blonk learned from Alice Sanford that
Hertz, alias Hines, alias Frenchy, was
known as a. leading mau Of the gang. She
said that "Frenchy" was well known as
thief, and that previous to leaving New
York she had bought his ticket and gave
him an outfit Of clothing. Sue had also
assisted to purchase his burglars tools.
Bowen, whose case was called to-day,
pleaded guilty, and was at once sentenced
10 two and u half years imprisonment.
Hines was yesterday sentenced to i've
years in the penitentiary at Mouudsville.