The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-09-08
R0BBlNG POUCHES.
THE POSTAL THIEF sQUEALs.
Full Text of His Confession-He Attri.
butes His Disgrace to Gambling
Temptation Leading to Ruin
$1,000 IN Cash--Etc.


veteran mail clerk at Taylor, few days
since on the charge Of robbing registered
letters and the general mail, arrived in
the city Saturday night, and from him
4 HERALD reporter learned that Montelin .
had made confession which is given |
below. Montelin has been brought here |
for safe keeping. He was the oldest and |
perhaps the most trusted clerk in the |
service, and when the news of !
his arrest was first published in the |
HERALD, q few days ago. his friends |
were slow 10 believe IT,. His operations |
were extensive, and the manner in |
which the inspector terrified out the rob |
berry aud raped tho thief by decoy let
ters entities him to credit
THE CONFESSION
of MOntelin reads as follows:
TAYLOR, TEXAS, sept. e, lSSi.-Capt w. Il.
smith, POstCilige Inspector, Austin, Tex:
MY DEAR SIR: Having known you
for many years past rs United States
officer, and having ALWAYS received the
kindest treatment az your hands, and
believing you now entertain feelings Of
sincere sympathy and pity for me and
my unfortunate family in my present
great trouble, feel ii is my duty TO my
Government and the people that | have
80 grossly wrOngcd, 10 make, of my own
Volition, this my voluntary statement,
by my own hand, concerning the many
depredations committed by me during
the past three months, while acting MS
railway postal clerk between Denison
and Taylor, Texas, and at the same
time desire to state TO you the many
causes, which have led nc, step by step,
to commit said dcpredations.
Sometime in last June, owing to sick
ness in my family, commenced drink
ing hard, and the next step in my down
fall was gambling, and in consequence
Of this last step, was frequently, while
in Denison, in the company of gamblers
and bad characters, and having lost con-
siderable money, | was compelled to
give my note Tor various sums lost by
me- The gamblers being like all of
their class and kind, utterly hearless
commenced pressing me to the wall, and
threatened to expose me if | did not pay
my notes at once.
This being impossible and fearing eX.
posture and consequent disgrace, com
menced robbing registered and ordinary
letters, hoping thereby to pay oil IL,
debts mentioned and avoid disgrace an,
exposure, and fully determined to qui
stealing when said debts incurred by
gambling wore paid OIL.
But the effort and promise was NOR
than could perform, and continued il
my evil ways, until arrested an,
brought In justice byyou yesterday.
During the first month of my depreda
tons ] don't think | robbed NOR
thaI five or six registered packages, an
don't think amy Of ther
contained over $50. After Oh
l month Of June my depreciation
4 became more Numerous, and during tn
month OF August, robbed several res
| istered packages and ordinary letters
Two of the registered packages which
robbed in August, contained $500,
, which amount abstracted $780,
~ Said packages wore mailed at Ale
A Wee, Indian Territory, and were az
dressed to some parties at Clifton, 30
4 que county, Texas. OF the many regi
tered packages and ordinary lette
robbed by me, am of the opinion ~
from them between $1,000 and 900.
The most of this amount was obtHinI
from registered packages, for ordinai
letters rarely ever contained over 50
SO.
Ofthe five decoys or test letters plac,
by YOU in the United stat
mail, and which struck n
ON my run yesterday NOR
ing rihed four out of the five, and ,
the money, $500 taken from them "
found IN my possession by YOU VIII,
YOU arrested me in my room.
Before | conclude this untOrtuna
narrative, | desire TO again state Oh
my downfall aud consequent disgrd
% myself, unfortunate children al
heart6roken wife is largely due to {
gamblers Of DCnisou, and | hope
men, young and otherwise, will tn
warning by me and shun the SalO
and the gambling table.
A far rs ! am concerned | cannot G
Il pcct Tor clemonCy, but | do hope a
pray that my government will take IN
consideration my unfortunate and hea
broken wife aud our two helpl,
children, for they have not commit
any crime and deserve sympathy u
mercy,
The evidence of my guilt Is In W
hands. IL is full and complete and
have no defence TO make or otlor, a
hope that you and tho department y
have the honor To serve viii have mel
aud compassion upon my poor wife q
children, and will pray the court To z
me the lightest sentence, and In rotl
Tor this clemoncy / will promise y
now To use every energy I'm my nat
To become an honest, upright, law-at
my citizen, IL In future YOU or {
other Inspector of the post-oilico dep'
meut require any further I'M
nation concerning my rec
depredations | will gladly 3
You all the information
my possession, but at the present tin
am not In condition or state of min
describe the registered packages and
binary letters which were robbed by
nut hope to be able TO do so whom o
come my present excitement and
IRENE nervousness,
The foregoing IL a full and free
leSsion made by mo and am vii
aud anxious to do all in my powC
repair the many wrongs committed
ne while In tho railway mail SER
"A laul sir yours very respectfully,
JoHN MONrELl