National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-06-06
YOUNG COOKIES CRIME.
He Is Caught in tho Act Of AbsIracting Money
From Registered Letters.
The Crime Concealed for Months by
Using CounterfsIt Envelopes.

William f. Cooke clerk in the registry
division Of the city postofiicc, was at work as
usual Wednesday night. About 1 o'clock
yesterday morning no dimmed tho gas in his
Office room and bent over his desk engaged in
some mysterious work. He was not alone in
the room, although no thought so. pair of
bright eyes were watching his every move
ment from place of concealment Tho eyes
were those of Detective Henderson. Tho
young man was robbing the mails, and
as he distracted amounts from several regis
tered letters hc would glance nervously about
the apartment and then shove tho money
quickly in his pocket Finally he arose and
picking up the letters ho had resealed in new
envelopes, started to leave the room. The de-
teotivo emerged suddenly from his place of
coneealment and placed his hand on tho
young mans shoulder. Tho latter was almost
paralyzed with fear and shook as though no
had been struck by an Arctic blizzard. Ho
turned pale and instantly realized
that no had been caught in
an act which meant long
term of imprisonment. Inspector Hender.
son held his prisoner at the postoffice until
the officials came down in the morning.
Cooke was then taken before United States
Com missioner Mills, but waived an examine
ton and was taken TO jail.
The accused is q young man of learning
and talent. He was appointed to a clerk
ship in the registry department of the city
postofllco last September after passing the
civil service examination with tho highest
record of any clork ever appointed in the
postotiice. He Is about 81 years of age, and
had served three years as q cadet at the AM
napolis Naval academy. His father is a resi-
dent of Ohio, and ia said to DO u man
of means and prominence. Beside his office
work, for which he received only $50 a
mpnth had nd Il.
table examination for admission into the
revenue marine service. He was under bond
to the department, and 10 is thought that the
bond will cover all losses. His father was
the principal surety.
Tho young man has been under surveil
lance by the postal inspectors for several
weeks. Suspicion was first directed to him
ON account of the similarity Of the forged
signatures on the back of tho en-
| velopes opened and robbed by him
| After being arrested he made confession
to Inspector Henderson, and said that il
addition to robbing registered letters he wa
also guilty of forgery. He described hii
method Of operating by saying that he woulC
| take n registered letter in transit, break il
open, take the money and receipt accompa
nying, aud deposit it in the counterfeit en-
velope and pocket the money, and afte
writing tho name of the party to whom thu
original letter was addressed OH q counter
felt one, would send it to its destination, HI
had the sum Of $13 on his person, money
which had been marked and sent by regis
tered letter as decoy.
His operations extended back as far q
April II, during which timo he stole owe
$275 The cause of tho thefts is attributed
| to fast and riotous living on small salary
| Cooke is the second man arrested at the cit,
postoflice during the past six months on TIN
charge of stealing registered letters. TIL
other man was McCauley, q colored watch
man. The penalty for the act is imprison
ment for q term of from three to ten year
at hard labor. This matter will bring GU
the first test case in regard to tho bonds re
quired to be given by each employe of tn
city postotllce. The sureties on the bond ar
responsible for tho amount stolen.
Assistant Postmaster Sherwood stated to
REPUBLICAN, reporter last evening that b
was surprised at the action of Cooke, who wa
one Of the brightest and most intelligen
employees Of the office. The young man cor
fessed, he said, to having taken all the regii
tered mail that has been missing since Apri
All of the employees are bonded, and tn
government is, therefore, insured agains
loss