Delaware gazette and state journal., 1884-06-19
A rHtEvING Postal CLHAM.
Caught RObbing Registered Letters
Ike COnfesses the Theft and Re =
turns the SpOIIs.

Duri;g the past ysar numerous com
| plants have b4sn made that nooey sent
by letter over the Wilmington and Read
ing postal route frequently did not reach
its destination. The attention of the de-
partment was directed to the affair, aud
P st Otios Inspector Barrett aud Special
Officer Abels we're put to work shout ole
mouth ago, ia order to track
ont what beoams OF th- money
They have been doing detective
work since that time ana after careful
investi7 alton, oams to the conclu ion that
Postal Agent Hugh Wynne was sys
temsticsliy robbing the mails, 10 catch
him in the act has bsen their erdsavor
for two weeks past and not until yester-
day week were they successful, and
shortly after Wynne's arrival in this city
in the evening he was arrested.
Yesterday week five decoy registered let
ters were mailed a. various points along
the route of the Wilmington Il Northern
railroad by Inspector Barrett. The first wac
sent from Birdsboro, containing IS in two
and one dollar notes, and another
enclosing a one dollar note was mailed at
Blue Rock. A description OF the money,
its marks, &c, were kept by Deteo.
live Absls, who boarded the train
at Birdsbor The officer watched Wynne
closely and observed him carefully take
the letters and abstract the money. The
postal clerk came to the office as usual
upon his arrival in this city whera he
completed his duties of delivering the
mail and went to his boarding house on
King street between Fourth aud Filth,
The two officers met in this city upon
Abels' arrival and decided that they had
sufficient evidence upon which 10 arrest
Wynne The arrest was made and
Wynne taken to Postmaster Swiggett's
private office, while United States Com
missioner Smith made out warrant,
which was placed in the hands of Marshal
McMullen, who formally arrts tsted Wynne
and took him before Commissioner Smith
for a preliminary hearing, who continued
it until Thursday afternoon.
Wynne frankly confessed the theft and
the marked money stolen was given the
authorities and identified by them as
the same they had previously put in the
deooy letters. Five dollars more were
also found upon the prisoner, which while
it was suspected that IL had been alb
straoted from the mails, the fact could
not be proven and it was returned.
Wynne's wife, who lives in Phiiadel-
phis, was on visit to her husband,
here, and the two had gone to the
p. W. q b. station, she to 60 home.
While waiting for a train the clerk was
arrested by the officers who demanded
the poke. books OF each. The wife was
quite overcome with grief and made a
very affecting scene when the arrest was
made. The husband was taken to the
police station in the custody of the
marshal and put in cell.
Wynne has been on the route between
this city and Reading over two years, ,suc-
oeeding Postal Clerk Moore. He is g
Pennsylvanian, the appointment being
made from that state. He is connected
with several prcminen. Psnnsylvanis
politicians, aud it is said was expecting
an appointment as police sergeant on the
force Of Mayor Smith OF Phila-
delphia, who is relative. The
salary attached to the office is
81, 900 per year, which with money stolen
was expended ty Wynne in his errstic
manner of living instead of for his family.
His wife, owing to her husbands neglect
in providing for her wants, has been
obliged to make her home in two small
Foons Oh y ulnSy court auu tABe IN Wasn-
ing to support herself.
He wss srrAIgned before U. S. Commits
sioner Smith Thursday and pleaded
guilty. The commissioner fixed the pri-
sonsr's bail at $4,000, for appearance at
court the second Tuesday in September.
Being unable to procure the sum named
Wynne was taken to the New Castle Jail
and locked up. His wife attended the
hearing and was greatly affected at her
unfaithfnl husbands unfortunate posi-
,ion. Jonathan Roberts will temporarily
fill Wynne's place as postal agent,