Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-12-11
HOW HE DID 1T.
rHrIyNcHBuRa MAIL.RoBBERsPLAN
OF RIFLIka LETTERS.
vstehed in His Room-A Decoy- What he
thought Of Mail.Robbsrs-
other Itsmc.
.c,....,ono.nce Of me Richmond pispatchI

LYSCHBURG, December 10. 1856.
Tbo mail. robbery OF Yesterday, an ac-
count Of which was teIegraphed the ms.
noJcb lat night, Is an absorbing topic OF
ccnyersation Tins morning. Later develop
mrnts show that the gross amount of mo
n,y stolen by Southall, so far as yet ascer-
tainod-all Of which was taken from regis
tered letters-amounts 10 over 800. Ills
Milan Of operations was to receipt for shch
letters at the posl-oilicc on the day ne mac
his trims TO Bristol. take them TO ms
room. and open them quite skilful'y' take
oui the money, and close them up
IA manner so artiSticalIy a. ID
escone the notice Of the next postal
clerk. 10 whom he would hand them
over at Bristol. and whose receipt ne
would take for the sane. When the leuer
" ould reach It's destination OF course the
money was gone; but TO determine Wne
the thief was COMPOUNDED the governmental
detectives, and many innocent men nave
not failed for time to he suspected. " nat
aroused suspicion rs TO Southall mas not
transpired, but in the present instance the
detectives obtained position 10y which
tley could watch his operations In his
room, and saw him open The three
fatal letters and take from them
heir contents. which he put in
his pocket. One Of the letters was
what Is called "dec0y," and contain
ed n marked icn-d0llar oil, which was
found on his person Immediately after bis
arrest, which event occurred on his leaN'
ding hi. room, and which doubtless i'm
Melted hm 10 a frank confession OF the
theft. One Of the peculiar features 0l
SOutbalrs populations consists IN the iact
that the first record OF his propensity in the
direction Of dishOEc>tv-so FAR n aScer-
taipcG-occuTrCd while he was Temporarily
relieved from his duties as postal clerk ana
detailed TO perform the duties OF mail tiah'.
f,r clerk az the Union depot IN the stead OF
man WHO had been arrested for similar
offence. SOutball frequently discussed this
uaIticular ease with citizens, your corrc-
epcndeut among others, expressing hl. sur
mise that "any man possessed WIN Tue
sense Of child should be guilty OF
an attempt TO defraud the Govern
mont in the mail service. ~ he was
sure t. be caught sooner or later :;
and vet in the face Of his animadycr-lon,
upon the conduct OF hi predecessor, aud the
fact that he had been for nearly fourteen
yesrs IN The mail service, bearing cl1rlc-
Ter that led Government detectives TO make
q corfdaut Of him in their efforts to cntrlp
others who were suspected, he began his
career az infamy, ~ far a i, known, az the
very time and place where his predecessor
in crime had left of. The disclosure OF
hi, lad affair has ast0niShed everybody, in
that man Of SOuthall's intelligence aud
knowledge of the world should, when phy'
slcallv declining and at an age when he
could not hope 10 live many wears longer,
enter upon a line Of conduct That would
Inevitably blast the previous reputation OF
a lifetime, and dcs troy a. well the hap
pincss Of an only and cherished
daughter, who was devoted TO her father.
Soulhall has always been regarded by those
who know him best A. a genial and gene
rous man. with no apparent necessity for
more money than Wa afforded by the
literal salary Of which be was in receipt,
unlCss, indeed, as has been suggested,
Gambling created demand that lcglti-
mate income could not crafty. Certain 1t
is there are many here who regret sincerely
this departure from the paths Of rccti'uie.
4, in addition to the most positive proofs
Of his guilt he has already confessed u,
there can be no doubt as to the legitimate
consequence, OF Bis acts.
Rockers new warehouse. description
OF which has heretofore been published in
the DiSpdtcb, was formally opened vc>tcr-
day with It's first break. There WIS large
attendance with lively bidders. The city
i, now well supplied with ample facilities
for The disposition OF III" weed.
Ms. Davis. VII, OK Robert j. D1Nis, E,q,
formerly Miss Cabell, and a most eStimI-
be Iady, died at her residence IN ibis city
Yesterday morning, nj the age OF sixty