The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1886-06-17
rILCmED EsOM TmE MAILs.
Chas. II. Dosser Captures A POST
Office Thief.

arrested early yesterday morning !
charged with opening letters which
contained money. Later in the day
he was arraigned before United States
Commissioner Allen, and held for ex-
animation in the sum of $4,000.
The story ofthe crime attributed to
Harris is remarkable in several re-
spects. The accused man was appoint
ed as aclerk in the Post-Ofice on
April /, 1885, having passed a civil-ser-
vice examination and securing second
place on the eligible list. His salary
was 5000 per annum, which seemed to
satisfy him, as he was always OF con-
tented turn OF mind and lived well.
He had formerly held position in
the New York Post-0fice, which fact
together with strict attention to bus
mess, secured him rapid promotions,
and he was finally made chief night
clerk. In this position he had five
clerks subjectto his orders and had
access to the office at all hours.
About eight months ago Postmaster
McLeer, of Brooklyn, and Postmaster
Pearson, of New York, received letters
complaining that the senders had lost
,, money while it was in transit through
! the mail. Inspector Newcomb, OF the
Secret Service, was notified to investl-
gate the matter, but as he was well
: known he made little headway, and
!, for time the complaints ceased. A
{ continued absence on the Inspectors
part, however, brought about renew
al Of the complaints, and several bus
mess houses, among which were
. Wechsler & Abraham, reported fire.
) quent losses. Realizing that extra ef-
I; forts would have to be made to capt
: ure the guilty one, the postal authori-
: ties at Washington were communica-
ted with, which resulted in the
y sending to Brooklyn of Inspector
Charles E. Dosser, of Tennessee.
This official began operations al
once, and after thorough investiga
! tion announced that all the missing
n letters were invariably posted between
= 10 p. M. and a. m. He accordingl!
a dropped decoy letters containing
al marked money into the box during
these hours, which were all received
at their destinations minus the none.
ca and encased in new envelopes tn
ay handwriting on which was entirel.
ed different from that Of the letters
N This writing was compared with tina
70 of all the clerks on duty during tn
Ve' night and was found to compare wit
that OF the Chief Clerk, Harris. Th
to- latter was greatly admired by his 81
ief perior officers, and for time the
lis would not think OF him in eonnectio
sh- with the thefts. The Inspector, hoy
di- ever, went quietly to-work and laid
act trap for the suspected man. One
ub- the night clerks named ]. S. Stewa
was taken into his confidence and j
structed to watch the dispositiC
- made OF two letters that would
'''- mailed at certain hour on WednC
~ day night and Immediately repo
Z Accordingly, towards midnight, A
sistant Postmaster Smith and Inspe
" tor Dosser went to the drop-box al
- deposited four letters, one OF whi
- was addressed to Wechsler Il Abraha
and contained 1926 in marked me
ey, and another to the Electric B
,on- Company in which was inclosed ".
Jher The two gentleman then went to
III" Clarendon Hotel and awaited result
hes, Clerk Stewart saw the letters dep
So!" tied and watched them until tt
his reached Harris. He then haster
or a from The building and informed
ltors two officials that he had heard Hal
Hess tumble the letters and apparently
up an enyelop. The three returl
. - to the Post-Office and Harris
tbo summoned to the private office of
Iotel Assistant osVni"S'ei' "iieie il
walls detained until the arrival OF Oh
! 10 Roddy, OF the First Precinct, who
run been sent for. Harris was mad
ron prisoner and conveyed to the sta
oo0b house, where he was searched an
oows is claimed that the marked money
found in his pockets, besides 81
- number of postage stamps and
was match boxes. The man took his
July rest in very cool manner, simpl.
kable marking that the proceeding WI
Hol- eput-up job" He, however, il
ghty- nantly denied that he had stolen
h her money found on him.
y-two Shortly before noon he was t
Young before United States Commiss
sisters Allen, to whom he denied his
2 and but refused to answer further
ior the tions, saying that he preferred to
of 327 until he secured counsel to d
him. He was then held in the s.
$4,000 for examination, which WI
:, -o down for this morning.