The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-08-15
RAIDS ON LETTER BOXES.
OVER 100000 RAKBD IN BY TWO
CROOKS AT CHICAGO.

| Belief That They Obtained Key to
the Boxes From a Mail Carrier -
Checks Ranging From 500 to
| $4,000 Found Among the Loot at
the Headquarters.
CHICAGO, Aug. IA system of whole
sale letter-box robbery, extending over a
period of two years and involving the theft
of thousands of letters, including enclosures
of drafts, checks and postoffice orders aggre-
eating an amount unknown, though known
to exceed 100000, and explaining in part
the numerous complaints made against the
Chicago postal service, has been discovered
by the police and United States Postoffice
Inspectors. Frederick Won Oberkampf and
Thomas J. Mack are in custody. More ar.
rests are likely to follow.
BLUE BLOOD IF TRUE
| Won Oberkampf claims TO be member
of noble German family of Berlin, and Mack
| is a carpenter. and native of the United
States. The discovery came about in q
curious and thoroughly unexpected man.
ner. Won Oberkampf was indebted to
his landlady, and in payment rendered her
and returned him the difference
of about $50 in cash. The check
turned out to have been forged, and she
| placed the matter in the hands of the po-
| lice, who located the man in room on
| North Market street. In searching the
room, the officers were astonisled to find a
trunk filed to the top with letters
HAD ALE BEEN OPENED.
They had all been opened, bore no post
mark, and each had had the stamp removed.
| It was then ascertained that Won Ober-
| kampf occupied still another room, and
| when this was searched another trunk full
| of letters, all in the same condition
above described were found. At another
| room in hotel were found valise packed
| with broken mail matter and bunch of
keys. One Of the keys was one which opened
the railroad mail pouches, and another was
numbered 1853, and would open any letter
box In Chicago.
AN ODD COLLECTION.
All the captured mail matter was taken
TO the office of the postofflce Inspector The
envelopes contained all sorts of queer things
usually sent through the mails-from dry
goods samples and bits of jewelry to writ
ing paper and numerous photographs. But
that which shows the magnitude of the rep
resentations was the presence of piles of
| insurance policies, trust deeds, drafts,
checks, money orders and promissory notes.
These represented in the aggregate nearly
| 100000. The largest check was one for
| $4,000. drawn by a wholesale grocery
| house of Chicago on the Continental
national bank.
NUMEROUS OTHER DRAFTS.
Numerous other drafts ranged in figures
from 81, 500 to $40, 900, and scores drawn for
500 were found. Won Oberkampf was
arrested Saturday, and confessed his guilt
Monday.
The postoffice authorities are'now in
/ ha nj kay fr,4s.
his possession. and it Is claimed that further
arrests will follow, it being supposed that
some letter carrier, anticipating the loss of
his position. had duplicate key made, and
that he gave 1t to Won Oberkampf, sharing
with him the proceeds. To-day both men
were before Commissioner Hayne.
| Mack waived preliminary examination
and was held to the federal grand Jury
under 81, 900 bail.
VoE Oberkampfs case vas continued un-
til Tuesday, in bonds OF the same amount.
Both are in Jail