The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-15
NOVEL ROBBERY
" The Letters that Never ca =
~-- :
The Reason Why They Nevort
Tully Explained by the Poll
Wholesale Pilferage Of Oh
Street Mail Boxes Carried
Thousands of Letters Boldly Taken
Before Getting TO .ue PostofIlco.
A German Named Won oborkampf and
an Irishman Named Mack stoal
over 400, 900 in Checks, Drafts,
Etc.-How They Worked II.

CHICAGO, NJ, aug lL-A system Of
wholesale letter box robbery, extending
over two years, involving theft of thou
sands OF letters, including Enclosures Of
drafts, checks and postoilicc orders, aggrc.
eating an unknown amount, though known
to exceed SlOO, 900, and explaining in part
the numerous complaints made against the
Chicago postal service, has been discovered
by the police aud the United States post
office inspectors. Frederick Won Ober-
kampi and Thomas J. Mack are
in custody. More arrests are like
ly TO follow. Won Obcrkampf claims
TO bo member of noble German
family of Berlin, aud Mack is carpenter
and a native OF the United States The
discovery OF these gigantic pilicrngs of
| letter boxes came about IN n curious aud
thoroughly unexpected manner Won
Obcrkampi was indebted 20 his landlady,
and in payment rendered her check.
which she accepted and returned him n
difference oi 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 this
room the officers were astonishcd To find u
trunk filed to the top with let.
tens. They had all been opened,
bore no postmark and each had
had the stamp removed. II WIS then ~.
ccrtained that Won Obcrkampi occupied
still another room, aud when this was
searched another trunk full OF letters, all
Ia the precise condition described above,
was found. Az another room Ia hotel
were found yalisc packed with broken
mail aud q bunch ol KEYS. One oi the
KEYS was one which opened railway mail
pouches. aud another WIS numbered lGS
aud would open any lcttcr-hoN in Chicago.
All the captured mail matter was taken TO
the office OF the pustoilcc Inspector.
The envelopes contained all sorts ui queer
things usually sent through the mails,
from dry goods samples aud bits oi Jew
clry to writing pads aud numerous photo
graphs. l,ut that which showed the
magnitude oi the dcprc,lations WIS the
presence oi plies ui insurance policies,
| trust deeds, drafts, checks, money Or,lcr
and promiHsory notes. These represented
in tho aggregate nearly $1,000. The
| largest cheek WIS one for flU,UO drawn
| by wholesale grocery house of Chicago
on the Continental National bank M
mcrous other drafts. rsgng In figures
from sjOD 10 n, ,OOD. aud scores drawn for
500 each. were found. Won Obcrknmpf
was arrested Saturday, aud confessed
his guilt Monday. The posollicc
authorities nrc nov investigating how
the postal keys came into his posses.
sion. aud Il h claimed that further arrests
will surely follow, It being supposed that
some letter carrier anticipating the luss OF
his position, had duplicate NJ his key
made aud that hc gave II 10 Won Obcr-
kampi, sharing with him the ptucccds
Today both men were before Commits.
sioncr lloync. Mack waived preliminary
examination aud WIS held to the federal
grand jury under 300 bail. Won Obcr.
knmpi case was continued until Tuesday
In bonds oi tho same amount. Both arr
nov In jail.