Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1888-08-23
p.,.p.i,. po..-ome. RobSer,.

Chicago officers have nnearthed a robbery,
and such a robbery as almost appals one IN
its vastness. The eulprits have been captured
and the stolen mail matter .reeovered-at
least a great portion oft. The valuation Of
this matter win not fall short OF 100000.
The story OF the crime is an interesting ons.
The thieves are named Oberkamf end Mack,
the former eonfcssing that he had been riailg
the mail boxes in Chicago for a long period,
and that he got into these boxes by means of
a regular mail service key. He refuses to state
where he obtained the key, which isnumbered
los. IL bears the name ofthe Chicago, st.
Paul. Minneapolis & Omaha railroad was de.
signed for the use of the mail service on that
road. just how il was lost, and to hat clerk
it belonged, will be investigated at Washing
ton. 0berkampf sent for Detective Khnger and
gave him n letter which led to the arrest of
Mack, b took the officers to his room on
Cottage Grove avenue, where he turned over
a lot OF checks and drafts. Mack, who Is an
intelligent appearing man Of about forty
years, said that Uberkampf had given them
10 him TO keep and that he did not knoS
where the latter had got them. He di3-
claimed all connection and knowledge OF the
crime and said that he first became M
quainted with the German while engaged Ia
the insurance business. He had engaged
~ III y aAAAAtE1 ANthAaAb " hlsa
His correction with the affair was clearly
proven, however, when il became known that
he had been frequently seen in the eompaaY
OF Oberkampf at the latter's rooms. As to
how long the prisoners have been operating
the officials can give no definite AM
swer. However, they think that 0bes.
kampf has been breaking into malt
boxes for the past two years, and It II
known hat for that space of time h.,
has not done a stroke of work
Won 0berkamf was indebted to his land
lady, and in payment rendered her a cheek
which she accrpted aad returned him a diff.
ference of about $50 ia cash. The check
turned out to have been forged, and she
placed the matter in the hands Of the police,
who located the man in a room on North
Market street. In searching this room, the
officers were astonished TO find a trunk filled
To the top with letters. They had all been
opened, and bore no postmark, and each had
had the stamp removed. il was then ascer-
tanned that Won Oberkamf occupied still
another room, and when this was searched
another trunk full of letters,
oil in the precise condition described above.
were found. At another room in the hotel
we're found a valise packed with broken mnil
matter, and a bunch of keys. One OF the
keys was one watch opened railway mail
pouches, and another would open any letter
box in Chicago. Al the captured mail mat
ter was taken TO the Office of the postofice
Inspector. TIL envelope contained all sorts
of queer things usually sent through the
mails, from dry goods samples, and bits OF
jeSelry, to writing pads, and photographs.
But that which showed the magnitude OF
the depredations was the presence os piles
of insurance policies, trust, deeds, drafts,
ehacks, money oniers and p~rnnissory notes.
The largest rheek was for $4,000, drawn,
by a wholesale grocery house Of Chicago on
the Continental National bank. Numerous
other drafts, ranging in figures from $500
TO $1,000, and scores drawn for $500 each
we're found. The post-offiee authorities are
now investigating how the postal keys came
ihto Won 0berkamfs possession. IL is sup
posed that some letter carriers, anticipating
the loss Of his position, had a duplicate OF
his key made, and that he gave II to Won
Oberkamf, sharing withhim the proceeds.