The Worthington advance., 1888-08-23
Extensive Post.onlce Robbery.

Chicago officers have unearthed robbery,
and such a robbery as almost appals one IN
it's vastness. The culprits have been captured
and the stolen mail matter recovered-at
least great portion of it, The valuation of
this matter will not fall short of 5000, 900.
The story of the crime is an interesting one.
The thieves are named Oberkamf and Mack.
the former confessing that he had been rifling
the mail boxes in Chicago for q long period
and that he got into these boxes by means OF
irregular mail service key. Herefuses to state
where yde he obtained the key, which is numbered
16s; It bears the name of the Chicago, st.
Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha railroad was de-
signed for the use of the mail service on that
road: just how it was lost, and to what clerk
1t belonged, will be investigated at Washing.
ton. 0berkampfse for Detective Khngerand
gave him a letter which led to the arrest of
Mack, who took the officers to his room on
Cottage Grove avenue, where he turned over
q lot OF checks and drafts. Mack, who is an
intelligent appearing man of about forty
years, said that Oberkampf had given them
to him to keep and that lie did not know
where the latter had got them. He dis
claimed AL connection and knowledge of the
crime and said that he first became &C.
quainted with the German while engaged in
the insurance business. He had engaged
Oberkampf to address circulars for him.
His connection with the af1a;r was clearly
proven, however, when it became known that
he had been frequently seen in the company
OF Oberkampf at the latter's rooms. As to
the officials can give no definite an
swer. However, they think that Ober-
kampf has been breaking into mail
boxes for the past two years, and it is
known that for that space of time he
has NOT dong a stroke of work.
Won Oberkamf was indebted to his land
lady, and in payment rendered her a check
which she accepted and returned him q diff
ference of about $50 in 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 q room on North
Market street. In searching this room, the
officers were astonshed to find trunk filled
opened, and bore no poetmark, and each had
had tho stamp removed. 1t was then aecer-
tanned that Won Oberkamf occupied still
another room, and when this was searched
another trunk full of letters,
all in tho precise condition described above.
were found a vaiise packed with broken mail
matter, and bunch Of keys One of the
keys was ono which opened railway mail
pouches: and another would open any letter
box in Chicago. 4ll the captured mail mat
ter was taken to the office OF the postofiice
lnspccIOr Inc envelope contained all sorts
of queer things usually sent through the
mails, from dry goods samples, and bits Of
}Sewelry, Jew to Writing pads, and photographs;
the depredations was the presence of piles
OF insurance policies, trust, deeds, drafts,
checks, money orders and promissory notes.
The largest check was for $4,000, drawn,
by wholesale grocery house Of Chicago on
the Continental National bank. Numerous
other drafts, ranging in figures from 81, 500
were found. The post-office authorities ore
now Investigating how the postal keys came
into Won Oberkamfs possession. 1t is sup
posed that some letter carriers, Anticipating
the loss Of his position, had duplicate Of
his key made, and that he gave it to Won
Oberkamf, sharing with him the proceeds.