Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-08-16

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A Chicago special says: A system Of
wholesale letter-box robbery, extending
over period OF two years, involving the
theft OF thousands OF letters, including
enclosures of drafts, checks, and post
Office orders, aggregating an unknown
amount, though known to exceed SOD,
600, and explaining in part the hume
rous complaints made against the Chi
cago postal service, hns been discovered
by tho police ard the United States post
Office inspectors Frederick Won Ober-
kompf and Thomas j. Mack arc in Gus
tody. More arrests are likely to follow
Won Oberkampf claims TO be mem
Der OF a. noble German family OF Ber-
lin, and Mack is carpenter and q M
tive Of the United States.
The discovery came about in curious
and thoroughly unexpected manner.
Won Oberkampf was indebted to his land
lady and in payment rendered her a
check. which she accepted and returned
him a difference of about fifty dollars 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 room on north Market
street. In searching this room the OH
GERS were astonished to find trunk fill
ed TO the top with letters. They had
all been opened, bore no postmark, and
each had had the stamp removed.
II 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 an
other room in the hotel were found
valise packed with broken mail matter
and bunch of keys. One OF the keys
was of tire kind which open railroad
mail pouches. and another was num-
bered 16S and would open any letter
box in Chicago. All the captured mail
matter was taken to the Office OF the
post office inspector. The envelopes
contained all sorts Of queer things
usually sent through the mails from
dry-eoods samples and bits OF
jewelry to writing paper and nu-
merous photographs. But that which
Showed the magnitude of the depreda-
tions was the presence OF piles OF insu-
rance policies, trust deeds, drafts, checks,
money ordere, and promissory notes.
These represented in the aggregate near
" 500, 600. The largest check was one
for $4,000, drawn bY wholesale gro
Gerry house of Chicago on the Cont
mental National Bank. Numerous CT
pher drafts, ranging in figures from
81, 800 to 81. 900, and scores drawn for
800 were found. Won Oberkampf was
arrested Saturday and confessed his guilt
Monday. The post-otiice authorities are
now investigating how the postal keys
came into his possession, and IT IS
claimed that further arrests will follow,
it being supposed that some letter-car-
rier anticipating the loss OF his position
had a duplicate of his key made, and
that he gave it to Won Oberkampf,
sharing with him the proceeds
To-day both men were before Com
missioner Hoyne. Mack waived pre-
liminarv examination. and was held to
the Federal grand jury under 5000
bail. Won Oborkampfs case was con-
tinued until Tuesday IN bonds OF the
Same amount. Both are now III jail.
REACHES A MILLION DOLLARS.
CmcAGo. August 15.-The post-olfice
inspector having 10 charge the letter box
robbery affair has completed pareal
list Of the checks, drafts, moncy-orders,
and other negotiable papers which were
found in Won Oberkampf's room, and
saws that so far il foots up over $3.50, 900.
Inspector Kidder - satisfied Tat the az
croeate value Of all The stolen documents
which were recovered will be fully a
million dollars. There is no means of
telling how much Won Oberkampf Sc
cured, nor how many people were in the
habit Of sending small sums through the
ordinary mali. The inspectors think this
is the most colossal mail-robbery echome