The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-08-15
WHOLESALE MAIL ROBBERY.
How the Chicago Letter-Boxes We're Plum
dered of Great Quantities of Mail.

CHICAGO, Aug. 14.-A system of Wholesale
lettsr-box robbery. extending over period of
two years, involving the theft Of thousands of
letters, including Enclosures Of drafts. checks
and postofice orders, ageregating an unknown
amount. 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 the United
States postofice inspectors. Frederick Won
Oberkampf and Thomas j. Mack are in custody,
and tmore arrests are likely to follow. Won
Oberkampf claims to be member OF q noble
German family of Berlin, and Mack is q carpen-
ter and native of the United States. The
discovery Of these gigantic pilferings
of letter-boxes came about in . curious
and a thoroughly unexpected manner. Won
Oberkampf was indebted to his landlady. and ia
payment rendered her a check. which she accent
ed, and returned him q difference of about so
ia cash. The check turned ont to have been
forged. and she placed the matter in the hands
of the police, who located the man in his room
on North Market street. In searching this
room the officers were astonished to find a trunk
filed to the top with letters. They had all been
opened, bore no postmark and each had had the
stamp removed. 1t was then ascertained that
Won Oberkampf occupied still another room.
and when this was searched another trunk full
OF letters all IN the precise condition described
above, were found. At another room
in hotel were found va
lise packed with broken mailmstter
and bunch of keys. One Of the keys was one
which opened railway mail pouches. and another
was numbered 16S. and would open any letter
box in Chicago All the captured mail matter
was taken to the office Of the postofioe inspee-
tor. The envelopes contained all sorts of queer
things usually sent through the mails, from dry
goods samples and bits OF iswelry to writing
pads and numerous photographs. But that
which showed the magnitude of the dspredations
Was the presence of piles OF insurance policies.
trust deeds. drafts, checks, money orders and
promissory notes These represented in the
aggregate nearly $100, ,000 The largest check
was one for $4,000. drawn by q wholesale
| grocery house OF Chicago, on the Continental
| National Bank Numerous other drafts rang
| ing in figures from $500 to $1,000. and scores
| drawn for $500 each. were found Won Ober-
! kampf was arrested on Saturday and confessed
| his guilt on Monday. The postofiee authorities
| are now investigating bow tue postal keys came
into his possession, and IL is claimed that fur
ther arrests will surely follow it being supposed
that some letter carrier anticipating the loss OF
| his position. had . duplicare of his key made
| and that he gave it to Won Cberkampf, sharing
| with him in the proceeds To-day both men
| were before Commissioner Hoyne Mack waived
q preliminary examination and was held 10 the
federal grand jury under So, 900 bail. Won Ober-
| kampfs case was contiaued until Tuesday, in
bonds Of the same aS:c-.t Both are cow 10
| iail