The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-08-25

Postal yBoxes systematically eRifed
r0r Two Years Without de-
lection.

HUE A"O AGoE0 vvaeWVae 49,
lection.
Two OF the most important arrests made
in Chicago in long time where thoseof
Fred Obcrkampf aud Thomas K. Mack who
are now the I'm the county jail.
About four weeks ago obcrkampf, who ~
unmarried and 20 years OF age, rented a room
from Mrs. Christina Dohrn az 10 East Erie
street He IL well educated, speaking several
languages and dresses well. He represented
himself 10 be the s.isfant superintendent OF
an insurance company. Mrs. Dohrn noticed
that every time her ledger came into the
house his pockets were stuffed iull OF mali
matter This fact he explained by saving
that he attended 70 thecorrcsponueAre 81 me
insurance Office. Things ran along smoothly
until Oberkampf owed his landialy about
So, and she began 20 press for payment. He
bad been several times visited by friend,
who now turns out 10 be Thomas n. Mack
On Saturday afternoon. August Z, Obtr-
kampf took a check 10 Mrs. Dohrn that was
apparently drawn by >. Il. Clarkson, the
realestatc man. and made payable 70 the or
der OF a bank az Omaha. Mrs. Dorm was
induced 10 accept the check, which was Tor
about $50. a payment for Obcrknmprs room
rent giving her ledger the difference IN the
amounts in CASH On Sunday oberkampf
skipped out and on Monday the check was
found 20 he forgery. On "Wednesday Mrs.
Dohrn received a letter from her ex-lodger
To keep quiet about the check, and he prom
ised TO pay her IN full
On Thursday Mrs. Dohrn swore ont
warrant for the arrest OF Oberkampf for
forgery. The warrant was put IN the hands
OF ID Effective Whalcn, and on Saturday last
at about b O'clock the officer arrested his
man Mt the corner OF Franklin and wash
ington streets. Whalen hal examined
Obcrkampfs effects left az Mrs. D0hrn =.
There were two grip VIII ich contained q
large amount Of letters packages, etc., cyi-
IDENTIFY stolen from the mails, as the stamps
had AL been torn of and there Were no
postmarks. Several letters Were found on
the prisoner and also two checks, one for
Si,tVO and one for cS3.
Whalen informed Inspector kidder % his
find and together they re-cNaiuinc the
"grips." Inspector kiddcr armed United
States Marshal butcher and Officers Whalen
and klinger with warrant and they went
10 work OF the case, with the result that
they traced their man 10 the Metropolitan
hotel, where lac had lived under the name
OF Fred Mallct. a .grip' containing papers,
etc, was found here and postal mail Key.
He had also loardcd with man named
kugel nc 1870 Market street, for fourteen
months, and here the officers found trunk
full OF mail matter, consisting, a. before, OF
letters, checks, insurance policies, title deeds,
certificates OF stock, drafts, goycs, ctr.
The prisoner was taken to the Chicago
avenue station. At first hc denied every
thing aud told "A number OF conflicting sl0-
ries. However, he Tuesday morning COM
fided 10 butcher the name OF his partner and
also hiss whereabouts. The officers, acting
on the Information given, VISITED 300 Cot
tagc Grove avenue, aud after watching the
house for two hours, Thomis 4. Mack. ae-
companied by his wife and a lady friend,
came out. They were about 10 start ON n
fishing expedition and carried poles and
lines Officer Whalen followed the party
until they arrived at the railway tracks at
3lst street, made sure Of his man, anu ar
rested him.
Mack submitted quietly and accompanied
the officer back To his Hat and turned over TO
him bundle OF papers. These papers
proved TO DC checks, Insurance policies, trust
deeds, title deeds, etc. The prisoner de-
cared that he knew nothing about them aud
that he was only taking care OF them for
Obcrkampf. lie admitted finally that Ober-
kampf had u key with which he opened the
postal boxes on the streets, and also that he
had shared with him tho money obtained
from Mrs. Dohrn.
Obcrkampf admits having robbed the mail
boxes, and says he has only kepta few OF
the letters and securities tina. he was IN the
habit of destroying them. The property IN
checks, drafts, deeds, stock, etc., now IN ln-
spector kidder's room represent about
SiO0O,000, the checks and drafts alone
amounting 10 over 100000.
About Mack's career nothing Il yet
known, but Oberkampf belongs 10 good
family in Berlin. bcilnaiy. lie has been IN
this country nearly tire years and has never
worked day here lie mas made Il good
living by piferng the mails, using tho
money he found III the letters and selling the
postago-rtamps. The stamps which he
soakesi of the enycloI o. IA rcnuciIlag,d AMI
sold az drug store on Indiana stuet.
There yet remains u trunkful OF letters and
securities which the authorities have not
had time 10 examine, aud which will make
the total amount OF tire robbery much
greater. All the property IS NOW In posse
sion OF the government ani cannot be re-
turned 10 the rigntiul owners until alter the
trial OF the prisoners.
A number OF tie letters found by the
officers were mailed in 1885, showing that
the tliefts bad been going on for about two
years
Muck l. stout. blonde man, 40 years old
and a native OF the United states, lie said:
IL worked AZ q carpenter Ia Chicago after
the fire. Lately 1 have worked for the
American Aid Society, with an office at 331
West 18th street / met Obcrknmpf about
fifteen months ago. met him OF and ON,
and few days ago he asked me 10 cgsitify 10
Mrs Dohrn that check Endorsed by HIM
was good. did 40. lie was nj my room
aftcrward and asked me 20 keep package
for him. Ii was package OF letters.
knew nothing about his operations. an,