Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-09
ROBBING THE MAILS.
A City Post ONCE Clerk Detected In the
Act.
WHEN ARRESTED HE had LARGE SUN OF MONEY
IN HIS PocKEI-HE CLAIMS TO BE GUILTY OF
BUT ONE oFFENsK-THE HEARING THIS MORN
ING-HELD FOR THE GRAND JURY

ING-HELD FOR THE GRAND JURY.
Harry d. Darby, clerk in the registry d.
vision Of the city postofice, was arraigned this
morning before U. s. Commissioner Mills The
charge against him was having stolen letter
containing S243.61 from the United States mails.
Darby was arrested yesterday afternoon by As
sistant Inspector Troy, of the Post-Ofice de-
partment. For some months past complaints
have been received at the Post-Ofice depart
ment of losses Of money sent in registered let
tiers. Inspector Smith at once went to work on
the case. No one suspected Darby, man OF
middle age, of unblemished character, prom
inent member OF Hamline N. Z, church, and OF
quiet, unostentstious mode of life. However,
Yesterday afternoon, about O'Clock, as MIR.
Tracy was taking secret inspection Of the regis
try room from the outside, he saw Darby, who
was alone, open a letter. take out roll of bills,
select few, and, having placed them in his
pocket,
RESTORED THE ROLL TO THE LETTER.
Before he had sealed up the letter the hand
OF Mr.. Troy was laid upon his shoulder, and
the terrified man was informed that he was
under arrest The appearance of the insp. ctor
was SO unexpected that Darby was greatly over
come When searched over $500 was found in
his pockets. He claimed, however, that he had
$500 belonged to him and he had carried il
ever since he came to the city, some nine years
ago. In looking over the bills, however, the
inspector found that the date of their issue was
more recent than this date. Darby admitted
having taken the money from this letter, but
claimed that it was his first offense. He did
not talk much about the case, except to say that
he had loaned money to some OF the clerks in
the office which they had not returned, and he
thought that he ought to make up the loss in
nar nv foEa hafa Inof no
Mills and was held on bonds of $4,000, for
the hearing this morning, Christian Wagner
becoming his bondsman.
This morning, when arraigned before the
commissioner, his counsel, Gen. Darlington,
waived an examination. After Inspector Smith
had testified to the identity of Darby the COM
missioner held him for the action of the grand
jury. The bond was fixed at $4,000, and while
awaiting the arrival of two sureties Darby was
taken to the marshaps Office.
DARBY ENTERED THE PosT-oFF1cE IN 1880
as letter-carrier and was then promoted to a
clerkship. He has a wife, but no children. At
the hearing to-day he looked worn and pale,
and sat with downcast eyes. His friends said
that they had never seen such q marked change
IN man. His arrest is the cause of the
greatest surprise among all those who knew
him. The inspectors think that they will trace
to Darby number of other losses which have
been reported since January /. Darby, how
ever, maintains that he stole only one letter.
His counsel to-day, at the hearing, said
that his client was entirely without
available funds, as the inspectors had taken all
his money from him. He moved that an order
for counsel fees be granted. 1t was stated on
behalf of the government by Assistant District
Attorney Coyle that the losses reported to the
department contained in many cases descrip-
ton of the money, and 1t was necessary to re-
tain the notes found on the person Of Mr.
Darby until they could be identified. The
motion was denied.
Darby was kept in the bailiff's room waiting
for bail till after 2 o'clock this afternoon, and
none appearing he went to Jail in the BLACK
Maria"