Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-07-28
THIRTEEH...ELEYEN.
HOW THESE NUMBERS DISCLOSED Pill
FERING OF THE MAILS.
A Sacramento Letter-Carrfer Arrested
for the Crime Confesses It-How
He Was Found Out.

A Sacramento Letter-Carrier Arrested
for the Crime Confesses It-How
He Was Found Out.
Notwithstanding the fact that very few
if any acts of pilfering from the United
States mails have escaped detection, men
in the employment of the Postal Depart
ment are now and then still found in acts
of thieying. Wherever there is loss of
money or valuables from the mails, the
attaches of the Office of dispatch and that
of receipt. and the postal clerks between,
all fall under suspicion, and however hard
the burden, it must be borne until the
crime is fastened upon the real offender.
Such odium has unavoidably attached
for few weeks past to the Sacramento
Postofice attaches. because there was thief
among the employees handling letters, but
just which one of them was not positively
determined until yesterday forenoon, when
United States Assistant Inspector Erwin
took into custody George G. Brentner, a
carrier and office assistant, upon charge
ing the money contents to his own USE
Brentner has been in the service of the
Sacramento Office fourteen and half
months, and had just won the right to be
promoted from the third to the second class
for his efficiency. He is a rather tall and
prepossessiDg young man, about 81 years
of age, whose father resides in Merced The
young man is married and has children.
Some little time prior to the retirement
OF Postmaster Stephens, in June, complaints
came to the Office that merchants and
others of this city failed to receive letters
which their correspondents abroad wrote
they had mailed 10 them with money in
closures. 1t was impossible at that time
to fix even suspicion upon any particular
person. or, indeed. to be certain that the
offense was committed in the Sacramento
office.
Shortly after J. o. Coleman became Post.
master among the first things that came TO
his attention were the complaints that small
amounts of money mailed to correspond.
ents in this city failed to reach the persons
intended for. The Postmaster took the
matter up at the point where it had been
turned over to him, 70 ferret out the Of
fender, if in his Office, and if not, to have
the suspicion lifted from the Sacramento
office attaches.
~ 40 uhhoScSoniy W 20 iltO tu6 details DV
which he became morally certain of the
guilt of Brentner In every case reported
OF loss of money letters of certain charac-
ter the circumstances pointed in the
same direction. He reported the matter to
Inspector-in Chief Seabolt at San Francisco.
and IN due time that gentleman called at
the Sacramento Cftice and received the re-
port in detail, ana approved of the plans of
the Postmaster. Shortly after Chief Assist
ant Inspector Major Culver and Inspector
Erwin came to the city, remaining some
days, but were unable to fasten guilt upon
any one. They had, of course, to keep in
retiracy mainly, that their presence in the
city might not alarm the pilferer and frus-
defend the integrity of the mails
The Inspectors returned in few days to
San Francisco. In the meantime, with
their approval, Mr.. Coleman pursued
policy contemplated to be permanent. and
which contributed to determine where the
trouble was and to the detection of the
criminal; that is, to adjust duties so that
attaches can relieve each other without
calling in outside substitutes in case of tax
ing rest or vacation.
1t became part of the duty of carrier
Brentner to act as assistant distributor yes-
terday, it being his regular Sunday on. 1t
was his duty to receive and open pouches
yesterday. Certain pouches arriving by
the Oregon route at about A. M were, by
Inspector Irwin, who came to the CITY on
Friday, received and be placed in them,
prior to Brentner coming on duty, thir-
teen letters containing bills and coin
marked. These letters upon the exterior
appeared SO regular as to excite no suspi-
cion. They were addressed to Weinstock.
Lubin & Co.
Brentner received and opened the pouches
In due time and distributed the contents
The mail OF WeiDstock, Lubin & Co. goes,
for convenience, into special tin box.
Prior to Brentner finishing his work
yesterday morning Mr.. Coleman came to
the office and kept the box in sight until
Brentner went to breakfast The box was
then locked and placed under lock and kew
in the private office. Inspector Erwin was
then sent for, and Immediately responded,
and the two officials opened the box and
found that eleven out of the thirteen above
mentioned letters were missing.
Brentner was then called in and asked if
he had opened the Oregon pouch. He said
he had. Had anyone assisted him? No.
and he had distributed the contents him
self. he was then asked for the missing
letters. He denied all knowledge of them.
No threat or coercion was uaed, and pres
emily Brentner voluntarily acknowledged
that he had taken the letters that he had
taken them to the water closet, removed
their contents, torn up the envelopes, and
thrown the letter sheets down the closet.
Brentner then took handful Of silver
from his pocket and gave it to Mr.. Erwin.
In the silver the marked coins were found
that the Inspector had marked and placed
in the letters. Being asked for certain bills
OF currency that were in some of the let
ters, he said he had left them up town. He
offered to 60 to a certain saloon
and procure them, and the Inspector
started with him for that purpose. Mr..
Coleman went along, and at the door
OF the saloon Brentner requested the POST
master to remain outside, and manifested a
desire to go in entirely alone Evidently
he hoped to make break for liberty, but
inspector Erwin went into the saloon with
him, wbereupon Brentner reached down
and took the bills from his stocking, where
they bad all the time been secreted. Brent
ner, on the way back TO the Postoffice and
while there, admitted that some days prior
to the Sth Of June, when Mr.. Coleman took
charge of the Postoffice, the pilfering to
which he had confessed began.
Brentner was taken to the city prison,
after over an hour of time had been con-
sumed in travelling about to see if be could
oeSu'c uuli. ne Will DC taken 10 Sdn FraD-
cisco to day and his case will go to the
United States Grand Jury in few days.
In all the time from the Sth of June to
the day of Brentner's arrest there was con-
stant watchfullness to discover If Brentner
was guilty and a good many devices were
resorted to to make legal certainty of the fact
before visiting upon him the penalty of ar
rest and charge, for the officials were not
disposed to act hastily, nor until there no
longer remained doubt of guilt. What
these devices were, it is not necessary to
state, nor best that they should be detailed,
since they are employed more or less by
postal detectives. 1t must suffice to saw
that the honest attache of the U. s. Post,
Department cannot possibly be harmed by
them. and that it is rare the guilty ever
escape them.
One instance. the account of which was
obtained on the outside" does infinite
credit to the heart of J. w. Wilson, ex.
Sheriff. Mr.. Wilson was at one time taken
into the confidence of the officials. and
agreed that marked letter might be ad-
dressed to his care which it would be Brent.
ner's duty to deliver. 1t would contain
money: The ex-Sheriff believed in the
honesty OF the young man, and it seemed
as II his faith was well placed, for the car.
rler came in due time with tho iot.or and