Wichita eagle., 1890-02-09
FRAUDULENT USE OF THE MAILS.

For week past the postoffice authori-
ties have had reason to suspect that the
mails were being used for fraudulent pur-
poses, but not until yesterday could the
guilty party be identified Postoffice To-
spector Patton has been in the city since
Monday aad with the assistance Of Deputy
Marshal Willis Metcalf they secured their
man yesterday during the noon hour. His
name is Jerry Mccartney alias j. H.
Ribs He was arraigned before Commits
sioner Sherman and his case set for Non
day the 18th of February. The prisoner
told the reporter he did not know what he
was arrested for and that he was only get
ting Ribs mail by request. He said he
was working man but bad not been able
to secure employment. although he hoped
to get job at the packing house shortly.
He also said that Ribbs had several names
and he first knew him as Brown. He had
seen him th 1t morning but could not find
him again although he had searched the
city over in charge of Deputy Metcalf. He
is keeping bachelors hall at al South
Washington avenue and Ribs and a boy
hailing from Anthony shared his quarters
with him.
although this boy and Ribs both live
with him be is not sure of their names and
does not profess TO know anything OF their
business beyond the alleged fact that Ribs
got the best of him for three dollars.
The inspector and deputy have been
watching the postoffice pretty closely for
the last five days taking turn about. Yes
terday while Metcalf was gone to dinner
the inspector noticed boy come in and
demand mail for Ribs. The mail was
given to him i. e. part OF it was given him
and the inspector followed him out. The
boy went down in the alley and gave the
package to Mccartney. The inspector
then stepped up to Mccartney and
told him the clerk had forgotten
to deliver all of the mail and asked
him to come for it. Once in the postoffice
he was detained until Metcalfs return,
who took him under arrest.
McCartney's plan has been to write to
different people telling them that their
relative had died leaving with him a trunk
which he understood contained valuable
documents. That he had promised the dead
party to forward the trunk TO their adj
dress but that he had been thrown out OF
employment ard did not have the means.
He of conrse regretted this delay in the
fnlfillment of his promise but would for
ward it with the first So bill he could get.
1t would be hard-hearted relative who
would not take the hint and forward IS TO
pay the charges.
1t is impossible to tell yet how many
| financial responses he has received or the
extent of his operations. II is likely they
have not been carried on long, but 1t was
| good scheme while it lasted.
| The suspicious of the authorities were
| first aroused by Mccartney always re-
| ceiving Ribb's mail and once when mon
ey order came, Mccartney brought Ribb's
order for it. When the money orders be-
came frequent the money order clerk nat
urally wanted to see Ribs and refused to
acknowledge his order not knowing his
signature. Then in order to get the money
Mccartney said he was Ribs himself. At
| this juncture Mccartney thought it pru-
dent to avoid the postoffice and has not
shown up around there since Monday.