The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-10-04


he went out again without taking ou
the mail. Mr.. Metcalf snatched up hi,
nat and dashed out after the stranger
he followed him TO n boarding house
but there was not sufficient reason tc
connect this man with Earle to Justify
an arrest at that time.
At another time the stranger came tc
q tho back door oil. the postoilice and askeG
! Night Clerk Conrad Wassaman to &c,
MIN his mail out ofbox 200, as ho wished
10 leave town tho next morning. He
! showed the key to the box, and gave bis
, name as Earle, but Wassaman refused
to give him the mail, as it WIS agaius,
the office rules. Had lie known tha,
: Earle" was wanted, he could have cap
tured him readily.
When Mr.. Wassaman was informed
OF the charges against the holder OF box
209, he recalled this circumstance, and
gave MIR. Metcalf very intelligent and
close description OF the man who came
to the door that night. This description
suits ex-Judge Cochran very closely.
There were no further DEVELOPMENTS
IN the case, in spite OF constant vigils on
the part OF Mr.. Metcalf and Deputy Mar.
shaf Devine. The mans visits having
been previously on Friday evenings, il
was concluded that there was reason 10
expect him last evening.
About 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon
Deputy Marshal Devine and Assistant
Postmaster Metcalt had consultation
as to the precautions to bo taken to ap.
prehend the man If no should call
last evening, and after talking
it all over Mr.. Devine left tho private
olice OF the postmaster and started up
street.
| STARTLED CLERK.
lie was scarcely q square away when
q man came to the general delivery win.
dow Of the office, and laying down two
box keys, said:
Here are two keys would like to
have redeemed"
IAN right" said Chief Clerk J. v.
Dickey.
"The key does not seem to work in
the lock very well. There are some
letters there which wish you would
hand me-"
The reason "the key did not seem to
work in tho lock very well" was that the
boz was locked on the inside.
Certainly" aaid Mr.. Dickey, politely.
What is the number Of your box?"
"What!"
Everybody about the postoilice had
been cautioned about Earle aud box 200,
and had come to regard his capture as
forlorn hope, and were inclined to in-
dulge in aduiet laugh at the expense OF
Mr.. Metcalf and the Deputy Marshal
whenever they saw them lounyirg aim.
lessly about the lobby.
To have the man everybody had been
looking for for nearly month deliber-
ately walk up to the window in open
day and speak the number OF his box
night ont loud was too much for Mr..
Dickey's equanimity, and he was startled
into an ejaculation which must have
surprised the stranger:
"What!"
As soon as he said it Mr.. Dickey saw
the possible effect OF it. He asked the
man to wait and hurried into the private
oilice, where Mr.. Metcalf was.
THE ARREST.
Mr.. Metcalf ran out after Mr.. Deyine,
but failing to catch him, returned. Post
master Cowden had at once gone up
stairs into the Office OF United States
Commissioner Campbell and called him
down. Just rs he and Custodian BiGk-
erton appeared at one end OF the CORR.
dor Mr.. Metcalf entered the door at the
other end.
Mr.. Campbell approached the man,
who WAS still waiting for Mr.. Dickey to
hand out his mail and redeem his keys.
Laying his hand on the strangers
shoulder, the Commissioner said:
VI want you."
"Want me? What for7"
II am United States Commissioner"
The strangers limbs weakened under
him, and his face grew ghastly pale. He
and accompanied his captors upstairs
very meekly.
Mr.. Devine came in in few minutes,
and the warrant was formally served.
TIE PRISONERS STORY.
The prisoner said he was not Earle,
but Thomas D. Cochran, Of St. Clairs-
vile, Ohio, an attorney-at. law and Tor
mer judge CT the Probate Court Of Bel
mont county. He admitted that he had
rented the box, and surrendered bis
keys to the authorities. He said that
Earle was q man who made his head
quarters ut New Philadelphia, Ohio.
He was unknown to the prisoner until
few weeks ago, when he met him on
train. After scraping up very pleas
ant acquaintance, Earle asked him il he
was pretty well acquainted in Wheeling
He replied that he was. Earle said he
had use for postoilice box at the
Wheeling ollics, md asked him il he
would object to renting one and taking
out mail sent to 1t and forwarding 1t 10
him.
Mr.. Cochran agreed, he seya, TO do
this, and Earle handed him dollar to
pay expenses.
The only reason such story would
be listened to ia the high standing OF Mr..
Cochran at his home. The story is, to
, say the least, extremely improbable.
Mr.. Cochran demanded hearing and
, an opportunity to consult lawyer.
; Capt. Dovener was called in and retain.
ed by the prisoner. Owing to the alb.
sencs OF Superintendent OF Letter
Carriers Ralph Whitehead, who may be
, an important witness. the bearing was
, eet for October Is. Bail was fixed at
$500, and Capt. Duvener went On Mr..
, Cochrsa's bond for that amount. He
left for hone last evening, promising to
; meet Deputy ha,shri peyine ut Barton
= Station, or the G., L Il W. road, to-day,
aad accompany him tc New Philadelphia
to meet "Earle."
: The prisoner was searched in Com
/ missioner Gampbells Office, AND on bis
: person was found an envelope add ressed
to n man in Steubenville, exactly like
, the envelopes sent out by Earle, except
that the address is not entirely in capi'
: tails. The letters are the same, however,
!. and the return request on the end
identical, except that the pane is differ
:, ent, and the postolice box at St. C!Sirs;
vile tes, Of course, different number
! This was h!sd svsy with the other eyi'
dence.