The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-11-08
Mail Thieves--MOdes of De-
tectinE

MAIL InleVeS--MOdeS OF De-
tecting.
The postal thief has but few
chances of escaping detection
So numerous and so potent are the
safe guards which Uncle Sam has
placed around the mail service
that the discovery of crooked Of
ficials is certain to come sooner OF
later. The system of protecting
letters and packages passing
through the mails from marauding
hands has reached n high stage of
development throughout the land.
In fact, it has reached a science,
and the most cunning thief is not
likely to set it at defiance any
great length of time without bring
ing disaster upon himself.
Cases of thievery, of course, not
infrequent in the postal service
and no branch of it can be said to
be entirely free from it,. Yet, con-
sidering the great number of men
employed in ii, the percentage for
dishonesty is very small, indeed
1t often occurs that crooked of
fetal is dismissed without prosecu-
tion and before there is positive
evidence against him, but such are
always the result of the influence
of friends. For instance, Il promi-
nent young man in the mail service
is suspected Of dishonesty. Inspec-
tors trace thievery to his door, but
yet lack certain points of evidence
necessary to his conviction. He is
is allowed to pursue his ususual
duties, under surveillance, however
while an effort is being made to
secure additional proof. In pur-
sueing the investigation further,
some Of his friends or relatives be-
come aware of the state of affairs
and score his dismissal without
prosecution. Such cases are known
to have occurred, but not frequent.
a man placed in that predicament
must have powerful influence to
save him from prison bars.
"Do you ever have cases of thiev-
ing in the Office of which the pub
lie never hear" was the question
asked Assistant Postmaster Ian
ing by the writer last evening.
at is seldom that such cases oc-
cur in the service, was the reply.
1--WE frequently have people call
upon Us and charge that letters
they have mailed have been stolen
in this Office, but their complaints
seldom prove warranted. Ninety
per cent. of the trouble we have
in letters failing to reach their des-
Is in the careIessness of
persons sending them. / will give
you an Illustration of what | have
said. y New York firm recently
sent il travelling man here to col
iect large bill. He had been Civ
en- much other business to attend
TO in The state, and it was necessary
for them to furnish him cOnsidera-
bic expense money, which was to
arrive by mail about the time he
came by train. The letter contain
ing his check was to be sent in
care of the firm from whom he was
to collect the bill. We waited day
after day and yet no check came. TO |
make "A long story short, an inves- |
tigati0n proved that the letter con
Iaing the check had been addressed |
and sent 10 Columbus, Georgia.
There are twenty-five towns and |
,ilies in the United States bearing
The name Of Columbus, and you see
how easy it is for persons address
Ing letters to put the wrong state
upon the envelope. a man came
p here recently and SAID he had
nailed tier containing money
loa friend at New Philadelphia,
which had not reached its dcstina-
Jon. lie felt certain he had made
no mistake in addressing 1t, and was
sure it had been stolen. The result
vas we found he had addressed the
Envelope to Shanesville instead Of
New Philadelphia. The two places
ire not far apart.
"Whnt kind of plan is pursue |
n Offices of this size 10 detect
hievery 2"
swell, we have no special detec-
ives detailed To watch the force all
he time ~ tbey Do ~ larger cities