St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-01-25
Cashier Lounsbery Of Goth
ANS Postoffice EmbeZzles
and Commits Suicide.
The Amount of the Defalca-
ton Is Estimated to
Be $4,000.
Burglars Steal Several Thou
sand Dollars From Albu-
querque's Postoffiee.
Old Huteh's Settling Clerks
Get Away With $4,000
of His Money.

NEW YORK. Jan. 24.-Word was re
celved in this city this afternoon that
George Lounsberry, who was CASH
ier of the postoffice in this city,
had shot himself at his home
in Hackensack, n. j. Investigation also
developed the fact that his accounts
were short to the amount of $4,000. He
had been away from duty for three days,
and this morning he sent a telegram to
Postmaster Van Colt, stating that he
was confined to his house by ILL
ness and would attend to his
duties as soon as he got better. 1t
was then that investigation was put on
foot, and the surmise made that $4,000
was gone. Shortly after this discovery
came the news that Lounsberry had
committed suicide by shooting himself
through the temple. He was thirty-six
years of age and married, and besides
his salary as cashier of the post
office, had an income of $1,000 per
year from his feed store i'll Haekensack.
lie was III the habit of placing the
money which was handed over to him
as cashier, in the safe deposit vaults
every day at noon. Although he had
not been actively engaged in the post
office this week, he nevertheless put in
an appearance each day. Previous to
his telegram of this morning Post
master Van Colt had been suspicious
that all was not we'll. He opened the
safe in which Lounsberry kept his
deposits. the proceeds of postage, etc.,
and noticed that money was missing.
When the telegram was received, j. n.
Wood, superintendent OF the registry
department, was sent over to LounS-
berry's home. When he arrived there he
found the cashier very i'll. He came
back to New York, and Postoffice In
SpectOr Wheeler was next sent to Hack
ensack, in which place he arrived lit
tie after z o'clock. He waa too late, for
Lounsberry was dead. On Inspector
Wheeler's return word was sent
to LounSberry's bonusmen, stating
extent of about Sd, 900. Lounsberry was
appointed in 1878 by Thomas T. James,
who was then postmaster. He has been
cashier since 1880, his last bond being
filed and approved July 2. His bonds
men are Theo P. Hoffman. of Roseville,
N. j., $4,000; Edgar Washburn, Cats
kill, n. u. Sl5,U00. and John Moo
nan. New York city. All are justi-
fed dOubly for the amount. Under ex-
Postmaster Piersen his bondSmen were
his father, Louis Lounsberry, of Ram
dali, Montgomery county, n. T.; ID. NJ.
Hurley, of Brooklyn. He was then
under $4,000 bonds. Lounsberry had
to make daily deposits at noon and had
the handling of $4,000 or $4,000 per
day. 1t is believed that short time ago
he made away with 5000, but somehow
managed to replace the money
before the loss was discovered.
Just what the present defalcation is
cannot be discovered at present. Louns-
berry said on Wednesday last that he
feared his eyes would be attacked as
they were growing very sore, On one
occasion he was attacked with weak
spell, and had to be assisted up the
postoffice stairs. 1t is thought that he
believed the defalcations would be
found out, and this caused him to COM
nit suicide.