New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-02
CATCHING GREEN-GOODS MEN.
PosToFF1CE INSPECTORS ENTRAP THEM

VIGILANCE OF THE AUTHORITIES DECREASING
THE BUSINESS OF THE PARMALEB GANG.
Cornelius Noonan, alias Bat was arrested
ON Tuesday night at Newton, Sussex County, " j.,
nv PostofIice Inspectors Jacobs and Morris for
taking letters from the Newton pOstOfice reat-
i,r 20 crecn-roods The inspectors found
B NJ Devoe Noonan's pal, at the fotel Brstol'
Newark, yesterday morning and took INN lh'o
custody. The prisoners were taken 10 lich'on
and were arraiqned before United States Com
missioner Rowe. They waived examination anu
were locked up to await the action OF the OhAVe'
States Grand Jury in default OF So'ooo pan'
About April II the attention of Chief POST
office Inspector f. u. Rathbone, now Fourth
Assistant Postmaster-General, was called TO the
fact that Noonan and Devoe, members OF the
celebrated "Parnalee gang were devlslng
scheme TO use the Newton postoiIice TO receive
answers TO "green-goods" circulars, which were
,oilod bv the Thousand in New-iOrk City AS
sistont Postmaster George G. Sinner at Newton
was onproached in the early part Of April Dy
Noonan and DevOe and 81 90 a month was oHered
70 him 70 assist them to receive mail through
tbe postofice He asked the men 10 walt lor
few davs before he decided, and then "ehV "
his supcrior. Postmaster William NJ. Smith, anu
told him about the scheme. Mr.. Smlth went aO
once to Washington, saw Chief Inspector ha,n-
bone and reported all that had happeheo' WI
Rathbone told Postmaster Smith 10 requeSV -ii
Sinner to go on and make the arrahgenleh,S
With the swnders. and that he would detail
detectives to the work of taking Noonan anu
Devoe.
Inspectors Jacobs and Morris were sent 10
Newton on June II and have been waiting pa
tiently for their chance ever since. 1t came OH
Tuesday evening, when Noonan went tosthe post
office and asked for the mail. IL was hanoeu
ont 70 him and the inspectors stepped up anu AZ
rested him He made no resistance anu ""e
locked I'D for the night The detectives nau
kept track of both the men, and the neNU HUI IL
ing they took NOonan to Newark, where they
arrested his partner in the swindllns business
The "Parmalee gang" is the largest green
Goods bouser in the business" Its head is
Edward Parmalee, who formed his company aDouu
fen wears ago. but who has never been arrested,
as he never does any overt act himself. lie has
about twelve leutenants, but his payroll contains
many times that number of men. The headquar-
tprs Of the gang" are in this city, just where, no
one seems TO know They are now receiving
mail at No. 474 Canal-st. and No. l72 Hud-
.on-st Parmalep subsidies every one he can
and that is the cl: ef trouble the POstOflice De-
n,rtmcnt finds in detecting his circulars and III
preventing the delivery of his mails. when com
olaints come to the Department from people near
certain postofice that they are receiving green
goods circ1ars, letter is sent to the postmaster
ing him to send all those letters to the Dead
Letter Office If the postmaster Is IN collusioh
with the swindlers he sends small per cent OF
the letters TO the Dead Letter Office and lets the
rest 30 10 their destination.
Since Chief Inspector Rathbone began TO wage
war on the gang about two years ago. thelr
business has decreased greatly and they complain
that they cannot get half the number OF guys
rs they call their dupes, as before Inc inspectors
say that the amount of mail the green-g9odS
men receive has fallen on ncarly one-hail anu
,Iev home in time to stop it altogether.