West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1891-02-12
cAusHT THR RoBBRR.
A Mail Carrier Arrested for Rcbb:ng
the HALL.

dcrtook to monkey with "Uncle
Sam" and straight way got into
trouble, AZ the old man won't stand
any foolishnoss. The facts mp to
date are about as follows Ashford
Zinn, who lives in Valley District, !
near the Fairfax School house, is
the sub-contractor for the mail route
between Newburg and Masontown
via Gladesville and Reedsville. His
son Willie, u boy about Is or IL
years Of age, has been carrying the
mail. For the past six months let
tiers and registered matter has been
lost on this route, and the postal
authorities have been quietly Inves-
tigating the matter. Owing to the
theft OF money sent over this route,
the postal officials have been send
ing all registered matter around this
way for some time now. After
working the matter up to certain
point, the officers dropped down
upon the scene of action last Sun
day and nabbed the guilty patty
before he knew what was up. Uni
ted States Post Office Inspector Sam
Hooten and Assistant U. S. Deputy
Marshal arrived at Reedsyille Sun
day evening and laid the trap for
the victim, who walked right into
it. Monday morning registered
letter containing marked bills was
mailed at Masontown, and the Mar
shall and Il. j. Watson and others
watched between there and Reeds
vile, while Mr.. Hooten remained ut
tie latter place. About half way
between the two places the carrier
stopped and rifed the pouch. He
took out several letters before he
found the reg: stored one and threw
them III the creek, where they were
found by the parties watching him.
He csme on to Reedsvillc and was
there arrested by Inspector Uooten,
who searched him aud found the
marked bills. The boy then con-
tossed the whole business, and said
that he had taken $40 one time, $50
another, and s.nallsr amounts sew
eraI other times. Also ssid he had
= razor that had been sent 10 DIR.
| Cox st Masontown. which ne abb
strscted and had hid at home. He
| claimed that no one else was con
nected with the crookedness bu,
himself.
1t seems that Mr. Zinn himself
has been carrying the mail from
home to the railroad and back to his
house, where he would arrive about
Z. b., and then the boy, who at
tended school, would take it of eve
nlngs after school to Masontown and
back next morning by school time.
when his father would take it on to
Newburg and back by the time
school WAS out. This morning Mr.,
linn, waiting for him and becom-
ing uneasy at the delay. came TO
Reedsvllle looking for him and
found him in limbo. Mr.. Zinn WIS
questioned closely by the officers.
and one of them remarked that his
answers were not satisfactory. The
officers then left for Petersburg
with the boy, accompanied by Ma
son Watson and others. who were
tat en- along as witnesses, as the
Federal Court is in session there.
and they will put the case right
through. Mr. ZinD was taken TO
the railroad and returned Monday
sveaing to Reedsville with the mail.
where he left it. and what tho fur
ther developments will be we are
unable to tell up to this dlte.-
Whether anyone else will be impli.
Gated besides the boy is the ques
tion. and whether Ar. Zinn will be
allowed to still carry the nail or not
Is very doubtful We hope will
not be implicated himself, for it is
bad enough for the boy to get into
such serious trouble. The proof be-
ing plain aud his own confession
will prob3blY send the boy right on
to the penitentiary. IL seems that
the boy WAS enabled to get into the
mail sack by working bis hand in
between the steeples TIE sack be.
ing large. flimsy one. and the
steeples loose and too far apart. en-
abled him to work his hind in nd
al. l~es.-. - IL in