New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-04
ACTIVE MAIL ROBBERS.
SEVEN POUCHES OF LETTERS STOLEN.
TAKEN FROM WAGONS ON A HoBoKEy FERRY
BOAT on TUESDAY NIGHT.

TAKEN FROM WAGONS ON A HOBOkEN ffhh1
BOAT on TUESDAY NIGHT
A band OF thieves which is rvalling the exploits OF
the road agents who used 10 rob mail coaches in the
West is pursuing its vocation on the ferry0Oat-
crossing the Hudson River Jersey City and Ioboken
Just before Christmas valuable pouch OF registered
mail was stolen, and Tuesday night seven bags Of
letters other fstciass postal matter were taken
from two wagons while they were OIL ioboken ferry
boat. The two mail wagons left the Postonico at
10 O'Clock and drove to the Barclayst ferry where
they found the boat Orange in the slip. The wagons
entered the ferryboat, which due In Hoboken al
go O'clock one wagon, No. 80, was in charge OF
John j. OKeefe, and the other, No 50, was driven
by John Walker.
There was no registered mail in either wagon, so no
clerk Of the Railway Mail Service accompanied IT,
The drivers not employed by the Postal Depart
ment but BY Dodd's Express. which has the contract
for hauling the mails As soon the boat started
they left the wagons and went into the mems CABIN
to smoke They remained there during the whole trip
When the Orange was fastened in her slip they
mounted their seats and drove to the TRACK where
the z AS O'Clock train the Delaware Lacha"ahHd
and Western Railroad was standing Okeefe unlocked
his wagon, and found that one pouch OF Dfs'ciaS
mail was missing Another one containing news
papers had not been touched. Both these contained
mail for HebOken.
When Walker left the New York Postohce his wagon
contained twenty seven pouches, all for points along
the Lackawanna road. He emphed the wagon ana
turned the sacks to the agent III charge OF III"
car whose name is Thatcher There Is no mail car
on the train, the sacks being shipped as SO much
freight Ii WAS seen that some OF the bags mad
disappeared but it nearly time for the train 10
start so no extended investigation could be made on
the spot The baggage master at tie railway ela'loh
telecraphed to Thatcher at Dover, asking him whlch
OF the pouches had been lost.
Thatcher telegrsphed back that six sacks were
missing containing mail for points between Buffalo
and Emporium. for Mount Morris. Elmra. waverley'
Scranton, and for points between scranton anu
Ruffao The letters ETC.. In the bags first and last
mentioned were to be taken TO Buffalo and to be us
tributed BY mail train coming back In the mornh7'
Word was at once sent to Mr. Hall. night super
intendent at the NewYork Postofhce, ana Inspectors
Charles L. Morris and Benjamin r. Sbopp were sum
moned. They worked on the case until lar INTO inc
night. The fact of most importance which they dis
covered WAS that on the ferryboat there was an eN
press wagon the two containing the mall "heh
the bag of registered mail was stolen in December
there was also an express wagon on the 1errypoa'
or course the pouches could not nave peeh theh
from the ferrybOat except in wagon.
The night dispatcher at the Postoflce. Jonh BARNES
is certain that both wagons were locked before inc!
started and the drivers equally sure that they
we're I'm the same condition when the railway station
was reached All mail wagons have the same kIiid
OF locks and key which will lit one will ut all y
thief would therefore have no great difficulty In get
ting of the wagons open which have only ny sinse
lock- Since the previous robbery some OF W" "aSo'
Lave been provided with additional lock, but not
all ..,,,,. ,,,,
The methods OF porting mail across the river Is
II is estinated that from 10000 to $4,000 letters
and uarcels were stolen in the pouches, none OF them
registered 1t Is of course utterly Impossible 10 'e
how mncb nancy was contained in Them but the total
amount of the checks and drafts must be large IL
the thieves present any considerable part Oh tse o
which WAS captured last fall bad had hundred so.'u
checks cashed forging the Endorsements but 1t WAS
r,in dovn AZ last