Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-12-20
thorities, and then send them to Harry
Housar0
oTHER LETTERs MIssTNa.

OTHER LETTERS MISSING.
But these letters are not the only
ones missing, by any means. There
we're numerous cases cited, yesterday,
where letters, some containing cash,
some postal notes and some money or
derS, while others had no valuable en-
closure, were N .Ssing. One gentleman
said = letter containing money had
reached him with the end of the envel-
ope torn of and the money distracted,
and another said a correspondent OF his
received an empty envelope, although
he had enclosed quite long letter.
Two letters mailed from Wellsburg
TO custom house official were
taken by some one, and one son of a
Federal official sent eight dollars 10 his
brother, but 10 never reached him.
Another man mailed sixteen dollars to
MaSsillon, o., but IL never arrived.
Railway mileage books mailed to per-
sons in this city we're stolen, and it got
TO be such nuisance that one gentle
man went to Postmaster Cowden and
told him be proposed 10 discontinue the
use Of envelopes bearing his name and
adopt plain ones, as he would really
Ike 20 get his letters through. Post
master Cowden was trying the best he
knew how 10 catch the thief, and he
begged the gentlemen TO keep on using
his old envelopes, in the hope that the
thief could be finally located.
HOUsER's OPPORTUNITIES FOR TAKING
LETTERS.
Houser had abundant opportunity
to steal these letters. He was col
lector OF mail from boxes, hotels and
business houses, aud cot Id thus get
hold Of letters mailed from the bust
ness portion OF the city. Letters COM
ing into town he could get in this way.
Although it was no part Of his duty, he
often came into the Office and going to
the tables where letters are stamped
with the date aud hour OF receipt, he
would stamp off" a table full OF letters,
Just as an accommodation. He did this
rather frequently, and no one seemed to
think anything of this seli-imposed
task, beyond that he was good fellow
and vas helping some one else out. II
he was watching for letters addressed
to any particular person, it would be an
easy matter for him to slip one OIL the
table and into his pocket.
HOW THE STAMPS WERE TAKEN.
The story OF how HouSer stole the
stamps from the pOstoftice Is an In
terest.ng one, and shows that he was
pretty cute. 1t also shows that he was
perfectly willing 20 allow other persons
10 rest under SupiciOn, and even TO get
into trouble. The first loss dates back
almost year, aud amounted to $500.
Joseph Metcalf was Assistant PostmaS-
ter at that time, and when he came to
balance up his stamp account, prior TO
his leaving the Office, he was short 5000.
As stated In the REGISTER yesterday,
Stamp Clerk Dickey obtained stamps by
reQuisition. the main supply being kept
apart from those kept at the stamp
window. Mr.. Metcalf couldn't account
for the shortage, except that he
had given the stamps to Mr.. Dickey and
failed TO obtain a reQuiSition showing
the amount. and be went TO Dickey and
obtained a reQuisition for 5000 worth OF
stamps, telling him that he must have
Tot the stamps and failed TO make the
Teouisition for them. This made Mr..
Metcalf's account balance, but threw
Mr.. Dickey's out 5000, the money TO ac-
count for their sale was not on hand,
and there was another hitch. When
Mr.. Shellhase came into the office as
Assistant Postmaster the stamps were
still kept in the old place; and 1t was
not a great while before Mr.. Shellhase
discovered that he was short $500. Then
il became evident that stealing was going
on. but there was not even the shadow Oh
a clue. To avoid any further losses
safe was purchased and the stamps were
placed I'm it. There were duplicate Keys
10 the inner doors, and one OF THESE was
kept in q drawer. HouSer caught on 10
the arrangement, obtained possession OF
this KEY, and stamps disappeared the
same ss before until the amount reached
almost eleven hundred dollars, and Post
master Cowden and his assistant were
oearIv worried to death. No one knew
whom TO suspect, yet some one took those
stamps. and as a result at least one man
was Swallowed for quite time TO ascer-
tain how much money he was spending,
etc. Ii wasn't Houser, however ms
inevitable placing of entirely innocent
men under suspicion, which happened, IN
hnsiness houses IS we'll as 10 the post
Office, is one of the worst features OF
Houser's career.
EVIDENCES OF PLENTY OF MONEY
Houser's salary at the Postoffice was
but sos a month, and his income lrom
outside sources was extremely Limited
vet At his home there were evidences
that he had plenty of money. Perhaps
no man in Wheeling had more clothing
than he. according to the statements OF
the officers who searched the house oS'-
urday night. In large WARDROBE
everv hook held suit Of clothes, most
Of them brand-new, and according TO the
same authority, every pocket OF every
spit VS. flled with cigars, and every
nair OF trousers had new pair OF suS-
lenders attschad. There was other
claiming in prOfusion. and the residence
uas we'll supplied with fine bric-a-orac'
single pieces Of which must have cost
SS5 and $40. His purchases or dla-
monds have been referred 10, and TWO
Large silver salvers were also
fonnd. as we'll as a large number OF
hooks. One official who helped search
the bouse stated to 3 reporter yester-
6sv that he thought Houser had tue
hest snd largest library in town. he
Also had an account at the Dollar saw,
i.gs Rank. and In addition TO the ss6S
t 80 over to the Deputy Marshal Sat
r-',av night, there was large amount
- otber money, both silver and gold, In
80 house. which he said was not gov
nent money, and which was not
Zen by the officials. Money was
S son everywhere, twenty-five dollars
lOuH0 lI.nnr hill and a five dollar