The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-04-14
N~EATCAPTURE OF THIEVES
Inspectors Watkins and Clements
Do Some Excellent Work
at Boise City.
The Two Men Who Robbed the
Postmaster Run Down In
Short Order.
+. 4. squires, tho Principal Actor In tile
Educational Hursnu swindie,
EorfGits His Hall.

Educational bureau swindie,
Eorfeits His Hail.
Chief Postofics Inspector r. 8. Bedall, oil
the Helena division, Yesterday received a
dispatch from Fooatello, Idaho, announc,
Ing the capture of the two men who held ur
the postmaster OF Boise City on April 4 and
at the point OF a pistol went through the
safe. The men arrested gave their names
NIB Charles M. Taylor and Frank Z. Hen.
ton. AZ aoon as the robbery occurred the
facts were reported to Chief Inspector
Bedell. Inspectors Watkins and Clements
were working on some postofice cases in
the vicinity of Boise City at the time. They
were directed by the chief inspector to ga
to work on the Boise City robbery and did
80, trailing the thieves to Pocatello, where
the arrests were made Tuesday. The dis
patch announcing their capture says that
Taylor has confessed and that there are
hopes OF recovering the plumber, amount
ing to probably $1,000. The men will be
taken to Boise City for trial.
: The robbery was one of the boldest on
record. On the night of April 4, the post
Office at Boise City had been closed for the
day. Postmaster Leonard was arranging
some offies matters, being all alone ut the
time. There was a rap at the front door,
and tho postmaster, thinking some citizen
had forgotten to get his mail, responded to
the knock. He opened the door partly to
see who was outside. Az he did SO a revol-
yer was pushed through the ~crsviee and
thrust in the postmaster's fuco. He was
ordered to say nothing. Two mon then
pushed their way into the room, closed the
door behind them and locked it, and or
der"d the postmaster to open the safe.
Under the persuasion Of I revolver he did 80,
and while one man kept him covered with
= gun the other went through the
packages in the safe, securing about
$1,000. The postmaster was then
commanded to kneel with his
back to the door while the robbers left the
building by tbs rear entrance. As soon as
Ahey had gone, the postmaster jumped up,
secured q revolver, ran to the back door
and took a shot at one Of the robbers.
whose form was about disappearing around
did not hit anybody.
The capture of the robbers q little over a
week after the affair, and tho confession of
one of them. is looked upon az a very
clever pioce OF detective work on the part
of the inspectors. Chief Inspector Bedell
spsctors Watkins and Clements, and also
wired tbs fact Of the capture to h%eadquar-
tera at Washington. The authorities there
were much interested in tho case and had
authorized Chief Inspector Bedell to offer
q reward for the captars Of the robbers.
The inspectors offica was also notified by
telegram from Boise City yesterday that E.
~. squirss, who was indicted BY the federal
grand jury for connection with the North
western Educational bureau frauds, had
not appeared in court for trial, and that
his bonds had been declared forfeited.
by the federal grand jury on January 1, for
using the mails for fraudulent purposes.
i he grand jury also had under considera-
ton the matter of indicting J. J. Haroun,
superintendent Of public instruction, and
S. w. Moody, state auditor of Idaho, and
who were president and vioe-president, re-
spectively. OF the concern. 1t was shown,
however, that they were drawn into the
scheme BY people who wished to use their
name in furtherance of the plans of the
bureau. As they gave the authorities all
possible information. and expressed regret
that their names had been coupled with
such q Questionable transaction, the grand
jury e1onsrnted them.
The Northwestern Educational bureau
was formed Jan. Ii, 1871. the principal
parties in it being MeCuen, who had re-
Gently arrived from Leadville, COL, and
Squires, who was holding the position of
principal of schools at Boise City. Circu-
lars were sent out to teachers in the east
and southeast, representing that tho bureau
could secure for them positions at salaries
ranging from $1,000 to $4,000 a year.
These circulars stated that the books
showed hundreds Of vacancies in excess of
the number of registered applicants. In
order to receive any Of the benefits OF the
bureau those desiring positions were to
eend a registry feo of So, their photographs |
and letters OF character and recommends
ton. Advertisements similar in tone were
inserted IN the newspapers in
west. Responses camo from a large
number of people desiring positions, who
sent in their registry fec. None of them
ever secured a position, and no acknowl-
edgments were ever sent by the bureau.
This failure to acknowledge tho receipt Of
the fees caused inquiries to be made at
BOISE City. and the matter finally reached
the postofhce department.. Chief Inspector
I'edell, Of the Helena division, detailed In
speotor Watkins to work the matter up.
He went to Boise City and succeeded in
getting sufficient proof to lay before the
members of the grand jury. In searching
for the records and papers of the bureau,
inspector Watkins found in tho loft of a
barn, scattered about on the floor, q num-
Der of answers, photographs, certificates of
character, ETC., from those who had an
Hwered the circulars. The result was the
indictment of the principals in the scheme,
Squires was in New Orleans at the time
of the Indictment, having formerly been
employed as = school teacher in that CITY,
He expressed a Willingness to 90 back to
Boise for trial and gave bail to appear when
wanted, continuing to reside in New Orleans.
When no failed to appear yesterday the
States district attorney put himself
in communication with the New Orleans
authorities. He was informed that Suuirss'
bondsman had left there four weeks age.
and was supposed to lave gone to Cubn.
disappeared about the same time.
McCuen's whereabouts are also unknown.
though he is said to be in Central America
having run off at the first sign OF danger
When he went to Boise City he claimed to
have been managing some big mining
in Leadville. II has since hernn
ascertained that he WAS a clerk in a drug
store.
The victims of the bureau number IN in
the hundreds, and arc living in Texas.
Louisiana, Georgia, Mississippi, New York.
New Jersey, PENNSYLVANIA, illinois. Ohio
ind Michigan. OF course all of them snf-
fered more than the loss of the registry fee.
HI they were put to the expense Of HAVING
photographs taken and securing letters Of
recommendation.
The 80 baby carriage at the Hive cannot he
at the same price in eastern cities.
For fresh and clean grass seed at bottom
prices go to ii. NJ. Parchen & Co.