The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-12-19

by tho United States Authorities as
well as on State Case, aud Con.
fesscs.
This entire community was startled
and gricved last evening when it was
noised abroad that Harry HOuscr,
trusted employe OF tho Wheeling post
Office had been arrested on charges OF
rifing the mails, stealing stamps, and
of grand larceny.
Tho early reports were rather indis-
tinct but sensational enough to amaze
everybody, and thorough inquiry show
cd that the facts bore out the most son.
sational features of these statements.
Houser was first arrested ut his bonse
on Fourteenth street at q late hour Sat
urday night, by Deputy U. S. Marshal
George w. Robinson, on q warrant is-
sued by q. s. Commissioner Campbell,
on affidavit OF Postmaster Cowden. The
complaint was made under two sec
tions Of the Revised Statutes, one con-
corning the removal OF mail matter
from tho mails, and tho other for steal
ing government property, the property
stolen, SO far as known, being stamps.
At the same time warrant was
issued for thorough examination OF
Houser's house.
Ills HOUSE SEARCHED.
Postmaster Cowden, Chief Clerk
shellhase and Commissioner Campbell
accompanied Deputy Marshal Robin
son when, at late hour, he went to
Houscr's residence. Harry was already
in bed, and when the bell rang he came
to the front door in his night clothes,
and let in his unexpected callers. While
Intentionally the call was made at q
time to surprise him, he betrayed no
special uneasiness.
Deputy Robinson said: "Harry, / am
very sorry to have to do what it is my
duty to do, but I have o warrant for
your arrest, and also q search warrant
to search your house."
Houser said: "Gentleman, I am GER
tainly at loss to know what this all
means, but you are ut liberty to mako
any search you want to"
He accompanied the Deputy Marshal
and the Commissioner upstairs, while
Mossrs. Cowden and Schellhase re-
mained below.
The search was for time unfruitful
go far as its main object was concerned,
but large number Of packages OF hand.
kerchiefs, shoes, hats, cigars. lead
pencils and other things were found,
and enclosed in many Of the boxes were
sums Of money.
Money was also found in several ma
nilla envelopes in desk, the sums in
each rsnging from $52 to 5000. A large
cigar box was found which was
HALF FULL OF COIN.
This Houser's wife said was her own,
and it was not disturbed. In another
place o sum of money aud somc PASS
books and cards, together with three
Pan Handle railway mileage books.
Harry said the money belonged to the
Wheeling Lodge of Elks, OF which he
was secretary, the members therefore
paying him their dues. He claimed
also that ono Of the mileage books was
the property Of the Elks, and that the
other two he had bought by advice Of a
friend, as he got them at one cent mile
and thought he could make money on
them. Nothing in this drawer was dis
turbed, but last evening when Captain
Robinson returned to the house on au-
other mission two OF the mileage books
were not there, nor was the cigar box
with tho coin in it to be found.
Houser at first was disposed to deny
everything and profess utter ignorance
OF the offenses alleged against him. At
length, however, after tho search was
completed and large amount Of money
found concealed in various places, to-
gether with some letters taken from the
mail, he broke down and made
PARTIAL CONFESSION.
There had long been suspicion Of
Houser, for the reason that thore was q
mysterious shortage OF stamps. This
shortage amounted in all to few cents
over Sl;O6S. There also has been con-
tinuqus complaint Of missing mail mat
ter, letters usually containing money
being frequently stolen.
Houser turned over to the officers
s96s, within little over Sl00 Of the full
amount OF the known shortage. He
said at tho same time that this was all
money obtained by him from the sale
Of stamps. He denied having stolen
any letters, and explained the presence
of three interesting ones found conceal.
ed under q desk in his room by saying
they we're all sent to him and sealed in
one envelope. This explanation was
not credited by anybody for q minute.
Mrs. Roetger, the unfortunate mans
mother.in-law, furnished bail in tho
sum of 81, 900, and he was allowed to re-
main at his home. Tho officers brought
ali compromising articles found in the
house to tho postofEice, where they were
left in tho safe. A large number OF
packages OF goods Of various sorts werc
left in tho house, however. The deputy
marshal and commissioner were scru.
pulously careful not to touch anything
not coming within the limo ofthe search
warrant.
ANOTHER ARREST.
This arrest and search were kept very
quiet all day yesterday. Nobody out
side Of tho official circles knew Of the
occurrence, except those whom cir
cumstances made 1t necessary to con,
suit. In discussing the presence ol
other suspicious goods in the house, oi
~, IL tlIJ at oo,,,o a ,,,; !, /; -