The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-05-03
CITY OF DEERlNG.
Burglars Enter the Woodfords Post Office
and Make Big Haul-They Have Been
Operating About Deering Several Days.

| A|SSA
Operating About Deering Several Days.
/ A gang of burglars, and apparently
pretty skillful ones, have been operating
about Deering, particularly in the region
of Woodfords for several days. Suspic-
ious signs have been seen, and it is be.
lieved that attempts have been made to
enter private houses for the purpose OF
carrying away silver and other valuables.
But the only really successful break made
SO far was made Monday night in the
Woodfords post Office, of which Mr. W.
ii. Motley is postmaster. The post office
building is small story and half
structure and has an entrance on Forest
avenue and another in the yard. The
burglars entered through the door in the
yard by means of a key which let them
into an entry, where second door was
found in the way before they could gain
admittance to the post Office. On the
second door are two blind locks which
can only be adjusted from the inside, but
| this difficulty was overcome by prying
| the door from the outside.
just what they did after they entered
| is of course unknown. 1t is thought that
they opened the safe by the clicking OF
the combination lock, feat which is
said to be possible for skillful man
with delicate ear. Mr.. Motley is posi-
tive that it was locked as usual when the
| Office was closed for the night, so it must
have been that they got around the COM
bination in this way. The safe is an or
binary combination lock safe, and has in
| its door hole made by burglars on a
former occasion. That time they had
drilled the hole and got the safe door
partly filled with powder, when they
were scared off. But the burglars Mon
day night did not use this hole for open
ling the safe.
The discovery was made yesterday
morning when Mr.. Motley came down
to open the post office about $50 o'clock
being accompanied by Mr.. E. G. Gould
who wanted to get stamp. AS the gen
tlemen entered the door they were much
surprised to see papers piled up on the
floor and were more surprised to find the
safe door open and it's contents gone.
The booty was large. Mr.. Motley
says that they secured about 5000 worth
of ordinary stamps and about $500 worth
of Columbian stamps that were received
within day or two. In addition they
rif1ed the safe Of. Mr.. Motley's personal
property to the amount of $500 worth of
Allen Sarsaparilla stock, 500 pair of
pearl opera glasses and case and blank
postal note book with 81 unused postal
blanks. They also riaed all the registered
letters making the total amount of their
plumber $4,000
The families that live in the next
house, Mrs. j. Ell. Doody and daughter,
and Mr.. John Bowdoin and wife, heard
not sound during the night, showing
that the burglars worked with great still
ness. Two years ago when an attempt
was made to enter the post office the
burglars were frightened away by Mrs.
Doody who heard them walking in the
yard.
Mr. Motley closed the post office at
about s.15 Monday evening and MILL
merry store in the next building kept by
G. E. Lufkin was closed about the same
hour.
The only thing approaching clue is
the fact that Mr.. W. Fl. Murch says that
about o'clock yesterday morning while
returning home he saw carriage stand
ing on Noyes street. Another possible
CLEAN of information on the subject is
the fact that Will Hanson who was re-
turning on the Pullman that arrived at
Woodfords about 1.3O Sunday night.
noticed hack being driven back and
forth in front of the post office.
Inspector George S. Evans of Boston.
has been notified of the burglary and is
expected to arrive today.
1t was also found among the articles-of
merchandise small box directed to
Winslow Bowers was opened. The pack
age was from Detroit, Mich, and con-
tanned what appeared to be large cap
sules.
Mr.. Bowers's residence is unknown. He
informed Mr.. Motley a few days ago
that he was to leave the state, and di-
rected his mail to be held and forwarded
as he should direct.
The rules of the post Office department.
do not seem to be definite as to the plac-
ing of the loss in such cases. If it must
fall upon Postmaster Motley it will be
hard misfortune; and he will have the
sympathy of all the patrons of the office.
among whom he is deservedly popular.
Read Atkinson's special offer.