Bridgeton pioneer., 1893-02-02
WHOLE NO. 1895
LITTER BOXES ROBHED.
Bold Work by Some Unknown
Persons During Last
Night.

One OF the most daring robberIeg
ever occurring in this city, was enacted
Friday night, when nine of the street.
letter boxes were broken open by sons
unknown person.
The matter was first brought to the
attention OF the Post Office officials by
Policeman Campbell. A. FIVE o'c ock
that morning, be was informed by a.
boy that the iron letter box at the coz.
ner OF Commerce and Plne 6 reefs had
been broken open. He itnmediatelz-
investigated. and found that the hasp
of the brass lock had been twisted
around SO that 1t was possible to re-
move it from the staple. He found
three pieces of mail matter 10 the bog
and ne brought these with tie lock 60
the office and gave them to Despatch
ing Clerk Blew.
a few moments later, Letter Carrier
Louis Glnenback came in from ths
Third ward, and said that two of his
boxes had been broken open In the
same way as the one just mentioned
The boxes were situated at the corner
OF Giles and Vine, and Fayette and
Vine.
A PIONEER reporter then started in
a coach TO notify Postmaster Hewitt,
On his way he met Carrier Aaron
Smith, and asked him If any of his
boxes had been tampered with. The
answer was that the one at the corner
OF Church street and Irving avenue
had been opened, the hasp of the lock
having been broken entirely off .
When the reporter and Postmaster :
Hewitt returned to the office, al :.as
carriers had come in, and two other
carriers had reported trouble
Carrier Thomas Ewing said that.
three boxes on his route had beea
broken open, They were at the cor:
ner of Cedar and Walnut. Marion and
East avenue, and Marion and Bank.
Carrier Raymond Bard reported that
two other boxes than the one at COM
merce and Pine had been bursted.
They were at Sonth Ave. and Henry,
and Pine and Mill,
This made nine boxes in all that had
been bursted. The work has undoubs.
edly been done by the same party,
and in exactly the same manner Only :
one or two of the boxes had contained
mail when visited by the carriers.
There is little doubt but that the
work was done by some persons out OF
town. Had anyone knowing anything
of the city committed the job they
would have tackled other be xes, the
receptacles entered being the boxes
used least of any. How the work is
done is mystery. The LOCKS ara :
made of brass and are most powerful.
After the hasps are placed around
the staple of the box there is less than.
half an inch opening in which to To-.
sert a pry, and the instrument used to-
break or twist these hasps must haye
been something with a powerful pres-
sure Or leverage.
1t is not thought that the robber re-
ceived reward for his work, but OF
course this is not known. The colieB,
ton made by the carriers previous To-
this morning was yesterday afternoon
at two O'Clock. If those persons whD.
dropped letters into the boxes after
that time will report to the Post Office
there may be an opportunity Of learn
ing something definite.
Postmaster Hewitt had but six extra
box locks and he sent to Philadelphia
this morning for the loan of locks until
he can get requisition from the De.
partment for supplies. He also tefe-
graphed to Chief Inspector Edgsrton,
and the Department at Washington,
and it is presumed that there WILDE
an official investigation.
This is another illustration OF the
laek of police protection in this city.