The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-08-06
POST OFFICE ROBBERY
Ii Vas a Host Mysterious and Daring
Deed.
SMALL WAGON LOAD OF STAMPS
No Clue Announced Yet Of the Thieves
Who Got Away with $4,000 Worth
of Postage Stamps-Government
inspectors Working Day and Night
on the Case-Mr, Vandling viii
Not, It Is Thought, Be Held Liable.

Nothing could be more mysterious
than tho post Office robbery OF Thurs
day night by which the Scranton post
Office was looted OF IS 300 worth OF
Btamps of the following denominations
100000 twos, 30, 900 ones 80. 600 Jhress,
10, 900 fours and 10. 900 five. Altogether
they would make a package which one
man could not well carry.
Although some OF the best men Of
the government secret service have
been at work on the case day and
night, not the slightest clue to tho
thieves or tue exact method OF the
deed had beon obtained up TO late
hour last night. Tho work was un-
joubtedly we'll planned aud ably car
ried out. aud it i3 quito safe TO say,
from what evidence was left behind.
that the work was not done by any or.
dinary criminals.
II 10 now pretty generally believed
thut tho deed was accomplished dur.
ing Thursday night at an hour when
the two night clerks, Rush Wright
and Chris NeheT, were busy Dispatch
ing mails and when tho wAtchman,
John P, White, was inspecting dis
tant part of the building.
LOCATION OF THE VAULT.
The vault from which the stamps
were extracted 10 located in Postmaster
Vanlliug's room in the northeastern
corner of the building None Of tho
windows or doors of the room were
forced and all were found as they had
been left upon closing the Office Thurs
day night. The vault was opened by
one who knew the com bination or who
waS an expert in opening safes. The
inner doors were forced open with u
hammer aud chisel or jimmy. 1t 10
evident that the robbers after
gaining the postma7ter's room quickly
opened the outside doors and seCroting
themselves inside worked away as thelr
leisure out OF reach Of the eyes OF tho
wEtchman who, as q rule, satisfies
himself by pcering through the glass
doors TO survey this room when he
makes his rounds, How the robbers
got IN and how thoy got away from
the building with so much booty with
out attracting notice, is the mysterious
part Of the sfftlE
The robbery was not discovered until
late Friday afternoon, when Assistant
Postmaster Herman O3thpug, having
occasion TO so into the vault noticed
that the shelf which had been piled
high with the reserve supply OF stamps
was empty. He thought it might De
that Postmaster Vandling might have
changed the stamps to another place Of
safe keeping, bat no was SO startled by
bis discovery that he took the first train
to Mr.. Vandlings summer residence at
Maplewood to appraise him Of his sus-
| picious find. The postmaster could not
explain she abteHos Of the stamps from
their accustomed place, SO it was con-
cluded that they hod been stolen.
DEPARTMENT NOTIFIED.
When they became fully satisfied
that a theft bad been committed word
was wired to the department at Wash
ington, a telegram was sent In return
informing him that the inspectors de-
partment would immediately take
charge Of the affair
1t is not thought that Postmaster
Vapdling will DO held responsible for
the lost stamps as 1t was through no
fault Of his that they were taken, un.
less it can DO shown that his night
watchman was careless. The govern
ment itself provided the place where
the stamps were kept and II it was in.
secure the government is to blame.
The postofdce st Wbiteaboro near
Utica, n. Y, was burglarized Sstur-
day morning. Three hundred dollars
worth Of stamps and 500 in cash was
secured. A man giving his name as
Golfer was arrested in Elmira' Friday
night. He had more postage stAmpa
about him than was thought necessary
and 1t is thought that he may be con-
nected With one or the other of the
robberlos.