The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-09-24
SECRET SERVICE WORK
DOINGs OF PosTOFFICE INSPECTORS
RECOUNTED BY MIR. MAXWELL.
How "Green-GOods" Swfndlers and
Thievfng Government Employees
. Were Detected and Punished.
pecial to the indianapolis Journal.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23.-Perhaps the
most interesting portion of the report Of
Fourth Assistant Postmaster-generalM Max
well is a resume of some of the clever de-
tective work done by the postoffice inspec-
tors. Mr.. Maxwell, for some reason. ap-
pears to object to the popular notion that
these inspectors are detectives and points
out emphatically that they are not TO be
so considered Their work. however. shows
them to be about as clever as any Pinker
tons. Mr.. Maxwell's report reviews some
of the work of his inspectors and it makes
interesting reading. He says:
while the entire country has. for many
years, been flooded with letters and cir
operators OF these swindles have hereto
fore been uniformly located in the East
During the last year. however, these
innovation by establishing headquarters in
the West. and three of these gangs, one
located at Oakland. Cal, one at Hillsdale
broken up through the efforts of postoffice
inspectors. The history of these cases
shows brilliant detective work, and the
results secured will doubt prove mate
rial check upon this nefarious business.
Zone Of the most enterprising of these
gangs migrated TO the far West and, with
CAL, began the operation Of the old swindle
with some additional features which were
entirely new. Their letters and circulars
and stamped. but instead of being deposited
in the mails the operators themselves can
celed the stamp with bogus postmark.
after which the envelope was cut or torn
open. This gave the letter so prepared the
appearance of having been regularly
mailed, and received and opened by the
addressee. These letters were then taken
by the operators and dropped about in
cities and small towns where they would
be likely TO be picked up by prospective
victims. The person finding one of these
letters would naturally infer that the same
had been received, opened, and lost by the
addressee. and 1t was intended that the
rare opportunity for obtaining something
for nothing as suggested by the contents
of the letter. This was certainly a novel
operators amenable for violations of the
postal laws. The subsequent correspond
ence with their victims was, however car
ried on through the mails.
This scheme was brought to the attention
of the postOffice inspectors operating on the
Pacific coast early in March last, and they
prising green-goods pioneers. Their plans
were skillfully laid and courageously and
successfully executed Correspondence be-
photographed, TO be held in evidence, in or
der that the original documents might be
returned requested and so avert sus-
land on April "a and during it's consumma-
ton two of the swindlerS were arrested.
The names Of these persons We're Frank
White and John Wise. Barney Mcclure,
an old-time 'green-goods man of New
York city, was operating with the Oakland
gang and the indictments were secured
against White, Wise and Mcclure. In the
latter part of June White and Wise were
arraigned. pleaded guilty. and were each
sentenced to a fine of $3.50 and eight
months imprisonmentfin the San Francisco nss
county jail The case against Barney Nc
CURE is still pending.
TWO GANGS BROKEN UP
while the aforementioned members of
the .green-goods' fraternity were under in
vestigation in California, two other gangs
began operations on the great Western
prairies One of the boldest of these. COM
posed of old Offenders with time records,
established themselves at Hillsdale. Mich.
and at once began the distribution of their
literature throughout that portion of the
country. The task of apprehending and
bringing them to justice was undertaken
by the inspectors located in that section.
From the outset our officers realized that
they had to deal with desperate men. After
weeks of tireless effort they succeeded in
obtaining a large amount of evidence, and
on May I, 1895. at Hillsdale, Mich, they ar
rested John c.. Treadwell William Derry
and five others, two of whom had already
served terms in prison. Treadwell, their
leader. had boosted that he never again
our officers arrange and execute their plans
that when the supreme moment arrived
Treadweil found himself at the mercy of
the inspectors revoivers ana ne d,s at a once
than surrender These persons were put
on trial in the latter part OF June, and a
verdict of guilty obtained as against Tread,
we'll and Derry. The former was sentenced
TO three years imprisonment and to pay
fine of 81 900: the latter to two years and
six months Imprisonment and TO pay fine
A tvCf 10
PENDANTS were set for trial during the pres
ent month.
..Anotner clever and important capture
of green goods swindlers was effected in
Chicago on June o by the inspectors at
tached TO that division. In concentrating
deal with them one OF our inspectors
personated farmer from Iowa, and when
what kind of farming he was engaged IN
he meekly replied, mostly nogs. This
reply seemed to allay all suspicion, and
when the farmer displayed wallet we'll
filed with twenty-dollar bills, which he
modestly declared was all genuine stuff
the sharpers called him uncle ana con-
scented TO humor him in one or two mat
tiers in which the Iowa granger with
speculative turn of mind had manifested
some stubbornness. AS soon as the sam
meek uncle backed toward the dor. and.
quickly drawing his revolver. warned the
sharpers not to resist arrest. as he was
government officer. Assistance near
at hand, and, instead of delivering up their
coed money for strips of old newspapers
or bundles OF sawdust, our inspectors
marched the would-be swindlers to prison.
An interesting feature of this capture was
that upon searching the prisoners abou,
s2.e00 in good money was found upon IN AZ
This money was entirely in new crisp bills
and had undoubtedly played conspicuous
part in the deception of their victims.
'Ihe large majority OF green goods
swindiers are located in the vicinity o.
New York city, and the general pla;
adopted there has been TO notify the telc
sraph and express companies used by thess
the men engaged in this business, at the
same time requesting such companies &c
withhold kilograms and packages addressed
TO these parties. In this way We have been
able TO head off large percentage OF the
green goods business solicited from New
York city.
stage robbery in Idaho received a Sc
rious setback in the sequel 10 the bold hold
up OF the stage on July 4. 1894. al Walters
In that state. Three robbers forced the
driver 10 deliver TO them the mail pouches
cut open and rified. The robbers doubtless
expected to find in the De Lamar pouch
money intended fer use on pay day at the
DE Lamar mines. but owing 10 delay In
trains at Boise City the money was not
received In time to go, forward by that
mail and therefore they secured practically
nothing. Three men were arrested on sus-
picion on the day following the robbery anc
the evidence secured BY one of our in
srectors was SO strong that at the trial
all three of the prisoners pleaded guilty
years each in the pentitentiary at Detroit.