The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-04
HIMSELF THE THIEF
CINCINNATI POsTOTFICE EMPLOYE
C0NFEssEs TO STEALING.
Al First He Claimed to HIVE Bcen As
saulted and Robbed--A Sensational
story Spoiled.

CINCINNATI. Jan. 3.--There was great
excitement at the postoffice this afternoon
over the report that sensational robbery
had been committed. 1t was claimed by
Assistant Cashier Frank H. Parks that two
men had entered the Office, assaulted him
and robbed the money drawer of $751; The
story was doubted Tonight Sparks was
arrested. He confessed that his first state
ment untrue and that he himself had
robbed the money drawer.
About 2 o'clock this afternoon Sparks
was found lying on the floor in an uncon-
scious condition by janitor John Wiehe. No
noise had previously been heard about the
place, but when Wiehe gave the alarm
enormous crowd soon surrounded the build
ing. When Postmaster Zumstein, Inspector
Salmon and Cashier Tucker arrived in the
cashiers Office Sparks did not appear to be
badly hurt, although he had a big bump
on his forehead. There was no doubt what
ever about the money drawer being short
$Ss7 At noon to-day Cashier Tucker and
the other clerks waited until Sparks had
his lunch and then they went out for
lunch. Sparks alone at 1:30 D. m,
when, he said, two men entered the Office
and asked for small change for five-dollar
bill. While he was unlocking the money
drawer one of them rushed through the
small screen door, which happened to be
open, and soon both of them We're on to
him. He said he dealt one of them hard
blow. but was himself struck by a pair of
iron knuckles, and knew nothing that trans
pred from that time until he was aroused
by jantor Wiehe. The Waterman. who is
constantly patrolling the corridor, said that
he no such men as Sparks described
either enter or leave the cashiers Office.
While all the police, detectives, deputies
and. inspectors worked during the after
noon on the theory of robbery, yet they
Swallowed every movement of Sparks. They
said that 1t would have been very plausible
for the robbers to have asked for change
for a, five-dollar bill so as to locate the
money drawer as well as get it unlocked
before they rushed In on the man in charge
of the office. But the detectives further
said that Sparks's injured forehead was not
the result of iron knuckles or a sungshot
being used on him, but of a bump inflicted
by contact win the vault or something
equally hard.
On center table near the money-drawer
were over 5000 in envelopes for the letter
carriers, this being their pay day. Although
1T Vas in trays that could have been easily
carried off, 1T was not touched. This made
Sparkss story appear doubtful but he ex-
planned that these envelopes were covered
by newspaper. There was a much larger
amount still in the vault, which was open,
and which was not touched. These circum-
stances would have weighed in favor of
Sparks were it not for the fact this was
the day for his settlements. After paying
off the carriers he should have had 1857
In the drawer, but the detectives were una
BILE to ascertain whether he had any other
considerable amount in the drawer before
the robbery. They referred with suspicion
to the door in the screen guard being left
open at time when the assistant cashier
was alone with 1867 in his own cash drawer,
another drawer equally full, $1,000 on the
table in envelopes and the vault accessible
Sparks describes one of the robbers as a
small man with a dark coat wearing a
black muller, and the other as a large man.
finely dressed, wearing long black over
coat and having a black mustache. They
left the screen door open just as they found
1t. The postoffice building adjoins Fountain
SQUARE. in the center of the city, where
the streets are always crowded during the
day, and the fact that no person saw the
alleged robbers made Sparks's story seem
incredible.
That the detectives were right in this
theory was verified tonight when. soon
after the arrest of Sparks, he confessed
that he got away with the money himself
He was short $2S3.30 and was to settle as
soon as cashier Tucker returned from lunch
when he knew he would be caught While
Tucker was at lunch Sparks took $5S36S
from the drawer, put the 1862 il bills be-
tween the leaves of a magazine and s2l2s
In coin in an envelope, hiding both After
his confession he told where this money
was. and $5S36S was recovered Sparks is
married and belongs to a good family His
friends will make up the shortage of $2s3
but Inspector Salmon says that will not
save him from prosecution. Sparks will
have hearing tomorrow.
ssCracksmen" Caught In the Act.
s CHARDON, o., Jan. 3--A daring ATTEMPT
was made, early this morning, to rob the
First National Bank of this place At
20 clock two men name. Phillips and Tain
ter. sleeping upstairs in the bank building.
we're awakened by hearing craftsmen at
work In the bank. They secured revolvers
and started down stairs, when the burglars
opened fire on them. Fortunately the bull
let's went Wild fainter and Phillips re-
sponded by rapid discharge of their
weapons and the cracksmen ran to a sleigh
though somewhat damaged, was not
opened.
SandbagEer Captured
NEWARK, N. j.. Jan. s.-The police here
learned to-day that Theodore Finder who
was arrested in this city on Saturday night
for completely In small robbery is
well-known crook, and Is wanted in Gin
c:nnau for sandbagging and robbng "a man
or 81 AGO. Frederick Baker who was ar
ie eo, day or ,p two s later here through
made confession which he saws that