The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-01-04

CINCINNATI, o.. Jan. &--There was u
great sensation in the central part OF
the city this afternoon on account OF OK.
nggerated rumors about tho daylight
robbery Of the postotiicc. 1t was after
oo'clock when Assistant Cashier Frank
II. Sparks was found lying on the floor
In an unconscious condition by Jani,or
John ,Wiehe. No noise had previously
been heard about tho place, but when
Wiehe gave the alarm an enormous
crowd soon surrounded the building.
When Postmaster Sumstein, Inspector
Salmon and Cashier Tucker arrived in
the cashiers office. Sparks did not ap.
pearto be badly hurt, although he had
a big bump on his forehead.
:, There waa no doubt whatever about
the money drawer being short ss67.
Cashier Tucker and the others waited
until Sparks took his lunch and then
they went out for lunch. Sparks was
alone at 1870 p. m, when, lie says, two
men entered the office and asked for
small change for Eve dollar bill.
Whilo he was unlocking tho money
drawer one Of them rushed through tine
ANAL screen door, which happened to
be open, and soon both OF them were
on him. He says he dealt one OF them
q hard blow but was himself struck by
a pair of iron knuckles and knew moth
ing that trauspired from that time until
he was aroused by Janitor Weihe. The
watchman, who is constantly patrolling
the corridor, says that he saw no such
men as Sparks described either enter or
leave the cashiers otice.
While all the police, detectives. depu.
ties and inspectors have been working
during tho afternoon and night on the
theory ofSthe robbery, yet they have
been shadowiug every movement of
Sparks since he LEI, the office, as well
az looking out for either the robbers or
accomplices They say that it would
have been very plausible for the robbers
bill 80 as TO locate the money drawer,
as we'll as get it unlocked before they
rushed in on the man in charge OF tho
Office. But the detectives 20 so far rs
say that sparks's injured forehead is
not the result OF iron kuuckles or q
a!ung.shot being used on him, but OF
bump inflicted by contact with the
vault or something equally hard.
On centre table near the money
drawer we're over 5000 in envelopes
for the letter.carriers, this being their
payday. Although it was In trays that
could have been easily carried of, it
was not touched. Sparks thinks this is
because the envelopes were covered by
newspaper. There was much larger
amount still in the vault, which was
open, and which was not touched.
Those circumstances would weigh in
favor OF Sparks, were it not for the fac.
that this was the day for his settlement.
After paying of the carriers he should
have had SS67 in the drawer. but the
detectives arc unable TO ascertain
whether no had any other conaidera.
sble amount in the drawer before the
robbery. They refer with suspicion to
the door in the screen being left open
at time whom the assistant cashier
was alone with SS67 in his own cash
drawer. another drawor equally full
5000 on the table In envelopes, aud
the vault accessible. They uro not only
shadowing Sparks. bu. also inquiring
into his habits and associates. As no.
body was in the Office except Sparks
when the robbers arc reported to have
entered, it ia impossible 10 got anything
except the statement Of Sparks.
Sparks describes ono OF the robbers
as a amall man with dark coat, wearing
n black mntflsr, and the other rs n
large man finely dressed, wearing u
long black overcoat and having black
mous.ache. They left the screen door
open, Just as they found 1t.
The postofllce building adjoina Foun-
tain Square in the centre OF tho city
whore the streets arc always crowded
during the day. The fact OF daylight
robbery In such a location had to do
with tho local excitemon. OF tho Of ter.
noon and evening.