St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-01-04
SPARKS do The Deco
Assistant Cashier Of Cincin-
natl PoStoffiee Claimed
He Was Robbed.
HE FINALLY CONFESSED
When Proof Became SO
Strong as to Warrant
His Arrest.
HE WAS SHORT $2S3.3O.
And for This Small Sum He
Devised His Sensational
Scheme.
HE WAS SHORT 1888. 80.

CINCINNATI. O., Jan. 3.-There was
great sensation in the central part OF
the city this afternoon on account of
exaggerated rumors about the daylight
robbery of The postoffice. 1t was after
2 O'clock when Assistant Cashier Frank
ii. Sparks was found lying on the floor
in an unconscious condition by Janltor
John Wiehe. No noise had previously
been heard about the place, but when
Wiehe gave the alarm all enormous
crowd soon surrounded the building.
When Postmaster Seumstein, Inspector
Salmon and Cashier Tucker arrived i'll
the cashiers Office Sparks did not ap-
pear to he badly hurt, although he had
a big bump on his forehead.
Sparks was arrested tonight, and
shortly afterward confessed that he
got away with the money himself.
He Was short S2S3.3O
and was to settle as soon as Cashier
Tucker returned from lunch, when he
knew he would be caught. While
Tucker was lunching Sparkle took
1888. 6S from the drawer, put 1862 in
bills between the leaves of magazine
and S21.2S in coin in an envelope, hiding
both. After his confession he lold where
this money was and the S5S3.6S was re-
covered. His friends will make up the
shortage OF S2S3, but Inspector Salmon
says that will not save him from prOse-
cution. Sparks will have hearing to-
morrow.
The story as first told by
Sparks was that he was alone
at 1:30 p. M, when he said
two men entered the office and asked
for small change for tive-dollar bill.
While he was unlocking the mohey
drawer one of them rushed through
the small screen door. which happened
10 be open, and soon both of them were
OIL to him. He said he dealt one of
them hard blow. but was himself
struck by pair OF iron knuckles, and
knew nothing that TRANSFERRED from that
time until he was aroused by the jan.
itor, Wiehe. The Waterman, who is
constantly patrolling the corridors, said
that he saw no such men as Sparks de-
scribed either enter or leave the cashiers
office. While all the police. detectives,
deputies and inspectors were working
during the afternoon and night on the
theory of a robbery, they
Swallowed Every Movement
of Sparks after he left the Office. as
well as looked out for either the rob-
bers or accomplices. They said that it
would have been very plausible for the
robbers to have asked for change for
five-dollar bill so as TO locate the money
drawer. as well as get it unlocked, be-
fore they rushed in on the man in charge
of the office. But the detectives went
80 far as to say that Sparks injured
forehead was not the result of iron
knuckles or of slung-shot being used
on him. but of bump inflicted by con-
tact with the vault or something equally
hard. On a center table near the money
drawer were over S., 900 in envelopes fol-
the letter carriers, this being their pay
day. Although it was in trays that
could have been easily carried off it was
not touched. Sparks said this was be-
cause these envelopes were covered by
newspaper. There was much larger
amount still in the vault, which was
open, and which was not touched. These
circumstances would have weighed in
favor of Sparks were it not for the fact
that this was his day for settlement.