The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1895-04-06
CLEVER THIEVES.
They steal $4,000 worth of Stamps rom
the Springfield ttiL) Post once.

the rprinEuclu itti.f ltrt t''Ns'
srRINarIELp, H.. April THE
Springfield post Office was robbed OF
about $1,000 "Wednesday. IL was alto
gether the neatest and most mys-
terious job ever put up in tins
city, and there rs not the
faintcst clew 20 the perpetrators
The amount taken. with the exception
OF about $50, was in stamps. and II was
distracted from the vault in Post
master Ridgely's private office be-
tween 1880 and 1880 o'clock, while
Mr.. Ridgely was absent from his Of
fee for luncheon. The loss was not
discovered until after 4 o'clock In the
afternoon. The thieves used duplicate
keys To unlock both the Office and the
vault. and SO quietly was the whole
thing done that with n dozen clerks at
work on either side OF the room, no SUI
spicion was aroused.
The way in which the robbery was
discovered was as follows: About
4:30 o'clock Assistant Postmaster
Lester McMurphy came into the
private Office and went into the
vault 10 get some stamps, SlO,-
600 worth having been placed
there on Monday, from which two days
sales had been made. The whole lot
was missing, as was also about $50 in
money and large japan tin
box containing jewelry and silver
ware belonging 20 Mr. Ridge
ly's daughter, Mrs. Harry Devereaux,
being part OF her wedding presents.
The assistant postmaster was dumb
with establishment, as the thieves had
carefully closed the door of the safe,
and there was no external evidence
of the intrusion. When Mr.. Ridgely
went away, he had az usual locked the
inside vault door. and left the outer
door unlocked. He had also locked the
Office door leading into the hall. Both
doors had been unlocked and locked
again, showing conclusively that the
thieves had duplicate keys.
MIR. Ridgely until a few days ago
had about $50, 900 in cash in the vault,
and the theory is advanced that the
thieves had some intimation OF this,
and that they were after il. The rob
berry was no doubt committed by ex-
perts, and they were probably com
PEELED 10 work for fully week in
order TO secure their keys. as the only
opportunity they could avail them
selves of was at noon.
About two weeks ago two men who
looked as IL they might be at
torneys came into Mr.. Ridgelys office
and asked the loan of his keys To un-
lock tin box carried by one of
them, which they said contained
important papers 10 be filed in
the United States court. While these
men were IN the Office another man
came in and asked TO see the postmus-
ter on some matter. Mr.. Ridgely re-
ferred him 10 Mr. McMurphy and went
across the hall 20 introduce him to
that gentleman. When he came back
into the room he noticed one of
the supposed lawyers holding up the
safe key TO the light and regarding
IL intently. There seems 20 be little
reason TO doubt that while Mr.. Ridge
| ly was introducing one OF the conspira
tors 20 Assistant Postmaster McMur-
ply the expert in the private Office was
taking a wax impression of the keys.
None OF the employees of the depart
ment mas Keys 10 thc vault only the
postmaster and assistant having access
| 20 H.
As soon as the robbery was discov-
ercd,the authorities at Washington and
Chicago were notified and special
agents are expected to come here
Cities all over the United States have
been notified, and every outgoing train
will be watched.