The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-05-03
lcopyright, 1896, by Cleveland Mofatt)

Copyright, 1896, by Cleveland Moffatt)
Most elaborate precautions are taken
in the New York postoffice to prevent
clerks or employees from robbing the
enormous mails which are handled there
daily Nine inspectors are constantly on
duty under direction of Chief Inspector
-Ashe These inspectors are on the watch
night and day for any depredadons, and
so perfect is the system of surveillance
that very few cases of theft occur in the
office itself from one years end TO an
other.
The clerks who sort the mails have
places around a large table at the head
of which is the head clerk, who is con-
stantly observing them. And each clerk
when ne enters upon his duties receives
specific instructions 10 keep sharp Watcn
upon each of his fellow clerks. TINS
makes the clerks mutually suspicious Of
each other, and gives them in way the
efficiency OF regular detectives.
one OF the few cases of recent occur
renee where money has been stolen in the
New York postoffice happened in March.
1888, when a clerk named Dagan was De
tected in secretng letters. 1t was ms
duty 10 distribute the letters into boxes
and as he did this rapidly, he managed
20 throw about one out Of five inside his
vest which was really large pouch open
at the top. Lagan was sentenced TO three
years in prison.
1t is not generally known that all the
mail boxes in New York city and indeed
in other cities may be opened by one Key,
that is, each city has a key which VIII
open all its mail boxes, although the
different cities have different keys. rms
fact has been long known TO thieves who
have taken advantage of il to get pos
session of mail box keys in one way or
another, and then under cover OF night
TO open the boxes and possess themselves
OF the contents.
AN INGENIOUS CONSPIRACY.
An interesting case of mail box rob-
berry occurred iii the fail of 1891 when a
gang of expert thieves was found to be
piundering mail boxes all over the coun-
Try. Their method OF operating was GER
cainly ingenious. They had regular
route laid out which included all the i'm
portant cities in the country, going from
east 10 ~est. In each city they would
proceed in the same manner their hrst
care being 10 get possession OF the pad
lock attached TO q mail box, Which they
could easily do by saving through the
staple. Having procured this lock, it
was child 6 play for them to make key
which would fit it, and this key would
open any mail box in the city.
Having provided themselves with the
key, the rest was plain sailing for while
the locks OF mail boxes in different cities
vary in pattern, the general equipment
OF pOStman, his uniform, bag, etc, are
the same all over the country, and the
basis OF the gangs scheme was to dis
guise one of their number as a postman
and have him collect the mails from the
boxes. Every evening one of the thieves
disguised in the regulation uniform would
make his round from box to box in the
most open way, being practically free
from Interference or suspicion, since not
even The policeman in any neigh boz hood OF
residents there would have any idea that
he was not a postman, perhaps. new
one, and he would be left free to go ahead
with his depredations. The man chosen
TO make the rounds would do SO shortly
after o'clock, at which hour the business
houses are in the habit Of sending oui
their heaviest batch of letters.
The stolen mail thus obtained would be
brought to the rooms occupied by the
thieves and there carefully examined
steaming the envelope or with a pen
knife, and if found to contain nothing
valuable. would be resealed and mailed
again, so as TO lessen the chances of sus-
picion. Of course, money and all arti-
Giles of value were retained. and a great
quantity of checks were obtained in this
way the latter being in many instances
raised" or ALTERED" so that the cor.
spirators were able TO realize large sum!
on them.
For months these operations We're car
ried on successfully in many cities, tn,
gang going through the country an(
making their appearance here and there
with the regularity of a theatrical com
pany. The losses finally became so eX
tensive and complaints so numerous tina
Chief Inspector Wheeler took the matte
in hand, and detailed four of the mos