Evening star., 1896-09-18
GAVE Hill S ELF UP
Post Office Robber Who Got Away With
a Fortune.
Walton C. Winkler nnd His Big Steal
ings Robbed Registered
Mail Packages.


April q, 1885, absconded from Galveston.
Tex, with a number of registered mail
packages, was in custody in New York,
and would be held by the authorities there
to await advices from Washington.
Inquiry at the department by Star re-
porter caused a careful search Of the rec
ords by various officials, with the result
that 1t was discovered that the full extent
Of Winkler's depredations was never made
known as the packages being registered
the losses fell on the remitters, who, it Is
supposed, being aware that the govern
ment was not responsible for valuables
sent in the registered mail, did not make
any formal complaint to the authorities
In reference to the matter.
From Winkler's own statements in the
matter it is assumed that the proceeds Of
the robbery were very large, as he has
been enabled, according to his own story,
to travel nearly all over the world. stop
ping at only the best hotels Of the diff
ferent cities he visited, and to enjoy him.
self in any way he felt disposed.
Now, however, he has reached the end of
his string, and yesterday he walked into
one Of the police stations in New York and
stated to the officer in charge that he was
fugitive from justice and desired to sur
render himself. Winkler gave as the rea-
son for his course that he was now both
penniless and penitent; that his conscience
troubled him greatly, and he wanted to re-
turn to Texas and pay the penalty for his
crime. The self-accused man was then
placed in cell.
The records show that Winkler, who was
a resident of Corsicana, Texas, was ap-
pointed clerk in the railway mail service
early in 1887. at which time he was but
eighteen years old. and was assigned to
work on the Newton and Galveston divis-
| lou of the Atchise n, Topeka and Santa Fe
railway, and that he absconded, April 81,
1889, whereupon ne was promptly removed.
The chief inspector in this city has as
signed Inspector Jacobs to make full in
vestigation of the truth OF Winklers state
nents in regard to his alleged crime and
when the latter makes his report, decision
Will be made as to what course the govern
| ment VIII further pursue in the matter.
Winkler is about five feet seven inches
tall and slightly built. He has brown hair
and wears thin, short beard and mus
tache. His features are small and not at
all striking. He was very cool and col
lected in the station. and was willing 10
give an account of all the details of his
flight, except as to the amount of money
he says he stole.
He said he knew the exact sum to a
penny, but for reasons best known to him
| self he refused to divulge 1t. He admitted.
however that it was very large. Winkler
! said that he got tired of working for q
small salary, and determined to take the
| frst good opportunity to make big raise
| from the registered mail pouches. He
watched his chance. and 1t came in the
spring of 1889. The sudden sickness of a
felow-clerk gave him this chance in April
| of that year.
AS 1T happened the registered mail was
| heavy one on this particular trip. and.
having no companion, he had. he sald full
| leisure to examine the registered packages
He says he took everything of value and
burned the rest. Leaving the train at the
| end of his run, just as it was entering Gal
| weston, he made his way to Canada, and
stayed couple of months in Toronto and
| Montreal From Canada he went to Chi
cago, and from there to San Francisco
After remaining in San Francisco a week
| he went to Australia. and then came back
| to San Francisco. On his last visit to that
| city he remained five weeks, and put up at
| the Palace and Baldwin hotels
| From San Francisco he went to Chile
| and from there to several other South
American points He finally reached La
| Guayra. in Venezuela, with but little of his
stolen wealth left. He secured a cheaI
| passage a sailing vessel, and reached
| New York sixteen days ago. He says that
| he was robbed of the last of his money in a
| Bowery lodging house. and had been Drac.
| t!cally starving for the past three days
| The pinch Of hunger and remorse impelled
| him, he said. to surrender himself.
| Winkler was later taken before United
| states Commissioner Alexander. to whom
he again repeated his confession. He was
| committed to Ludlow street Jail as a fed.
| eral prisoner until the Washington author.
| tiles are heard from.