The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-05-05

key, the rest was plain sailing, for,
while the locks OF mail-boxes in differ
emit cities vary i'm 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 disguise one of their
number as postman and have him
collect the mails from the boxes.
Every evening one of the thieves dis
guised 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 policemen In any neigh-
borhood or residents there would have
any idea that he was not postman,
perhaps new one, and he would be
lief; free to go ahead with his depre-
dations. The man chosen to make
the rounds would do so shortly after
6 o'clock, at which hour the business
houses are in the habit of sending
out their heaviest batch of letters.
The stolen mail thus obtained would
be brought to the rooms occupied by
the thieves and there carefully exam
ined. Every letter would be opened,
either by steaming the envelope or with
a penknife, and If found to contain
nothing valuable, would be resealed
and mailed again. SO as to lessen 1.-THE
chances of suspicion. OF course, money
and all articles of value were retained,
and great quantity of checks were
obtained in this way. the latter being
in many instances raised or alter
ed" so that the conspirators were able
to realize large sums on them.
For months these operations were car
ried on successfully in many cities, the
gang going through the country and
making their appearance here or there
with the regularity of Il theatrical COM
pany. The losses finally became 80 ex-
tensive and complaints SO numerous that
Chief Inspector Wheeler took the mat
ter i'm hand and detailed four of the most
skillful inspectors in the service-In-
spector Jacobs. of New York; Inspector
Sproesser, of Washington; Inspector
Williams, of St. Louis, and Inspector
Holmes, of Cincinnati--to take charge
of the case. These men worked all
through the summer OF 1891, following
various clues and finally located the
thieves In Denver. From there they
followed them to Dallas, Texas. thence
to New Orleans. and so on East. finally
capturing three of them in Atlanta
The three men were confined on sus-
picion in the local jail, and as the evil
dence against them was not yet sufficient
for sure conviction. Inspector Jacobs al.
lowed himself to be arrested as a coun.
terfeiter. and was placed in a cell sc
near the mail-boX thieves that he could
overhear their talk. From what he pick.
ed up In this way he gained overwheim.
ing evidence, proving not only the
guilt of the prisoners in the long series
of mail robberies all over the country
but also that of certain Harry Arm.
strong, another member OF the gang
who was afterwards captured In New
York.
1t afterwards transpired that the orig
inator of this ingenious scheme of rob
berry was Prentiss Tiller who is now
serving time in the Jackson Penitenti
| airy, while his accomplces were sen
fenced to from ten to fifteen years
TRACING THE THEFT.
AS it Is almost impossible to take post.
| Office thieves In the act OF robbng the
mails, the inspectors have to rely upor
ruse In discovering the guilty clerk OIL
1 employee. One of the most common anG
| successful devices Is that OF the test let
ter, trap in which many light fingered
| employees have been taken For in
stance. i'll the New York Post Office as
| soon as complaint is made, Chief In.
| spector Ashe details one or two OF his
inspectors to investigate the case. After
: weeks, sometimes months, of surveil.