The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-13
HOARDED THE NAIL
FOR SEVEN YEARS THE POSTMIS.
TRESS FAILED TO DELIVER 1T.
POstoh1ce Inspector Fletcher Makes a
Remarkable Discovery at q Floyd
County PostOfnce.

Postoffice Inspector William T. Fletcher,
of this city. has discovered a postoftice in
this State that, among curiosities in the
annals of the department, rivals them all.
At Georgetown, Floyd county. the postof-
flee is conducted by Miss Louisa Mutweiler,
an old maid. who has some most peculiar
ways. Dor a long time complaints have
been received at the Postoftice Department
of mail that was addressed to this office
that was not delivered Finally Mr.. Fletcher
was ordered to make an investigation.
When he appeared at the office he found
the postmistress standing on about three
feet Of mail matter that had accumulated
on the floor of the Office. This was last
Friday. Mr.. Fletcher called in several of
the citizens Of the place, who were the
bondsmen Of the postmistress. and began
cleaning up the office. He hauled away
forty-one handcartfulls of second-class mat
ter from the floor of the Office. This was
placed in another building. He then began
further examination of the premises. He
found seventeen tie sacks full of other
mail matter stored in almost every con-
ceivaIble place. Some of it was stuck away
in old chests; other was tied up in bundles
and covered with old dress skirts. This
matter was of dates ranging all through
the last seven years.
He found over three thousand letters
dated back as far as 1859, some of them
or considerable Importance, and all ad-
dressed to people living near the office.
One letter contained the accounts of a
brandy guager that had been returned to
him from the Internal Revenue Department
for correction more than three years ago.
bondSmen, who assisted in the work, found
a letter addressed to himself, containing
some insurance policies that had been
When Mr.. Fletcher called at the Office
Miss Mutwefler did not want to let him
and admitted him. After he had straight
ened out the Office, during which time the
postm.stress was excluded, she reappeared
and began a search for her registry books
which she thought had been carted away
with the other things of the office. After
being assured that they were all right, she
retired again. During the last six months
Miss Mutweiler has not registered a letter.
When Mr.. Fletcher took charge of the
office she did not have 81 worth OF stamps
and stamped envelopes In the office. Mr..
Fletcher turned the Office over to her bonds
men, who will select some one to act as
postmaster until the Department can make
an appointment.
This case was pronounced by Mr. Fetch
er one of the most peculiar he has had
in his experience OF seventeen years Miss
GEORGETOWN ssT for fifteen years. ears The he mail
discovered dates back seven years. IT is
not known whether she discharged her du-
ties properly prior to 1889 or not. Imag-
ination can picture many things that might
have been otherwise IL this servant of
Uncle Sam had properly discharged her du-
ties. No one will ever know the heart
aches and the permanent arrangements
that were caused by the failure of Miss
Mutweiler to deliver the sweet epistleS of
lovers that came into her hands. This rev.
elation will explain to many why that
long-looked-for letter never came, and why
some heartbroken girl made loveless mar
rIage when she thought she was deserted
by the only man she ever loved. Imagina-
ton might go further and see a sad-faced
girl making daily calls at the little post
Office window for letter, her face grow
ing thinner every day, until finally sickness,
aggravated by the pain of disappointment,
ends in the hllghting of a bud.