The DeLamar nugget. [volume] (DeLamar, Idaho) 1891-1900, 1896-10-16

way, being practically free from inter-
ference or suspicion, since not even the
policeman IN any neighborhood or resi-
dents there would have any idea that
he was not postman, perhaps new
one, and he would be left free to go
ahead with his depredations.
The stolen mail thus obtained would
be BROUGHT to the rooms occupied by the
thieves and there carefully examined.
Every letter would be opened, either by
steaming the envelope or with PEN
knife, and if found to contain nothing
valuable would be resealed and mailed
again, so as to lessen the chances of
suspicion. OF course, money and all ar
ticles of value were retained, and
great quantity of checks were obtained
in this way, the latter being in many in
stances raised" or altered so that
the conspirators were able to realize
large sums on them.
The originator of this ingenious
scheme of robbery was Prentiss Tiller,
who is now serving time" in the jack
son penitentiary, while his,accomplices
were sentenced to from 10 to IS years.
AS it is almost impossible to take
postofiice thieves in the act of robbing
the mails, the inspectors have to rely
upon ruses in discovering the guilty
clerk or employee. One of the most CON-
mon and successful devices is that of
the test letter, a trap in which many
light-fingered employees have been
taken.
After weeks, sometimes months, of
narrowed down to two or three men,
upon whom the decoy Letter or package
is then tried.
For instance, if the complaints have
been in regard to small pieces of jew
elry, such as are often sent through the
mail, the test letter will contain scarf
pin or pair of sleeve buttons, inclosed
in such a way that they can be plainly
felt by anyone handling the letter.
And if money has been stolen, then
the letter is prepared with bank notes
wrapped in thin paper, so that they can
be readily seen on holding the letter up
to the light. Whatever is inclosed in
the letter is marked N such a way that
it may be easily identified afterward.
Thus prepared, the test letter is
mailed in the district from which came
the letter in regard to which complaint
has been made. The letter is posted by
one of the inspectors, who. unknown to
the postman, stands near by and
watches until the letter is gathered up.
Returning to the office, the inspector
notes whether the letter is in the mail
pouch which is to carry it to its destina-
ton. If it is not there the field of sus-
picion is narrowed down to the postIran
who carried it from the box to the Office
and to the clerks who handled it while
being stamped and put in the mail
pouch.
If the letter is found in the pouch,
then it is checked at every subsequent
point where it is liable to be handled,
the checking being done by the inspect
or in charge, who in no instance inter-
fcres until the usual opportunity for
theft has been accorded.
AS soon as the inspector who is on the
trail of test letter finds that it has dis
appeared, and concludes from his check
system that it must have been abstract
ed by one of two or three men, he inn
mediatcly orders those men to be taken
to a private room and searched
searched thoroughly, so that if the tell
tale bill or object is on their person il
must be discovered.
There are many complaints of money
lost in the mails, which upon investiga-
ton prove to have their source in the
dishonesty of employees. Porters, Office
Toys, petty clerks, all have opportuni-
ties to take what they know are valu-
able letters, and often avail themselves
of them.
For instance, only short time ago
many complaints were received from
the Presbyterian missions, which were
losing money at an extraordinary rate.
The culprit proved to be their Office boy,
lad of IS, with a salary of four dollars
week. He confessed his fault, and
said that he had spent the money in
taking his girl to the theater; that they
went two or three times a week, and |
that he liked to give her small presents.
There are many similar cases, and a
remarkable feature of them is that
often the people who have made the
complaint refuse to press it when they |
know it concerns one of their employees, |
and sometimes they do not even dis
charge the offender.-Boston Globe.
Railroads in India,