The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-21
THE POSTOFFICE THIEVES
DARING GANG OF CRIMINALS
WHOSE NUMBER Is DECREASING.
Interesting Items CufIed from the
Fourth Assistant Postmaster-Gen-
erals Annual Report.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

pOFtdnt DIVISION OF the United states pos
tai department, that under Fourth Assis-
tant Postmaster-g general Maxwell, has just
furnished a report of the work of the bu-
reau for the fiscal year ending June so, 1896
1t shows the total number OF postofices is
20 $780, Ct. 725 being fourth-class and 1855 pres
idential, INCREASE of 296 over last year.
During the year 2046 postofices were estab-
lished and 1,750 discontinued. The total
number of appointments for the year was
1900. and the total number of cases acted
upon 15,532 The report also has a ia bic
showing the total number of postoffices in
the United States June go of each year
since 1890, when the number was only 10.
In two years the number had increased to
1875. In 1900 the number was $685. in 1910,
1890; in 1870. $500; in 1880. $780, in $780, 49, 1853;
in 1885, 18,417 in 1860. Is 49s; in 1867 20550; in
1870 Is, 4e2 in 1850, 1883; in 1885, g. 401 There
was decrease of s, 32S during the last three
years of the civil war. There was also
slight decrease in 1872.
An independent and important subdivision
of the duties of the inspectors is that relat-
ing TO robbery of postoffices burning of
postoffices, wrecks of postal cars and high
way robbery of mail messengers, mail
stages and railway postal cars. Comment
ing on the years work in these directions
Assistant acknowledgement Maxwell
says:
1t will be observed that the depreda-i lions
ana casualties treated in this class of cases
nave gradually increased until the T s.
cal year when a uniform decrease is SnoWn
under each subdivision, with the exception
OF mail pouches lost, cut or stolen Ii was
conjectured in the last annual report that
the arrest or killing of a number of the
most prominent outlaws in certain sections
of the middle West and the breakin nm OF
several of the worst gangs of bandits thar
ever existed in this country, would result in
pronounced decrease in the number of
a yXFHs1l tn
giarles The statistics herein set forth prove
the correctness of this forecast, and justifes
the conviction that the growth of the coun-
try and the extension of the mail service
does not involve the probability of an in-
crease IN the number of bold depredations
Dy the more desperate criminals. The con-
tlnueG decrease in the number of postofIice
Durgl3rles reported will be more fully dis
cussed under another head
POSTOFFICE THIEVES
Under the head of arrests for offenses
against the postal laws it is shown that
during the year there were 2074 of which
NUMBER l5S were postmasters, 80 were assis-
tant postmasters, 43 were clerks in post
ofnces, IA were railway postoffice clerks "a
were letter carriers, 40 were mail carriers
and others were employed in minor posi-
tons in the postal service. Four hundred
and seventy postoffice burglars were ar
rested While the remainder of 1,225 were
persons not connected with the postal serv-
lenses against the postal laws OF this
number 11OS cases We're disposed OF in the
lingo So states courts and thirty-eight in
the State courts.
Ine subject OF rewards is among the most
important discussed in the report. Upon this
topic Assistant POSTMASTER general MaxweIl
refers with evident satisfaction TO the re-
suits that have followed the adoption of
ms recommendations of previous wears.
The marked increase in the number Of
postofnce burglaries up to 1894 was regard
ca with alarm by the department. and the
haze
to check this class of depreciation was
urged Upon the Postmaster-genera in the
ed was the offering of suitable rewards
Ter tne apprehension and conviction Of
postofiice burglars This recommends tior
was earnestly Endorsed by the Postmaster
general and accorded favorable considera-
ton In Congress. a special appropriation of
Szo,oO0 Tor rewards for this class of GRIM
mails having been orovlued This remedy
IN my Judgment, has proved very efficd-
clous, ana, TO great extent has fulfilled
all the good anticipated from the measure
IN tact, the results obtained have been SO
s s;a Tor. that, upon the recommends
ton or the department, Congress renewed
the appropriation for this purpose for the
current year.
There were 1921 oostoffices burglarized
during the fiscal year 1884 and 1,56l offices
subjected TO the same class of depreciation
IN 1889, or decrease, of 2 per cent, while
during the last year there were 1.474 reports
OF Durglar1es received a further decrease
of a little less than per cent. for the
year, and a decrease of a little over per
cent: as compared with 1884. On the other
hand, while the burglaries are shown 70
pc decreasing, the number of burglars
apprchended indicates corresponding in
crease During the year 1894 there were
sol OF these Offenders arrested. In 1895 the
an increase of 20 per cent. and during the
last fiscal year 40 such criminals were aD-
prenended, making an increase of 10 per
cent. over the previous year. Thus, while
the number of postofices deprecated by
this dangerous class of criminals has stead
ny decreased during the past two years.
the number of offenders arrested has in
creased nearly "a per cent.
Inc results are extremely gratifying
and, in my opinion. are directly attribrta-
BILE to the erect of the standing rewards
offered by the department as well as to the
greater vigilence exercised IN the detection
of criminals of this character 1t is worthy
OF note that during the year there have
great magnitude, such as We're reported a
couple of years ago, This leads me to be-
leVe that the department action has i'm
pressed these professional criminals with a
wholesome respect for the laws and their
penalties
NOTORIOUS CRIMINALS.
The final pages of the report are rem
dered particularly interesting by a brief
synopsis of some of the special cases sue
cessfully prosecuted during the last year.
and they afford an insight into the meth
DDS employed by postofice inspectors.
Among these cases may be mentioned that
of William b. Marsh, tried and convicted
of robbery of the mail stage near Houston
Idaho; the robbery of the mail stage near
Spearfish, S. D., by George r. Hayes and
Ulysses G. Pitts: the holdup and robbery
OF the Oreson mail train near Riddles, Ore;
the arrest of George Carson and Sidney
1ennie, who were implicated with kiloraa
Allen ana russell IN number of bold day
nsnt robberies of postoffice safes. wherein
the robbers secured thousands of dollars
worth OF stamps, and the apprehension of
Abe Rothschild, who though only forty
five years old. has according to his own
confession. over two hundred criminal
charges against him in the United States
distributed in every State and Territory
and who has committed crimes in Canada
Mexico. Cuba, England and France This
confirmed otender attempted to purchase
his release from the inspector who first ar
rested him in California, and has tried to
bride every jailer who has had him in Gus
tody since. Other notable cases are re-
ferred to, particularly those of Joseph r.
Dunlap, the editor and publisher of the
Chicago Dispatch which. under his man
agement, printed Objectionable advertise
ments; the capture Of number of profess
sional burglars at CORTLAND, Ill.,; the ar
rest OF the accomolice of Leroy Harris
the originator of tho elaborate scheme TO
defraud the Postoffice Department of mon
ey-order funds; the pursuit and capture of
Calvert, Tex, the arrest of one of the
most prominent of New Engand's clergy
men for sending to a member of his church
grossly scurrilous defama tory postal
cards through the mails: the arrest of f.
M. Blore. formerly express messenger on
the line of the Lincoln q Deadwood railway
poSt0nCe, the important green