The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-16
PLUMBER IN MAIL BOXES.
ARREST OF MEMBERS OF a GANG
OF LETTER THIEVES.
Man ana woman Captured In Boston-The
woman Conresses-Two ALLEGED members
or the Gang Arrested In This Cty-EHtensiVe
Operntiou. They PInnncd-Their Records.

Man ana woman Captured IN Boston-The
woman Conresses-Two ALLEGED Memoer'
or the Gang Arrested Tn This CtS-khtenaiVe
Operations They Pinnncd-Their Hccorns'
BosToN, Oct. 15.-William II. Matthew'S oil
New York and Mrs. George ATWOOD aiiegeu
wife of George Atwood, who is serving q hvo
years sentence at the state prison, were arrest
cd yesterday on United States warrants Inc
warrants charge them with robbing mai boxes
in New York and Boston, extracting checks
from the letters stolen, and passing them Win
forged Endorsements. Late yesterday AFTER
noon Mrs. Atwood called at tho State prison
to;see her husband. George Atwood. While she
was there tho telephone in the inspectors ohlce
at the Federal building rang. Inspector White
answered, and very soon he and 0'Brien started
for Chnrlestown Jail. Mrs. Atwood was called
into n private office, and the inspectors had an
interview with her. Inspector Causland OF the
Boston Detective Bureau arrived later and he
Joined the conference.
In half an hour Chief Watts and Collins
came in with a little man whose Boston name
is w. H. Matthews. lilo does not weigh more
than ninety pounds. Then there followed a
long conference, which ended In the decision
that the pair should be held TO await develop
ments.
Mrs. George Atwood made a complete confess
sion to-day. duplicating five men, members OF q
rang organized for the purpose OF robbing the
mails. The gang included an expert lock break
or, q forger. acquainted with the use OF acids,
and three men who passed the worthless paper.
George Atwood, alias Barnum, the woman's
husband, and Matthews. the.man arrested with
her, were the leaders of the gang. The other
three men are still at large, probably In New
York state, but they are known.
After remaining practically silent. for a day.
Mrs. Atwood announced that she desired TO
make a cloan breast OF it I'LL" and in the pres
ence of Matthews and the police officials de-
scribed in detail the operations OF the gang.
Matthews tried to discredit her stateme ats, but
after thanking him for his attempt to clear her
abe reiterated her confession. Mrs. Atwood
said that the gang had worked extensively and
had robbed the mail boxes in Boston and other
cities OF many thousands of dollars. Just how
much they had taken she did not know, but the
Government officers say the figures VIII foot up
was a New York woman and had always lived
there. Il was in New York that she met At
Ing with his wife. She fell in love with him,
and they were married. He was q thief, and
she knew it, but she loved him and admired his
skill. Then Matthews came across their path.
He and her husband became great friends.
They were together all the time and soon in;
troduced new faces in her fiat Matthews had
been in Sing Sing for ak years.
Three months ago her husband came to Bos-
ton ton s said i ts,a eSI = sda% MonYS make oa crime them w riob'
Other men came with them. They rented q
fiat at the South End. As soon, as they. got
bcllltu IL SdlupalRh VI SEiul6 u6bhU. lhh
thews in the meantime marrying a Boston girl.
Atwood was arrested in August, tried, and
found guilty of robbing the mails. 1t was sus-
pected that he had confederates, and working
ON this suspicion the plot was uncovered.
John F. Ogle, q veterinary surgeon of 1884
Broadway and Robert Russell, who lives at
Thirty. eighth street and broadway, were ar.
rested In this city yesterday charged with being
members Of the Atwood-M atthews gang. Their
arrest resulted from a letter found on Mat
thews. 1t was signed doc" and mentioned Rus.
sells name. Inspector O'Brien of the Boston
police came here yesterday morning and asked
They were found on Broadway, near Forty.
eighth street. Ogle admitted having written
the letter, but denied any criminal association
With the gang. Tho two men will be taken to
Boston.
Ogle has never been arrested before, but his
two brothers are well known to the police. One
Of. them 10 serving q life sentence for having
killed q man In front of the Grand Opera House
In. 1882. and another is In q Memphis Jail for
robbery. Capt McCluskey thinks that Mat
thews Ii Billy Morgan. q notorious letter-box