New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-17
CRIME IN THE POSTAL SERVICE
THE POSTOFFICE BURGLAR AND
OTHER THINGS.


Washington May 16.-"The months OF March and
April busy times for our force OF inspectors
said Colonel Wheeler chief postofce Inspector to-
day. "Jn fact. during the last six months our men
have had more work on hand than would seem pos
sibe for such limited number to handle we nave
just competed thorough inspection OF all rres-
Dental postofces in the United States. In addition
to our regular case work, which alone Ordinarily
keeps the inspectors going day and night There
are nearly 1000 Presidential postofces in this coun
try and some are very large offices. Whiie IL may
seem easy TO say Make an inspection OF an on'ce'
We. II Is quite another matter TO complete IL proper.
For instance take large office like New ork
City or Chicago. To make a thorough inspec'io" oi
such an office requires the constant services OF
half-dozen good inspectors. for a week or So IDS
will give an idea Of the task which confronts an "
spector when It becomes necessary TO 'checR up Il
big office OF the first class We had trouble win the
ST Louis office because the cashier tried 10 coceai
a deficit OF some $4,000. but the inspectors hna'iF
got down TO the facts. and the money was collector
In several other offices we also found something Va
tho same nature but in every instance We nave COL
Iec.ed the amount Of the shortage. and the Govern
ment has not lost dollar.
'.The posofficc burglar gives us great ueai VI
trouble His advent In the annals OF ci,i"e 4,
recen. vet he is type peculiar to himseH ana
II would seem that he has come 10 stay. ios'
oe,ce burglars as a rule. are the most desperate
characters possessing every cunnlnS ana are ie"u!
10 seize on any chance to lift DuhuIe VI s'
or crack n safe: any method suits them II II WIZ
enable them to get the Doodle Inc piuhae, -
USUALLY in POSTAGE stamps which are disposed o.
tbrouob the medium OF fence the burglar sell
dom realizing more than 40 per cent on the real
valuc Of the stolen stock: yet with this heavy dis
count the occupation seems allurins, ana cohSe-
ouently keeps our men constantly on the aert
This sort OF depreciation became so common tnal
found i. necessary in 1894 10 call especial atten,
ton n II in my annual report, and recommended
10 the General that series OF re"aiuS
be offered for the apprehension OF THESE criminals
The suggestion adopted and has materia"!
aided our men in ferretns out the perpetrators.
We now have an annual appropriation from Con-
sress for this purpose, ana for the last 'nree
the number Of burgares has a a T o bowevar
is attested by the fact that ffty-three were Di ~
during March a Taeu hpT FOR the fiscal year viii
show still another decrease IN the assrcs"'e u
An interesting chapter in the history OF crime
car be made from that unfortunate tralt IL. Nh n~
rusind nosa employe into thief do not be
ueve there is another service where so many cas-
are fourd as in the postal service OF ms nd
IS only natural that weak ones should ma p sn
0 OF classNmen who usually work from the low
est places in an office TO tne ,nnes as The day is
long. suddenly we receive complaints OF Losses OF
OF discrepancies, and then IT beTCm INSTANCES how
ever we find the trouble to be in quarters iSo facs
80 from, those expected, Dut frequent! INV
sho,r thar another name passes 10 me page o. u,s
bnror nrison and ruin When thlei once Desi' ~
rn ;6ns on the mails the elemenI Oh cnahce II
~" Great 10 resist and 1t is that one lact witch
,onas 70 his ultima te discovery ms Is tie na.u-
le t nd most TRYING part of an inspector dut!,
20 Srnouently II happens that he Is caiied upon 70
49,, man whom he has known LOT years 70 p y.
~ ,hat an honest can be; YET DUTY Is pam.
hh az and nothing but duty remains LOT TIE IN
spector. o,. di.,roesnr and the despera-
, nbfch actuates some of the principals Wher as
1900 &c truly amentable and ptlable IN the cx-
1870 7 have received reports OF some men az
tr.anti,o suicide: OF others who attacked the IN
nI,ors with murderous intent: in several cases
have killed themselves outright on the
R;sooH,erv of some crookedness, and now recall one
tmstonce wherein a postmaster killed himself IN
,noet brutal manner by using bucher-knife: THESE
nre onlv the extremes however. and as RUE these
aonje re very docile and ractable upon discovery
.bbnr;ng March and April we arrested thirteen
oos,masters six assistant postmasters, SIX postoIce
three leter-carriers. six railway postal CLERKS
ona mal-carrjer and two employees OF other classes
pr criminal offences in this service are not con-
enad 70 burglars and postal employees This Is
nroVed nv the fac; that had TO arrest 1s6 MEM
bars NJ The general public because their acts were
no. In accord with the laws governing the use Of
The nostal system. The average citizen perhaps Is
not ware OF the restrictions placed upon the use 10
which the mails can be put, for we are frequently
called lIpon to arrest somebody who has. in mt OF
snite or anger written something Objectionable 10
HE law on a postal card or an envelopes this class
| olco includes lotteries, schemes TO defraud etc..