The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-08-30
Habits of Thieves Known
to the Police.
AdrOit Capture in POStOffice
Lobby.
Why One Italian Wife Dill Not J0ir
Her Spouse in America.

do you know that postofilce Is the
greatest place in the world TO catch "a
fugitive from justice in?"
This remark was oooasoned by the cap
ture Of Clarence McCullOm in tho lobby
of the postotfice in this city last Friday by
Detective Parker.
McCulom was an escaped jailbird from
Michigan, and no was travelling under
tho name Of Frank johnson. Detectives
know that men of McCullom's stamp will
communicate with friends at the first
opportunity and they make it point 10
learn the names and addresses OF these
friends.
Then they send the Information all
over the country with such particulars as
they may have at hand. The sheriff who
was in pursuit of McCullom sent word To
this city that the man wanted called him
self Frank johnson.
Detective Parker had talk with
Assistant Postmaster Walker and tho de-
livery clerks were told that II Frank
johnson called for letters or attempted
TO make any communication through the
postoffice, information to thai effect
should be given To the detective NJ once.
On the Thursday before his arrest John
son was at tho pOstotice and inquired Tor
package. He did not get IL, ~ course.
The detectives knew he would return
later on and they kept strict watch. On
Friday the day of the arrest Johnson
made his appearance again. IL was dur
ing the dinner hour of the regular clerk
and the substitute was not aware that
johnson was wanted.
Detective Parker stepped up to the
wicket and while talking with the sub
stitute clerk it was learned that Frank
Johnson had just left the wicket and had
gone into the money order department.
The detective had a photograph OF the
man and ho was easily recognized. lie
took him by the collar and probably Mo
Cuilom was the hostIastonished man in
the world at that moment. His eyes
nearly started out of his head and be
Rasped before ne ioould say u word. lie
saw he was nicely nabbed and he went
with the officer without any manifestation
of reluctance. Persons in the lobby OF
the postoflice at the time knew that some
thing unusual was going OIL Dy the remark.
able expression on the face of the prisoner.
The occurrence reminded the assistant
postmaster of another incident that hap
pened at the postotiice IA few weeks ago.
An Italian visited the money order de-
partment and tried to tell the clerk that
he wanted To send Sll0 to Italy to pay the
passage of his wife TO this country. he
was under the impression that the clerks
could speak all languages and he vainly
tried To tell what ha wanted in the Ian
guage of his country.
OF course, the clerk could not make out
what the gesticulating Italian was try
ing To get through him. Finally he was
told. or made to understand that he
would have TO get fellow countryman
able to speak English so that he could
make his wants known.
The Italian returned in a short time
with an interpreter and it was ascertained
that he wanted to send the money TO
Italy.
uLo ,,ooa,.o,,, ,,apars ,uora ,,aaa o,,t
after the two men talked in their language
and the clerk followed out the instruc-
tions of internreter.
After lapse of time sufficient for the
Italian TO hear from his wife he visited
the postoifico again and wanted 10 know
why ho had not heard from his wife. This
conversation was also carried on through
an interpreter.
The matter was looked up but the clerks
could not finu any trace of q money order
sent in the way described. The Italian
was told TO call again. Meanwhile the
clerks searched high and low for any trace
of the money ORDER but IL could not be
found.
The Italian called several times, but
he could not hear anything OF his sl10.
The clerks and the postoifice officials
were convinced that no such order was
sent through the office.
The Italian was nearly distracted. OF
the postoflice but he could not get his
money. Uncle Sam is particular about
such things and there was no redress for
tho Italian. The postotiioe officials could
not account for the matter as they felt
convinced that the man was acting in
good faith.
Some time after this one of tho clerks
was searching the domestic record for an
other matter and found the name of the
Italian on the book.
This was an unexpected ray OF light and
the investigation took a radical change.
The New York postofioe was communi-
Gated with and it was ascertained that
Sll0 had been paid to IN Italian with an
unpronounceable name. 1t was the miss.
ing money order, and IL had been paid to
the interpreter.
That Individual had seen his opportu.
nifty TO get money easily and instead of
telling the postoffice clerk what his fol-
low countryman had said he had the
money order made payable Co himself in
New York ana he had taken the next
train for the metropolis whore he obtained
the money without trouble.
There was no redress for the poor Italian
who had trusted in the interpreter and no
had TO lose the money. Now, he is look
ing for his false friend and when they
meet the papers will have material tor
another tragedy.
LIGHT OITESTfON