The sun., 1897-08-01
SEA POST OFFICES UNSAFE.
NAILS RIFF ED ON THE sAAIEi THE
ROBBERS 60 UNPUNISHED.

Robbers GO ONEONlShED.
a,--,,, Clerks Refuse TO Help the Inspectors
N, InvestiaatinH the Disappearance or Reg
,.tercd I"tters-Tho Post once Department
70 Ask FOR AID from, European GoSernunents.
For two months the Post Ofilco Department
inspectors huve been trying to solve the my stery
M the robbery OF European mails In tho latter
mar, Of Nay. Tho fact that the mails on an out
yarci.bound steamer had been rifled after leav-
ing thia port was published In THE Sun at tho
time. Mono OF the details could be learned.
Chief Post Office Inspector Ashc and Deputy
Chief DILLON refused to say how they found out
that the natl pouches had been robbed at
sea, refused to tell whether tho mails OF
moro than one steamer had been robbed and
would not giye the namo Of tho steamer on
which tho robbery occurred. Chief Ashe and
Doputy Chief Dillon, assisted by inspectors
Jacobs and Morris. havo beon Investigating the
matter. They finished their work this week.
The report OF tho Chief Inspector reached tho
Post Oiflcc Department at Washington on FRI
day and through Washington representative
OF the department yesterday THE Sun learned
the full story Of tho robbery. save the names of
tho thieves. Two men are under suspicion. This
Information is not yet in the possession of tho
department
Tho manner in which tho robbery was com.
mails and may lead to n conference between
tho unitcd States Post Otticc authorities and
those OF the European Governments. particu-
larry Germany, to devise some means OF better
safcg harding the mails.
Among the mail received at the New York
Post Office on May ls was package OF regis
tered letters from st. Louis. There were ninety
two pieces in the package. which was consigned
for delivery to town OF about 10000 inhabi.
tants in the southwestern part of Sweden. This
package was put in canvas pouch with other
mail at the New York York Post Ottice. and was
delivered on board the North German Lloyd
liner Saale on Tuesday morning. May 1s, before
o'clock. When the mail was unloaded at
Brcmerhavcn several OF the letters in this pack
age were missing. A telegram to that effect
was received at the New York Post Office. This
was forwarded to Washington.
Chief Ashe made up his mind that there was
accessibility that the letters did not reach the
steamer. Deputy Chief Dillon found that the
New York Post Once. and that it f had been en- de- de-
ia.t that the thief Or thieves had got at The th
took up the Investigation. They learned
handling the mail on the saale, and then waited
for her return to this port. While they were
reached the steamer It passeG. ofciaily. into the
custody of the schdGner. or chief mail clerk, a
man named Rraggerman. The sorting of the
tive Of the German Post Office Department
named Ranft and representative OF our Post
Once Department at Washington named Me-
From these men the following facts were OBJ
Cann. The pouch containing the registered
letters from st. Louis put in the Post
oes m On boar the ship the key to which
rived at tBremerhayel the mails were taken off
IN tug and loaded on train. Bruggerman ro, e
reuehed there on May g. T6tse d Il was ni iiscoV eo
cred that two pouches. one containing
the other Containing the registered letters @ for for
Sweden. were missing: The pouches could not
have been lost out of the car. and it was thought
that they bad been left on board the tug. A
telegram was sent to Bremerhaven, the tus was
searched. and the two pouches were found on
had not been tampered with. The registered
mail pouch was empty. The bag had been cut,
inspectors were unable from the Statements
made by either Bruggerman. Rant. or McCann,
to FIX the responsibility for, the carelessness in
leaving the pouches OF mail On the tug.
When Brusgerman and Ranft were closely
asked about the care with which the Post Office
refused 10 answer the questions. They asked by
what authority the inspectors questioned them,
Inspector Jacobs answered the question. This
by the authority Of the Post Office Depart
ment OF the United States"
'Umphi replied Bruggerman. I'VE are not
In the service OF the United States Government.
we are not ssesSt to III asa we decne to o.
you all we know
formation could be obtained. because. according
to his statement and that of the BrrIggerman
He had made only one or two trips on the vessel.
and was not thoroughly familiar with tho work.
Az tsst be h the pqoh
Post Ottce room. and that Brnggerman had the
key to that room during the voyage. That was
As far as Chief Ashe and his men could go. The
information given above was according TO THE
sUN's informant. embodied in report which
Chief Ashe took to Washington on Friday " night.
The Post Office authorities may ask the German
Post Ofice authorities TO cooperate with them in
running down he thief or thieves.
Al yet the value of the letters stolen can only
be guessed at. The Post Orice authorities say
that is several Thousand dollars. This is not
with whom The Sun reporter talked. that a
robbery of mails carried by the Saale has been
years ago. The thieves were never dc ecteG,
and the department has decided that It is high
time somebody was punished for such theIis
As things are at present. the Poet Office pe'
partment does not feel that it is entirely
safe to send money and valuables abroad by
established in the AI!er. Ems. Fuld. Havre,
Kaiser . William II: Lahn 1aale. Spree, ,rrave
the Augusta. victoris. Columbia. Fucrst Bis
marck and No MAMMA OF the H1mburg Amer
aean s paeeSt S company, and on some 60 OF & The
pany.
Some notion OF tho magnitude OF the service
may be obtained from the fact that the two Ger
man lines carried last year from New Yori
6,O33,5oO pieces OF mail. 6s,353 packages o.
reg stored letters. and 1866 pouches of prntef
maitnr, These vessels brought into New Yorh
9S65 300 pieces OF mail. ia ,9s5 packages o
Registered letters, and 1893 pouches OF prlntc cC
matter. The author ties are convinced thai
there is gang organized for the purpose Of ro'
hinG in'srnationll sca Post Offices. just wha
thlS Information Is the department will no
make known now 1t is 10 To made the basis 70
nrequest to the German Poet Office authoritie
that they cooperate with this Government 7iI
mAklnN eycry nffOrt TO CAptnre md puMlsh th