The Lamar register., 1897-11-06
GAVE Up THE MONEY.
SIS. 900 MAIL PACKAGE Rscov-
Erred.
Houxhton. the Thief, Gives In to His
Old Mothers Ensreasy- Details of III.
Crime

Cheyenne. Wyo-. Oct. 3O.--walier r.
Houghton. who confessed yesterday
70 stealing a registered package from
the United States mails containing
$4,000, this morning gave up Si4.Too
Of the money to United States Marshal
McDermott, and decided 10 throw
himself on the mercy OF the court, in
the hope OF receiving as light a pun
tshment as possible for his crime.
Mabel Hunt. alias Mabel Foster. who
Is Ia Denver, VIII be prosecuted by the
United States authorities for taking
500 from Houghton. knowing the
same to have been stolen.
The story OF the rifiing the registered
mail pouch. as told by Houghton in
the presence ot United States Marshal
Mcnrrmoft. United States Attorney
Clark. United States Commissioner L.
]. Fisher. Postoffiee Inspector A. p.
Frederick and City Detectives Burlew
and Ioounts Is IN substance as follows.
Some time ago the woman May
Foster told HOughton that II at any
time be should come upon something
good In the mails and could take Il to
do so, and promised 10 marry him upon
chat coadiiion, He was Al that time.
Of course, ignorant OF the fact that
she bad already one husband
On September pOth. when a little
ways out from Cheyenne. Houshton
discovered that he had IN the car
registered pouch for which he had
given no receipt, and Immediately
realized his opportunity for carrying
out the Fosier wouIan's suggestion.
After a slight struggle with himself
he decided 10 do the thing. and about
half way up the divide. before reaching
sherman. he cut open the pouch. hut
did not examine the contents unfil ar
ter the train had passed Laramie. The
registered package containing $4,000
and one containing the watch and
tewelry lay In the bottom. and on top
OF these werr twenty -fonF other pack
ages OF merchandise. among which
was an unregistered letter enclosing
$40 In bills This. with the valuable
packages, HooEbion left and began
70 destroy the evidences of his crime
The merchandise consisted chiefly OF
dry goods from Chicago firms The
only way 70 get rid ~ all this and the
pouch was 10 burn them In the stove.
and this be did. but there was so much
Of the sun that be was obliged to
empty the pan three times along the
route. At last everything was de-
stroyed except the copper rivets and
the rotary lock The lock Is little
machine that registers a new number
every time the pouch Is opened. and Is
used fstectinE any tampering with
the mails along the line. as the mum
her marked at the starting polnf 4
noted hy the clerk of The postoffiee
from which the mail bag starts and =
compared with the figures counted At
the end of the run.
The problem Of how TO get rid % the
hits ~ metal seemed difYeult one,
hut was finally salved by the young
thief "a the train passed over tho
North Platte near Fort Steele before
reaching RaWilns He dropped them
into the river.
As soon as Honrhteu got hack 70
Cheyenne he went 20 his home, at PIG
Evans street and hid the money In
the chicken house where Il was sub
sedueniIy recovered with the exception
q s3no. which he gave 70 MAY Foster
The SEQ fran the unregistered letter
Houchton spent FOR himself.