The morning times., 1897-02-18
ILLTREATMENT is ALLEGED
An EmplOye Makes a Complaint
Against Supt. Cullen.
Exciting Scene at the Mail Bag Re.
pair shop Postoffice Depart
menI Investigating the Case

Charges seriously attacking the personal
and official conduct OF Superintendent
Cullen, OF the Tinted States Mail Bag
Repair Shop, have been forwarded to Post
master General Wilson. This fact and the
other fact that the charges have been
made by a woman employed at the shop
were verified yesterday afternoon at the
PoStoffice Department, although the mat
ter is just now In such shape as that the
details cannot be published with official
sanction.
1t was further reported that the cause
OF complaint was so serious, and the proof
SO inconteStaMe, that Supt. Cullen had
rendered his resignation. No information
on this point was obtained from the de-
partuent, but it was denied by supt.
Cullen, to a reporter OF The Times, who
advised him of the report.
The trouble between Mr.. Cullen and the
employees is one OF very delicate nature.
The mailbag repair shop is on street
northwest, between and-a-half and
Sixth streets, north side. This establish
ment has had more or less fame, and espe-
cIally with reference 10 allegations, which
were not sustained, of cruel treatment OF
the employees and suHdry other nisdcmean-
ors- A very large percentage Of the EN-
ployes are poor girls. who, as the name OF
the establishment indicates, are engaged
In sewing up mail bags that are torn or
otherwise out OF repair The heavy work
is done by men. 1t is a very quiet place
ordinarily.
According to the statement made to
The Times all Of the snop was startled
n last Saturday by the sounds OF quarrel
which is Un the second fIoor. southeast
corner. II is entered through an
anre-Toom in which are one or TWO clerks
one OF whom is a lady. The Eoise of the
alteration grew so loud, it being also
reported that the woman screamed muir
der, that some people passing went in
and 10th saw ana heard the superintendent
IN a violent quarrel with a young lady.
The cause Of quarrel, it is alleged, is
that the young lady complained To the
superintendent that she had been badly
treated and that he should make amends
for it. and that this demand aroused
the temper OF the superintendent and led
TO the dramatic series OF scenes. The
accounts further went on to say that
while this was going on employees. who
desired to go in and assist il neces-
superintendent room.
These statements were submitted to Mr.
Cullen yesterday He denied any quarrel,
denied any scene, and as TO the charges
made against him by the woman affect
ing her character and his illtrearment, he
denied that also.
a call was then made at the Postoffice
Department, where it was learned that
oh ~
in the lands OF the Postmaster General
Postmaster General Wilson would not dis
cuss the matter at all, but it was stated
IN his office by an official that no infor-
nation would be given out pending the
investigation. 1t was learned that the
charges had been preferred by one OF the
employees. nd that another woman who
had been formerly an emlploye figures in
the case.
The mail ba z repair shop is under theim-
mediate control of Gen. Nelson, the Second
Assistant Postmaster General. Gen. Nell
son was applied to for further information.
but he said that it was not customary to
give out any such information, and that as
a matter Of fact the complaint had already
gone before the Postmaster General. he
would not, therefore, discuss the merits
or the details OF the case. He regretted
that anything at all should be said about
the incidents for the reason that the public
might mis- Judge the character OF the people
employed in this repair shop. on the con-
trary, he said, there are no young orkiug
womenanywhere of higher moral character
than at this shop They are poor, hard
working, prudent and honest, and what
mghtbe said in such very exceptional cases
ought not to be held to affect the greater
number OF those there employed.
1t is not likely that any OF the facts in
the case Will Toe obtainahle from the Post
office Department until after the investi-
CATION, now being conducted by the Post
master General.