Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1898-03-25
MAIL ROBBERY.
Nearly One ThousaMd Dollars In
Money and Checks Taken.-Most
of the Property Recovered.

NC0fIy one IhOuS0MO DOlb0Eb lu
Money and Checks Taken.-Most
of the Property Recovered.
On the morning of Monday, March II,
County Treasurer Allen registered at the
Williamsport postotfice a package con
tanning $3.50 in currency and $5s5.9s in
checks, drafts, etc. The package was
directed to the First National Bank, Bis
marck. There were three registered
packages mailed in the Williamsport
office for the mail of that day,-one by
D. r. Streeter, contained some legal
papers for party in Pennsylvania; an
other by one of the Orncr boys, is said to
have contained a small sum of money for
some one in New York. The packages
were duly sealed. tied together and placed
in the mail bag and given to Walter
Boutillier, the Livona mail carrier. When
the mail reached Livona and was opened
it was found that the treasurer's money
package had taken wings. The fuct of
its absence created no great alarm on the
part Of Mrs. Baker, the postmaster a,
Livona, as it was thought that probably
the package had been delayed at Will
Transport and would come along next
day. The fact that package was miss.
ing was shown by what is known as
"return card" which accompanies every
| registered package.
Tuesday yourg Boutillier, who is abou,
"a years old, took his team and went up
to Bismarck for load. Tuesday night
Treasurer Allen reached Bismarck, going
by way Of Livona. Wednesday morning
a complaint was sworn out by Mr.. Allen
and the young man was arrested and
taken to Jail. He was interviewed by
the states attorney and sheriff of Bur-
leigh county, but would not confess. AT
Livona, when young Boutillicr arrived
with the mail on the day of the robbery.
MIR. Wesley Baker had noticed that the
former was exceedingly nervous and
acted very strangely. To add TO The sus-
picion, a bill that Walter had obtaincd
change for in Bismarck was on the Ma
tional Bank of Peru, Ind. As Treasurer
Allen was making up the package Of bills
he had Loted that one of them was on
that bank, and as the bills of banks with
u limited circulation are seldom seen 50
far from home, it was considered sus-
picious circumstance that such a bill was
in Walters possession. Thursday, Sheriff
Shier. accompanied by the treasurer,
went from Bismarck to Willamsport and
searched the building at the farm Of J. l..
Bou,illier, Walters father, and also the
Williamsport poslotfice. But no trace OF
the lost property was found.
The loss Of the package had been as.
certained by Postmaster Cell Monday
evening, when checking up his registry
return cards. He ut once went out tt
Mr.. Aliens place, half mile from town
and informed him Of the fact that the
package was missing. The postmaster
also, Immediately sent for an inspector.
H. E. Thiele. who has been postoffict
detective for dozen years, and who j.
the man that ran to earth in Chicago an(
captured the "green goods" gang ot
fourteen persons, arrived in Bismarck or
Saturday Mornings train. He spent T.
good part of the day with the prisoner
but without result, although, as ht
stated, Walter was at one time on the
verge of a confession, but he braced uI
and again declared his innocence. Satur.
cay night the inspector was again with
the prisoner, and before morning con.
fession was obtained. Walter told the
officer where he had secreteu the money
and on Sunday Mr.. ThieIe, accompanied
by ex-Sheriff Frank Donnelly, of Bur
leigh county. went to j. L. Boutillier'.
place. near Williamsport, and fouuc
$500 Of the s36O and the checks. Tht
property was hidden under some manure
in -shed-the checks in Unregistered
envelope; and. about yard away, the
money. wrapped in handkerchief.
Monday afternoon young Bouti!lier
was taken before Commissioner Gage,
when he waived examination and wa.
held in bonds Of $1,000 to appear before
the federal court at Fargo on May 18th
Last Wednesday, Messrs Dugald Camp
bell. II. D. Connor. John Baker, Rob.r,
buchanan and John Goughnour appeared
at Williamsport and went on the prison.
ers' bond. The bond is an excellent one,
aud it will undoubtedly be accepted.
1t appears from the young mans con.
fession, that the mail sack had tear in
it; that the postmaster al, Williamspoft
had riveted the tear; that Walter fled of
the rivet, tosk out the package, and then
put in another rivet. The. robbery took
place in the hills on the route between
Williamsport and Livons. e.a
Some t62 Of the money was not re.
covered. When arrested, Walter had $8
on his person. As he came into Bism =
Tuesday evening, went to bed 1edson-
ably early, and was arrested before noon
Wednesday. and was carefully watched
while at liberty In the city; There are q
great many people who believe that kb6ne
one else got most Of tho CO., Or that.e ii.