The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-08-09
Chief Murphy GleverlyC Clears
Up the K%ynaston
Mystery.
STOLEN FROM BRITANNIC MAIL
Conspiracy to Rob Cargo and
Letter Pouches Brought to
Light By Jersey City
Police.

The Jersey City police have succeeded
in ~unraveling the mystery surrounding
the finding of United States Government
coupons. which were undoubtedly stolen,
in the possession of John Kynaston,
third officer of the White Star Line
steamship Britannia. Kynaston was ar
rested on Friday last as he was trying to
cash the coupons in the Third National
Bank, Jersey City. Chief Murphy was
satisfied that he had been implicated in
the robbery Of the mail room of the
Britannia. He attempted to get Kynas-
ton to confess but the prisoner stoutly
maintained that he was innocent and de-
MED that the coupons were taken from
the mails. He admitted that the cou-
pons, Of which he had twenty, valued
at $40 each, were stolen by Chief Officer
Jago of the Britannia, but he said that
Jago had given them to him in England
to deliver to a man in New York. He
said that there were forty coupons in
all, and that Jago had kept half of them
and given him half to cash for him.
The, police did not believe his statement.
They were thoroughly satisfied that Jago
and Kynaston were the leaders Of an or
ganized scheme to rob the mails and car
goes of the steamship. Chief Officer Jago
fed the day Kynaston was arrested. The
next day, Saturday. several members Of
the B~ritannic's crew were arrested for
attempting to smuggle a quantity of val
liable lace ashore in the dirty linen of
the vessel.
From the time the smuggling scheme
was discovered, United States Commits
sioner Shields took an active interest in
the case. His detectives were detailed to
fathom the mystery of the coupons as
well as to secure Jago. who, it was learned
from one of the prisoners. was the leader
in the smuggling operations. The Secret
Service agents searched lagos rooms
abord the Britannia. but found no clue.
They found nothing that would verify
their suspicion that Jago and Kynaston,
or either one of them, had been guilty of
robbing the mails.
When they were through with their
search yesterday Chief of Police Murphy,
who was very anxious to secure evidence
on which to hold Kynaston sent Detec-
tive Prescott OF his staff to lagos room
to make a search. Prescott was more
successful than the Secret Service men.
He found just what the police and the
United States authorities wanted His
most important find was a key to the mail
room ON board the ship. He also found
a register receipt for three packages
which had been mailed Friday morning at
Station G, Bank and Hudson street. This
confirmed Information that the police had
that Jago had mailed three packages
shortly after the vessel arrived in New
York. The packages. the police believe,
contain money and other vaiuables stolen
from the mail on the trip over.
Chief Murphy has asked the postal au-
thorities to cable and intercept the pack
ages on their arrival in England on Fri
day next. Prescott next found three
pieces of wax candle of the very finest
make. fastened to a piece of board, also
a piece of sealing wax. These articles
We're probably used by Jago when open
ing the mail or robbing the cargo down
in the hold of the ship.
1t has been learned that the lace that
was smuggled ashore from the Britain
mic was a part of the cargo. A whole
case of lace was stolen by Jago and his
gang and the case was destroyed.
Chief Murphy also learned yesterday the
name of the owner of the stolen coupons
and the person to whom they were sent
through the mail. When Kynaston was
St1lCtitu d / VI Iltdt4Odll < vi /
day last by Detective Prescott and Pa
trolman Robinson. a number of papers
and letters were found in his possession.
One ship of paper had on it a name which
looked like Spanks, or Hanks. and the adj
dress. Hudson street, New York. chief
Murphy was satisfied that that paper was
in some way connected with the coupons.
He sent Detective Prescott to New York.
He then searched the directory and found
tina t. r.. Sparks. manager of the Anglo
Swiss CONDENSED Milk Co. was at No. 81
Hudson street. He visited Mr.. Sparks
and asked him if he had any coupons
sent him. Sparks replied that he had,
and showed the detective the lefter:-
10 Mark lane, London. e. O.,
July %, 1895.
F. R. Sparks. Esq, 81 Hudson street,
New York
Dear Sir-This mail will carry you
forty e.. S. bond coupons of SO each,
equal $500, the amoun of which please
turn oyer to the milk company for my
account.
GEORGE H. PAGE.
Mr.. Sparks did not receive his coupons.
Chief of Police Murphy viii today have
some representative of the British gov
eminent make complaint against Kynas-
ton for robbing the royal mail. AS the
Britannia flies the British flag and the
crime was committed on the high seas, it
is within the jurisdiction of the British
poverpm ant