The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-09
GARRETT FULL OF MAIL
SECOND REMARKABLE DISCOVERY
AT AN INDIANA POSTOFFICE.
Attic of the Building Used by the
Filled with UndeIivered Mail.

CINCINNATI, Jan. S.--The Enquirer says:
Another chapter in the poor conduct of
the postoffice at Georgetown, Floyd county,
Indiana, by it's late mistress has just come
to light A letter received yesterday at the
office of Postofice Inspector-in-charge
George Holden tells the details. Readers
will remember that about two years ago
complaint came to the inspectors Office stat
ing that there was mismanagement Of the
postoffice at Georgetown, and that it was be-
Iieved that not one-tenth of the mail re-
ceived there during the previous year had
been delivered. Postoffice Inspector w. T.
Fletcher was detailed to look into the mat
ter at once. He had no little trouble in
making the investigation.
The Office for fully twenty years had been
in charge of the Mottweler family. For
nearly ten years old man Mottweiler was
the postmaster and upon his DEATH dozen
years ago, his daughter Louisa, a maiden
lady we'll in the fifties, succeeded him. She
remained in charge until her removal two
years ago yesterday The postoffice during
all these years was located in a one-and-a-
half story frame house owned by the Mott
weilers The front part of the house was
devoted to the postoffice, the room back of
this was used as a sleeping apartment, and
attached to the rear of the house was
shed used for a kitchen. In the front room
the letter boxes were arranged in an 'L''
form, leaving a small square place in front
for inquirerS after mail Back of the boxes
there had been hung pieces of dark material
to prevent any one gazing into the room.
There was small-sized aperture through
which the business of the office was trans
acted. None of the oldest inhabitants of
Georgetown can remember ever having seen
the interior of this office except the Slight
glimDSPS q tyl1
the wicker window. So it was no wonder
that when Inspector Fletcher demanded adj
mittance 1t was refused. He showed his Gre
dentials, but Postmistress Mottweiler de-
cllned to recognize them. Seeing that moth
Ing was to be gained by argument, Inspector
fIetcher said that IT he was not admitted
forthwith he would make forcible entrance
This had the desired effect.
It was indeed q sight that met his gaze
after he got back of the partition. On the
floor, with scrupulouS nicely were piled
letters to the depth of fully a foot, and gave
the appearance of being so much cord wood.
The letters had been packed tightly, as the
postmistresS for years had walked thereon
In attending to the wants of the public On
top of this, at one side of the room, were
barrels boxes and articles of wearing APP
parel, all filled with mail matter. Inspector
Fletcher did not like the appearance of
Things by any means, as he did not relish
the idea of taking off his coat and going to
work at asserting the dirty and musty stuff
lie sWore IN two clerks, and they were or
dered to take all except the frst-class mat
ter and dump it under the trestle of the
Louisville, Evansville & st. Louis Railroad
where the inhabitants of Georgetown were
told to go to pick out their mail. AS this
made a diSagreeable mess, the Board of
Health OF the place ordered the stuff burned.
The hrst-clasS matter was assorted, and
much Of 1t given to the persons to whom it
was addressed Many. of the addresses had
long ago departed this world, while in many
instances old residents were given letters
sent them years and years before. Long
looked for letters from lovers were found
and the mysterious fate that had separated
such persons was explained at last but all
too late. One doctor received 257 letters
On Aug. 10, 1876, c. Jay French then SUI
perlntendent of the Fifth division railway
sent an order to the Georgetown postoffice
to do up and forward a certain package of
mail. The envelope containing the order
was found unopened. Mr.. French is now the
Company, with headquarters in Boston. In
all there were about fourteen carloads of
mail matter THAI had never been delivered.
inspector Fletcher was glad on finishing
turns out after a lapse of two years that
he has not. THIS, however must not be
taken as a reflection on him, as he is con-
sidered one of the most thoroueh and pains-
taking officers of the country. The letter re-
celved at division headquarters eXptalus IL
self. The letter was written by John II.
Sims, the present postmaster. The post
master states that he pulled a nail from a
door leading to stairway to garnet above
the old postoffice and found that place all
most completely filled with undelivered mail
matter that had become moldy. Postmaster
Sims says that the sight was an astonishing
one, FOR there are certainly four wagon loads
of mail matter stored there. He says that
he, in company with Postmaster Clipp and
David Kelly and john III. Thombs, the last
two being Miss Mottweiler's bondsmen, Wis
the badly mixed pile of mail Thus ends a
most remarkable case.