The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-07-23
TOR RoBnING THE MAILS,
James II. DOnnelly, Night Chief Clerk ut
 the PostofIice, Arrested.

the POstOflice, Arrested,
 At an early hour yesterday morning James H. Donnelly of 7S Winchester avenue, chief clerk of the night force at the postoflice, was arrested on the charge of stealing from the mails. He was caught in a very clever manner and some of the stolen property was found upon his person when searched.
 Numerous complaints have been re- ceived by the postof1lce officials of losses of money and valuable letters and a quiet but thorough and appar- ently successful hunt for the culprit or culprits was begun some time ago. The result was the arrest of yesterday. About month ago an effor: was made to detect the guilty party, but it was unsuccessful. After delaying for time sufficient to cause the thief to believe that the search had been abandoned, the same was again taken up and pur- sued to a successful end. A test let ter containing marked dollar bill and two quarters was posted early on Thursday evening. This letter was ad- dressed to a prominent Odd Fellow of this city and marked in care of his box at the postoffice. He has been the loser of sums of money at different times. Inspectors Joseph Bulman of Boston and w. I. Lewis of Westbrook, Conn.,, the latter an ex-member of the legisla- ture, have been working up the case and tho nraItt is tn fo, ie, very important capture.
 They had the key to this box and af- ter the mail in which this letter was placed had been assorted and distrib- uted they went to the box and found the letter missing. Some time after by a carefully laid plan the two inspectors surprised the four night clerks by ap- bearing at the rear door of the post office, while Postmaster HoWarth and Assistant Postmaster Futile appeared from another part of the building and, as it were, surrounded the men. Three of them were marched into Postmaster Howarth's office. The fourth one, who was Donnelly, was lying apparently asleep on one of the tables. He was approached, aroused by Inspector Lewis and told to go into the postmas- ter's office. He started and then said that he wanted to get drink. This privilege was granted him by MT. Lewis. On the way to where the water was the sharp inspector noticed Don nelly's hand move to his pocket and then from 1t to a large basket filled with papers in wrappers ready to be mailed. The drink was secured, the in spector keeping close watch, and Don nelly taken into the office, where he was searched. He was the first one searched and one of the marked quar- ters was found in his possession. The other men were searched but nothing discriminating found upon them. h. spector Lewis hadn't forgotten the sudden and suspicious move made by Donnelly as he passed the basket filled with papers on his way to get the | drink and calling Assistant Postmaster | Futile search through the basket was l instituted. The men were rewarded, for | in few minutes MT. Futile found the | marked dollar bill and the other quar- | ter.
 | A policeman was sent for and Don- | nelly taken to the central police sta 1 tion about o'clock. It is believed that all the missing letters contained silver money.
 l The accused is about thirty years old
 and has wife and one child. He has
 been employed in the local postofTice
 for about twelve years and received a salary of $1,000 year. His parents
 MT. and Mrs. James Donnelly, reside
 on Lyon street. The father is a coach
 man. He was asked to give bonds for
 his son, but refused, saying that he wanted to attend the preliminary hear
 ing first. This hearing has been sci
 for August 8. Donnelly was unable to
 secure the bonds of s1,500, and was sent
 to jail.