The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-21
u. S. MAIL A G ROBBED.
THIEF RIFLED n NAIL WHFH
WAGON n ON n FERRHBoAT.

mad Opened the wagon Door with q False Mey
aad Cut Open the BnG-CauEht In the Act,
but Escaped from . Policeman Later-The
waEon wins on Eta way from w~eehawLen.
United States mail wagon go ratified down tho
floats aboard a ferryooat at Weehawken at 1O:45
o'clock on Saturday night. Driver Henry Sud.
myer pulled up in the middle of the carriageway
and got down to light his pipe and talk to his
horse. He had taken the mail from the 1890 West
Shore train. After putting It in his wagon he
had locked the door and the key was in his pocket,
so he felt perfectly secure. Soon after the ferry.
boat had moved out from tho slip tho driver OF q
wagon behind him came up to him quietly and
said: rs there ony one riding with you !"
NO" said the mail driver.
"Well.' replied the other, IT just thought IA
tell you; there's q mar at the door Of your
wagon"
sudmyer ran back. The door of the mail
wagon was open. and at It stood a rather well.
dressed man, who was handling q mail pouch.
What are you doing r. asked the mail driver.
That's all right" replied the man calmly.
go back to your horse. I'm an inspector"
The mail driver thought the inspection Of the
mails under those circumstances was irreEu.
lar, and he promptly grappled with the stranger.
The man offered no resistance. simply saying.
you'll find out all about It when we get to
New York" Sudmyer kept a firm grip on him
until this side of the river was reached. Then
he handed his prisoner over to q deckhand and
ran for q policeman.
He found Policeman James. Cavanaugh on
West street and took him back to the boat.
Leonard street station.
This is all n mistake, as you will find out
when we got to the station house" said the pris.
oner with assurance. So Cnvanaugh let 20 his
grip. and the ITO walked together up harrison
street,
At Greenwich street the policeman slipped on
the wet sidewalk ana fell. The mail robber
didn't whit to pick him up. BY the time Cav.
anaugh had got to his feet his prisoner had dis.
appeared in the mist. The policeman then went
70 the station house and reported his misad.
venture.
Meanwhile the mail driver. on searching tho
carriageway OF the ferryboat. had found d brass
key. the counterpart Of the one he carried to
lock his mail wagon, and a number of letters,
evidently dropped by the thief. The leather
mail pouch had been cut open.
The best description of the mail robber that
was given was that he was "a medium.sized
man. OF light complexion. well dressed, That
would 1T several men in Now York. Tho police
Thought that because no had a key which fitted
discharged mail driver. Tho superintend.
ent, Of the. mai. wagon service, however,
said that this theory was not supported
Sndmyer he said, had been q long time
IN the service: and would have recognized tho
thief Il he had ever been q driver. Besides, the
numbered. ana the one found was blank. Blank
Keys are In use ut all the postal sub-stations, tho
Mt these stations opening the doors OF
the mail wagons instead Of the drivers. The
policeman who let his prisoner escape. two do
~tectives from the Leonard street station. detec-
spector Ashes men spent allday yesterday Look
Ing for tho mail robber.