Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-09
BOLD POsT-OFFICE ROBBERY.
Thieves Make Big Haul at Old
Point.

NEWPORT NEWS. VA. August g.
(Special)-The Old Point post-office wa:
robbed some time after 10 o'clock las
twenty registered letters. the contents Of
which are unknown to Postmaster Kim
berry and his assistants.
The postal authorities have a strong
| clue to the cracksmen, who were evident
| ly professionals in their line, and hope 10
| effect an early capture.
This was the most daring post-office rob-
berry that has ever occurred in this sec
ton.
| The thieves, of whom 1t is reasonably
| certain that there were two, forced an
entrance to the new post-office some time
after 10 o'clock, shortly after the postal
force left the building, and repaired to
the office where the safe is kept. The safe
is a small affair only feet high, and not
Of modern manufacture. Postmaster Kim
berry had ordered a new safe, which was
at the depot at the time of the robbery,
waiting to be transferred to the post
office.
An examination of the safe this morn
ing showed that a 5-S-inch hole had been
drilled and tapped between the handle and
the combination. Instead of using dyna-
Elite the explosion Of which would surely
have attracted the attention OF some of
the people who are usually up to mid
night, the intruders screwed in a long eye
bolt, and with a lever in the eye of the
instrument forced the lock to pieces.
postmaster Kimberly very fortunately
removed $500 in cash from his safe Sa-
turday night to the safe at the Hygeia
Hotel for safekeeping. Had this step not
been taken, the burglars would have se-
cured this amount.
As soon as the robbery was discovered
this morning Postmaster Kimberly com
municated with Postmaster Fred. Read,
OF this city, ard the latter proceeded to
Old Point TO assist in the investigation.
On his way down to the Point, while
on the car Mr.. Read secured the clue,
which was strengthened by many state
ments, and on which the postal authorities
and police are now working. Mr.. Read
asked the conductor of the train If he had
heard of the robbery, and whether or not
he had noticed any suspicious persons
on his train since Saturday
The conductor recalled having seen two
men on his train, who acted in a suspi-
cious manner, and who were overheard to
remark about making a raid" on some
place. These men were on their way TO
Old Point about O'Clock Saturday eve
ming. The conductor remarked TO one Of
the passengers that he did not like the
looks of the men, and thought they were |
up to some mischief.
One of the men is described as being |
80 or 40 years of age, 100 pounds in weight, |
wearing light moustache, and three or
four days growth of beard. The other
was 10 or 20 years of age, tall and thin
with moustache. Both men were well.
but plainly, dressed.
Mr.. Read saw Mr.. Kimberly at Old
Point and the two made an investga-
ton into the circumstances surround
Ing the robbery. A guard on duty out
side Of the fort last night was summon
ed by Adjutant Phillips, and stated
that he saw two men acting suspicious
y about the reservation and tho de-
;cription he gave tailed that obtained
by Mr.. Read of the two men on the train
detective in the Office Of the Chief
If Police, at Norfolk, when called over
he telephone, stated that he had ar
ested two men answering the same de-
cription in that city last week and had
ordered them to leave Norfolk. One Of
he men, he said, had n glass eye He
hought it would be we'll to look for
hem in Newport News or vicinity