The times., 1898-12-11
posroFF1cE MONEY LOST.
Clerk RidacIy Believes He MAJ Have
Beca Rohhcd.

=
Henry Ridgeiy, clerk In the city post
office. yesterday reported TO the local de-
tective, through the postoffice inspector.
that he had lost, or there had been stolen
from him. $3.50, in five and ten-dollar bills.
The money was missed from his person
about 10 O'Clock yesterday morning and
was lost either in the National Me.ropol-
itan Bank or on the street between that
institution and the city postoffice. Ridge
ly did not discover the loss until he ar
rived at the later place. The money was
the property of the Postoffice Depart
ment. Detective weedon was Immediate
ly assigned to the case and is endeavorinG
to locate the missing currency.
Ridgely stated to the detective when
questioned by him that the money had
been contained i'm long official enve,ope.
The envelope he said. had been paced III
the inside pocket OF his coat. In the same
pocket was a largeb ook which fitted
tightly. the upper portion of it protruding
slightly above the top of the pocket. He
thought that in placing the envelope in
the pocket he felt the edge of 1t with his
fingers. but said that he might have been
mistaken in this. and instead inserted the
envelope between the pages of the book.
He admitted that when he buttoned his
coat over it there was possibility of its
having slipped out and been lost.
Mr. Ridgely lives with his parents at
1119 Street northwest. He is thousand
dollar clerk in the postoffice and acts as
a receiving teller in the money order d.
vision When seen at his home last night
he stated that he was at a loss 10 account
for the disappearance or the money. He
did not know whether he had lost Ii or
been robbed. He advanced no theory IT
was customary. he said, for someone con-
nected with his office to go TO the clearing
house with money to take up the money
orders which came in after being cashed
or deposited by holders at the different
banks
This duty generally devolved upon Mr..
Hunt but in the event of Mr.. Hunts alb
sence it was customary for Mr.. RidGeiy
to perform it. 1t is never known con-
tinued Mr. Ridgely, lust how large an
amount is required TO take up the money
orders when leaving the pos Office. AS you
can understand, the amount necessarily
fiuctuates. Yesterday morning when l
started out / had $2,0C9 in an envelope. l
went 10 the clearing house and took up
money orders to the amount of S1,2i0. The
balance $3.50. l replaced in the envelope,
together with an English money order for
Size The envelope ] placed in my pocket,
ms ] supposed. There was quite crowd
in the bank when I left. and al the door
in particular there was jam. ! expe-
rienced a little difficulty in making my
way to the street and l was slightly jos
tied by the crowd. heard man give
expression to an oath because of his diff
ficulty in getting through the crowd. l
paid no particular attention to him and
merely mention this as an incident. do
not remember whether my coat was but
toned or not.
Il went Immediately TO the postofiiee,
and it was not until my arrival there that
discovered the loss of the money. / re-
ported it at once TO the postoffice inspector
and later inserted an advertisement in The
newspapers for the return of the money.
Mr.. Ridgeiy had not acquainted his
parents with the story of his misfortune
and stated that he did not care TO have
them learn of It. He seemed apprehensive
of the worriment that would be brought
upon them He observed the greatest reti-
cence, saying that 1t was an official mat
ter. The loss, he said, was his own, mas
much as he would have to make II good
The story, with its meager detail, waa
CLEANED from Mr. Ridgely only after ply
ing him with questions. He felt deepl,
chagrined over the unfortunate mishap.