Evening star., 1898-07-30
OLD STAMP ROBBERY
A Clerk in the Chicago Post Office has
Skipped.
Supposed to Have stolen $4,000 From
the GOvernment-Prebab
Second Onense,

| in the Chicago post Office. A total of IO0.-
600 1-cent stamps have been stolen and the
thief-a trusted official of the post Office at
Chicago-has decamped.
1t is an interesting story. this theft. and
shows deep cunning on the part of the
| cuiprit and skillful work on the part of the
officials here.
In 1896 the stamp agency here in Wash
| ington was notified by the Chicago post
Office that 1t was short in 1 and 2-cent
| stamps that IT was short in i and 2-cent
for 1900 worth of 1-cent stamps and
*iVoO worth of 2-cent stamps. After the
usual red tape the consignment was made
and the postmaster at the windy city,
charged with 5000.
A short time elapsed when a telegram
came from the Chicago office announcing
a mistake in the shipment Instead Of
S4,oVo worth Of 2-cent stamps but 81 600
worth had been received. A letter follow
ing the telegram announced the mistake
evidently due. to one package which while
purportfng to contain 2-cent stamps really
contained 1-cent stamps. The shortage was
Ioooeo, or representing $1,000. The stamp
agency here denied absolutely making the
error, and the bureau of engraving and
printing,showed conclusively it was impos-
slpie Tor II to have made such a big mis-
take The case dragged for some time un-
vi nnaliy 1t was dropped and the postmas-
| ter allowed credit for 1900 which he
averred he never received
officials Here Not Satisfied.
But this I'D not satisfy the officials here.
While they could not prevent the entry
which balanced the postmaster's account,
| trey nevertheless believed there had been
| stealing somewhere along the line. No
| postal inspector at that time was even
| called in to investigate, and soon the mat
Yer was forgotten But the stamp agency
| mere felt the stigma that had been put up
| on 1t by the action OF the department and
| the contention of the Chicago postmaster,
| and resolved TO change materially the
| method of checking, SO that in the future
| 1t would be practically impossible for such
a mistake to occur.
This is the way he arranged IL. When
| an order came in for 1-cent stamps he re-
| quired that the seal Of the agency inclos-
| ing the package be of the corresponding
cclor OF the stamps. This was also re-
| qufred of the other denominations He
| even went further, checking with a corre-
| spending colored pencil the packages His
| labor seemed in vain, for months lapsed
into years and no discrepancies occurred.
Inc Chlcago office was particularly watch
| ed, put the clean reports and the even way
| the office had of doing business disarmed
suspicion, and pretty soon the incident of
1896 was almost entirely forgotten.
Similar Requisition.
snort time ago, just summer came
| along, requisition came from the Chicago
once for stamps. 1t was for exactly the
same amount as had been asked in 1896
and the agency clerks here were reminded
| of the incident once more. The superin-
tendent, as was his custom, continued to
check with the stamp colored seal and the
colored pencil. The stamps were senr awav
| by the next express and for weeks nothing
was heard One day toward the latter
part OF June telegram arrived at the
Post Office Department announcing a mis-
take OF S2,OoO in the amount of stamps
sent 1t was from the Chicago office and
the suspicion that had been smoldering
since 1896 broke out into a flame. Tele.
graphic Inquiries disclosed the fact that
the loss was identical with the one of two
years ago.
A package of 100000 two-cent stamps had
turned cut to be package of one-cent
stamps Was it mistake this time? the
ofncials asked each other. The STAMP
agency said no, and followed up its denial
with request that the bundle be immedi-
ately returned. After a few days back
came the bundle purporting to be the orig
ina1 package without even the seal broken
On the iirst glance it did look as if a mis-
take had occurred, and the post office OIL
Gals thought there could be no doubt of
It, Not so with the stamp agency.
Inc superintendent saw a ia glance his
pencil mark stopped short where the en-
circling stamp met it. This was strange
since ii had always been his distinct pur-
pose to have the pencil mark run entirely
through the stamp. more minute inves-
tigation disclosed the fact that the binder
stamp was not of the proper color-that IL
DID not agree with the color of the pencil
mark A magnifying glass showed that
the original stamp had been covered by
another stamp and that the package had
certainly been opened. These views were
communicated to the proper officials and
the department Immediately Instituted an
investigation through one Of the post office
inspectors.
An Inspectors investigation
AT first be said there could not possibly
be anything In the case Had not a clerk
In the Chicago Office called him in one day
when opening a package of stamps, and
showed him through the ends the denomi-
nation of the contents, and had he not
with his own eyes seen, after his attention
had been called to ii by the clerk that the
enclsciing stamp had not even been
broken? He explained further how the
clerk in question had called his particular
attention to the package, with all its
markings, and how he had satisfied him
that the stamp had not been broken. When
short time afterward the superintendent
OF the stamp agency had demonstrated
how it was possible to take another stamp
off broken package and substitute it, the
inspector saw more light.
Then the question was asked, why had
this clerk simply opened the ends OF the
package and looked in, when any one else
would have boldly broken the package; and
why was ii the clerk had taken such pains
to call In the inspector and demonstrate to
him the condition of the package?' 1t was a
clear case, the officials thought case of
bold robbery-and the clerk should be ar
rested. The inspector was hurried to Chi
cago. He talked the matter over with the
clerk at the latter's house on Saturday
night. Monday morning the clerk did not
show up at his desk. When the inspector
called at his house it was found he had
skipped, leaving wife and child, and had
taken with him at least 81 900 belonging to