Evening star., 1898-06-14
TRUSTED IMPLICITLY
Patent Cffics Messenger Scott How
ever, is Caught Robbing Letters.
some KEEN DETECTIVE WORK
Patience and Shrewdness Are Re-
Warded at Last.
GU LIP RIT MESS

Daniel U. Scott, for fifteen years a trusted
messenger in the office of the commissioner
of patents. was arrested this morning by
Post Office Inspectors Maxwell ana Ow-
ings, charged with stealing, embezzling and
destroying letters containing valuable in
closures addressed to the commissioner of
patents. When confronted with the evil
dence Scott broke down and confessed, de-
claring this was his second offense. He
was taken into custody and later will be
brought before United States Commissioner
Mills for a hearing.
For over a year the Post Office Depart
ment has been receiving complaints from
all sections of the country that letters a1-
dressed to the commissioner of patents and
ccntainir money had been lost. Diligent
search v as made when the first complaints
came in. but the number of cases coming
from all sections became so large that the
inNestiga ton took so many ramifcations
that success seemed hardly possible. Chief
Pest Office Inspector Hamlet, when he
came into office. Inherited the case, and,
additional complaints coming every now
and then. made 1t important that some
thing be done to check the stealing, which
was evidently well planned. and carried
out by some one familiar with the contents
Of the letters.
came for the most part from inventors as
government fees for their applications for
patents.
pwO inspectors Assigned to Work.
Chief Hamlet called Inspector Smith. in
charge Of the Washington division, into
conference. and they decided to put the
case in charge of two of their shrewdest
inspectors. Accordingly Inspector w. j.
Maxwell and Inspector D. c. Owings were
called into the case, and directed to spare
Eeither time nor expense in ferreting out
the guilty Darty who had canSel the
partment $50 much trouble.
They commenced first with investiga
ton of the city post office. and there being
so many clerks who handled the mail, it
was necessary to devote large amount of
time in the investigation there. Becoming
satisfied that the guilty party was not
enploye of the Post Office Department they
next turned their attention to the patent
office and traced the mail pouch through
the hands of several clerks, until finally it
came to the commissioner.
Implicit Confidence in Scott.
Here Daniel Scott, colored messenger,
was in the habit of opening the pouch and
Sitting the letters. That is, he took
sharp knife and opened one end of the en-
velope to facilitate the opening of the letter
when it reached it's destination. The in
spectors were told of the implicit conf
dence all the empIoyes of the office had in
Scott. In their investigation the inspectors
learned that the mail after it had been
partially opened by Scott went to the dis
tribution division, where it passed through
| the hands of five clerks, two OF them ladies,
before being assorted.
This involved careful watch all six
of the clerks and the inspectors worked
diligently. AT neon when the clerks would
go out they were followed and strong field
glasses were used to note every move with
out attracting attention.
Decoy Letters Sent.
Nothing developed, and yesterday it was
decided to set trap for all six, and then
| by a careful search of their persons locate
the guilty ole.
The inspector mailed four letters to the
commissioner of patents. each addressed
In a different handwriting and bearing
forged stamps of offices in different paits
of the country. In two of the letters s.
bills had been placed suitably marked in
the presence of witnesses. A 81 bill, also
marked, was inclosed in the third letter,
while a haf-dollar silver piece was inciosed
in the fourth. Tie letters We're put in the
pouch to be sent to the commissioner ot
patents. The inspectors went over TO the
department and waited for Scott to take
the mail to the distribution division Cor
assortment AS lie entered the door the III
spectors followed. The door was closed,
and then quietly, but firmly, they told all
the clerks to stand forward and put on the
| table in 'front.' of the inspectors all the
mcLey they had They were also directed
to remain standing.
Scott Caught, COnfesses.
| Scott, who was nearest the inspectors
| was the first to comply. He hurriedly ran
| his hand down in his pockets and with the
| mildest air of unconcernment took out
what money he had. The first bill was one
Of the marked s. greenbacks, and the sec
ond followed The inspectors Immediately
picked up the bills and examined them.
Yes they were the two mailed few hours
before TO catch the thief.
THAT will do" said the inspectors. 1.-THE
rest Of you may CO." addressing the clerks.
1t was not necessary to say it twice.
They were all gone in a moment, although
1t was thought the two ladies would swoon
| when 1t dawned upon them what had hap
pened.
Then Scott owned up. He admitted when
| questioned that he got the two IS bills out
of letters addressed to the commissioner of
patents, and that it was his second offense.
When asked what he had done with the
letters he replied that he had DESTROYED
them and thrown the particles in the waste
box. Search Of the box failed to disclose
the letters and then Scott admitted he
had thrown them down the water closet.
Belief That He Has Stolen Thousands.
The peculations of Scott, the inspectors
believe, have been going on for long
time, and 1t is estimated that he has
stolen thousands of dollars. 1t was COM
paratively easy for him to- carry on his
stealings. He disarmed suspicion by his
long and faithful service. and the implicit
trust the officials placed In him. His plan
was to arrive at the Office about an hour
earlier than the clerks and open the mail.
When he came across one with money in ii
he would abstract the letter. and, taking
out the money, destroy all evidence of its
receipt by the office. In this way he put
the suspicion on the Post Office Depart
ment. and for a long time evaded appre-
hension.
The post office inspectors regard his cap
ture as one of the most important in recent
years. They have no doubt Scott is respon-
sible for all the stealings.
To Answer Serious Charge.
julius Kissopky, O dealer in secondhand
goods. was today held by Judge Kimball
in $500 bail for the action Of the grand