Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-08-11
MAY EE THE SAME CROOKS
one Gnug Robbed RI~ssic's store aud IN,
Old Point Posto office,

The same professional craftsmen
who attempted TO blow open the safe
OF Nir. J. w, Mesic. the Twenty -cighlh
street Sroceryman. recently. are the
men who entered the Old Point post
ONCE late Sunday night. forced open
the safe and made way with s. 400 in
stamps 500 in cash ana Il number of re-
Sistered letters, whose contents are UNI
known to the postal authorities.
Ihis. at least. is the conclusion rcach-
Dy those who are interested III ascer-
tanning the wherea bouts OF the postof-
nee robbers. and there are indications
which support the theory.
Tile condition of Mr.. AIesc's safe
when he examined it Sunday morning
jury "A. showed that two means had
deem used iii forcing the outside door.
inerc We're TWO holes bored and tapped
hcar the combination handle. From
the nature OF the tools left behind by
ING burglars, it is evident that /. first
al'Hinnt was made to force the safe
lock III the same manner employed by
ti:c Ola Point pos Loiiice robbers.
'Ihe 81 tie zoos left behind was Il long
eye holt similar TO chat used to break
open Postmaster Nimher!y.'s safe BY
Inserting this bolt and using 4 lever the
D"fG!aiS' end was accomplished n, Old
Point. but ut Mr.. MeEic'ss store it seems
mat this method did not work as quick
~ US desired and the intrutiers res1rted
TO dynamite with the result that tn,
explosion made too much noise for
them and they fled.
it is a coincidence worthy of note
til"t tie cricksinen selected sunday for
:heir work in both INSTANCES The diff
fe4cnr" in time selected is easily ex
pi2ned. In the case uI ,h@ AIesic at
!a:i they knew that The store would be
closed o;l Sunday and selected :. ,,'cio&k
IN the morning IS the most convenient
'ime. In The case Of The t;ld Point
rcstot''cc robbery, it "uuld not have
done to enter the office in the early
morning hours as Inc postal force
:" uia enter upo, their duties for the
Gay 1T Il or { O'Clock 1t was after the
clerks left the Office Sunday night that
III" er;,rksii:en planned their job and
executed it without Interference
There is cha i'll of circumstances
witch seems to fasten the crime upon
t;t@ ,Mo men Who are believed To have
entered Mr.. Mesic's store. Tho names
- these i:lcn are not known. hul il is
learned that 1hey have PASSED under
the aliases Of William Kelly. Of New
York ana Fr.d Wagner. OF Wasn;ls-
ION. . 4
ON making thc'. flight from this city
IL is believed that these men Went to
Norfolk. This was on Sunday. July
u. Three days later their actians
aroused tiie suspicious Of the Norfolk
detectives; and they were arrested ana
lie'd in jaii Ter ten days. one of the
men had a glass eye.
Nothing farming mp to warrant th,
detention Of The prisoners amy longer
tt"y We're released uH the morning Of
august e. Or course. they shook Nor
folk and tn" presumption is that lhey
vent To Ole Paint and from there 10
pioenus. probably remaining there
Willie they planned the robbery of the
postolfice. On the following night the
safe was ee~aHde Rt,stnaster KAnh-.
er!y lost the equivalent Of $500.
Postotiice Inspector Wilson. who came
down from Washington several days
:.;s". 20 see Postmaster Reid Oh bust
nc:'S. has been assigned 10 the case ard
Is now following up several clues, the
.,ra mentioned being The strongest.
y reward OF $l"o has heeti offered Cor
!la arrest and conviction oi III. guilty
pesties.
Hthe new safe for the Old P,Gint post
Office. which WAS At the dcpn: when the
&i& ssiG Wcs inhl,ea. was 100, in place
IN the Office yest,rilay afternoon.