Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-25
TOOK LETTERS OUT.
DEIIVERY-CLERiI LACY CHARGED
WITH RoBBING THE MAIL.
CASE WORKED UP BY INSPECTORS.
Complaint Tint Many Remittances
TO Father Donovan Were interrupt
Surprise
Surprise.

Mr.. Thomas w. Lacy. who, for the
past three years has held various posi-
tions of trust and responsibility in the
Richmond post-ofiice was arrested yes
terday morning shortly after 10 o'clock,
charged with stealing mail.
The arrest was made by Post-Ohice
Inspectors ID. c. Owlngs and Thomas
Troy. who have been in the city for
several days, and who had Mr.. Lacy
under close surveillance since Friday
morning. The arrest caused a profound
sensation at the post-ofiice, where young
Lacy was eminenuy popular, and liked
and respected by the officials, as well as
by the clerks and carriers The prisoner
protested his innocence in the most en-
phatic terms. and explained in a ve.y
plausible way the circumstances which
aroused the suspicion of the inspectors.
Innocent or guilty, Mr.. Lacy has a strong
chain of circumstantial evidence to over
come. but his friends all express the ut
most confidence in his ability to clear
himself.
WORK OF THE INSPECTORS.
The inspectors say they came to Rich
mond to investigate complaints made by
the Rev. Thomas Il. Donovan, priest Of
St. Joseph's Catholic church, that mis-
mail was being tempered with, and THAI
frequently in the past contributions of
money intended to aid the work of his
church among the colored people, had
been intercepted. These contributions
were formerly sent in currency, but owing
10 the leak, they came lately in the
shape Of money-orders and checks. Great
numbers of these letters have been stolen,
and the populations were traced to the
Richmond office
The inspectors came TO The city and
worked for several days without making
known their identity. Yesterday morning
they were at their posts as early as Z
O'Clock, watching the movements of Mr.
Lacy who was the general delivery clerk.
They saw him take q packet of letters
from Box SCI. the box rented by Father
Donovan, and later saw him take other
box mail. At 1910 o'clock they placed
him under arrest, and searching his desk
discovered a number of letters, including
a decoy addressed 10 Father Donovan, IN
pne OF the drawers.
MR.. LACY'S EXPLANATION.
Mr.. Lacy was carried to the postmas-
ier's office. where he protested his inno-
sence, and he was later given in charge
Df the Inltou states MdlSnil.
To a reporter who interviewed him, Mr..
lacy stated that he was in the habit OF
delivering mail through the general-de-
livery window TO parties who had boxes
ut the post-ofiice. but who had either lost
or broken their keys. Often well-known
merchants their Office boys and messen-
gers would come and ask II there was
,ny mail IN their boxes. and request that
il be handed them through the general
delivery window.
Yesterday, ne said. gentleman asked
II there was any mail for him in Box Sol.
He got the mail and started TO hand IL 10
him. when the gentleman said he meant
Box CT. and not Sci. Mr.. Lacy says he
carelessly tossed the mail he had in his
hand on his desk, TO be redeposited later
and then took the mail from Box 81 for
the gentleman. When he returned TO his
desk he saw that the pile Of nail he
threw there was about - get mixed |
with a lot OF dead-letters. reports, and |
other communications he was PREPARING |
70 forward 10 Washington, and so he |
dropped the mail In one of the drawers of |
his desk until ne could set time 10 put 1t |
back in SCI He was very much surprised |
10 be arrested by the post-ofiice inspec-
tors a few minutes later.
ESTEEMED BY THE OFFICERS.
Mr.. Lacy is about q years old. He was
appointed in the post-ofiice about three \
years ago by Mr. Cullingworths and has
worked faithfully and we'll. lie assisted
Mr.. Crenshaw. deputy postmaster under
the old administration, and acted sCme-
what in the capacity OF secretary, both /
10 Mr.. Crenshaw and 70 Mr.. John Grubbs
his successor. By both these gentlemen
he was sincerely liked and trusted impli~
city.
Mr.. wray T. Knight. the present post
master says he has always esteemed Mr..
Lacy as most efficient and faithful
clerk, and was profoundly surprised TO
bear OF his arrest.
Mr. Lacy was married recently and
lives IN Manchester.
Messrs Owings and Troy returned 10
Washington on the noon train.
BEFORE THE COMMISSIONERS.
Lacy was carried before United States
commissioner Flegenhcimer for pre-
hminary hearing. but the case was post
poned until Tuesday. In the mean time