The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-28
BAGGAGEMAN'S FAILING
HE HAD A PASSION FOR READING
OTHER PEOPLES LETTERS.
Didn't Steal Much Money,.but Ii Said
to Have Destroyed Drafts and
Checks Worth Thousand.

CHICAGO. May 1.-THE Chronicle says:
An innate desire to investigate the written
contents of letters intrusted to his care as
b-aggageman of a Michigan Central train,
running between Chicago and Grand Rapids,
was the cause of the downfall Of Len s.
Washburn. who is now in the custody of
the United States postal authorities,
charged with robbing mail sacks of portions
of their contents. Such is the reason he
himself gives. The prisoner has been in the
employ of the Michigan Central Company
for eighteen years. and was regarded as a
trustworthy and expert baggageman. He
has made his home in New Buffalo. and is
said to be the only support of two elderly
sisters. He had a hearing before United
States Commissioner Mason. and after ad-
hitting his guilt was held TO appear before
the federal grand jury in bonds to the
amoun of $3.50. Being unable to furnish
s~ureties to this amount he was given into
the custody of the United States marshal
and locked up in the county jail. There he
will remain until fall at least, as he was
held to the October grand jury.
1t is stimated by Major Stuart, postal in
spector, and his assistants, James ]. Lar
mour and d. E. Fraser, that Washburn
opened fully $1,000 letters during his TRIP S
from Chicago and Grand Rapids since o.
tober, 1897. He claims that he did not profit
in a financial way through his misdoing, but
was prompted by an uncomfortable desire
i to read AID the the contents Hs of every sT Letter given IN
money will not exceed 500. but this portion
of his confession is doubted by the postal
Washburn riled letters containing 81 in two
days, in addition to $2 in marked bills.
which were found in his possession at the
time OF his arrest.
The prisoner was most submissive when
taken before the United States commits
sioner. When the postal officials had I'm
the methods which he had adopted to take
letters from the pouches, Washburn ad-
mitted everything, and asked to be tried i'm
mediately and sent 10 the penitentiary with
out delay. In the written confession. which
was offered in evidence. but not made pub
lie. the prisoner admitted that he had re-
moved a lock from one of the pouches and
shop.
Washburn denied that ne had made a prac-
tice OF stealing money from the letters
which he opened. Some Of the communica-
tons. he said. were so pathetic that he in
closed the money in another envelope and
forwarded them to the address given. AL
most a score of such letters. which had been
writing, were offered in evidence at the
hearing. Washburn acknowledged further
letters and others Of a touc6ins nature
This form OF mania, he said. had continued
for over eighteen months.
Although IL may be true that Washburn
stole no more than $500. the postal authori-
ties claim that he destroyed drafts and
checks amounting to several times that
sum. While he may have secured money
and money orders which, when converted
into cash. amounted to $1,000 or 1900. and
amount reaching $1,000, it is estimated that
he destroyed commercial paper represent
ing thousands OF dollars. On April 1. of this
year, the government abolished the system
of waving Identification on the signature
on the back Of money orders. Consequently,
since April j, Washburn has not carried on
a thriving business. Prior 10 that time IL is
estimated that In six cases out of every ten
Identification was waived on money orders.