Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-10
POSTMASTER UNDER ARREST.
charged With Tampering With the
Nnils-Takeu In Flurrautc Crtmtue.

WlLkESBARRE, PA. March ED
ward +. Bogart, postmaster of Wilkes
barre, was arrested to-day, charged with
tampering with the United States mails.
About two months ago several complaints
were lodged with the postal authorities
az Washington that mail was disappear
ing, or that that which was received
bore evidence of having been opened by
a steaming process. The postal authori-
ties subsequently detailed two secret
service men ON the case. under orders
OF Inspector German. Last night. after
the mail from Baltimore and Washing
ton had arrived and been distributed.
BOgart entered the office, and was seen
to take several letters from the boxes
and then go into his private office and
carefully draw down a curtain. The
detectives went to the Office. and with
out the ceremony Of knocking entered.
and there found the postmaster seated
at his desk. on which lay three letters
addressed TO prominent businessmen of
this city. and all OF them opened Bogart
was taken before United States Commits
sioner Hahn where he gave bail in 1900
for appearance later.
Mr.. Bogart. besides being editor of the
Evening Leader OF this city, is a mem
Der of a large number of lodges. and for
the past ten or twelve years has been an
active member of the baseball associa-
ton. He is n brother Of the late Joseph
X. Bogart gentleman who was promi-
nent IN Democratic county aud State
politics. and at the time OF his death
was postmaster
FREQUENT COMPLAINTS.
II. b. Gregory. one of the post-oflice
inspectors from Washington who helped
10 make the arrest, stated TO n representa-
tive Of the Associated Press that he came
here on Monday morning, and had been
at work on the case ever since. Frequent
complaints had been made to the postal
authorities AT Washington as to irregu-
larities in the Wilkesbarre office, and Mr..
Gregory said thorough investigation had
shown that the allegations made were
true.
Mr. Gregory would not divnlge the
names Of those who made the complaints.
but did not hesitate to say that the evil
dence was ample 10 cause the arrest and
establish the proof of the charges made
Deputy German is in charge Of the post
Office for the present.
Postmaster Bogart would not be inter
viewed, but i'm his paper. the Evening
Leader. tonight appears the following
BOGARTS E\BlANAIlON.
There are always two sides TO a ques-
ton. and when there are three or four
fellows and one or two in particular
clamorng for political Office, and
hungry for the emOumcnts attached
thereto. there are sure TO be schemes
worked and plans formed to entrap the
incumbent, cause his removal, ard punish
him otherwise, even If nothing further
ensucs than the annoyance and chagrin
that the accomplishment Of their under
hand work imposes When the diabolical
schemers are fully shown up. and their
nefarious trickery exposed, there isN
question as TO which side will furnish the
racest reading"
The inference to be drawn from the
above Is that BOgart imagined himself
the victim Of a conspiracy TO GUST him
from the postmastership. and he opened
letters TO Republican politicians.