The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-12-14
LETTERS OR NO VALUE.
Queer Practice of Saco
Bank Clerk.
Arrested and Brought to Portland
for Stealing Letters.
Did 1t For No Apparent
Purpose.
Has Been Nan of Good Habits
and Church Worker.

Biedsfcrd, Dtc,mber 13.-Carl {.
Parcher, clerk In the York National
bank, Saco, was arrested last evening by
post offise inspector for taking mail
from the box of James 4. harper In the
Saco post Office. MIR. Harper Is assis-
tant cashier In the York National pank,
and his privnt, box In the post cffico is
near that of the bank. 1t 10 alleged that
Parcher opened the banks box and BY
reaching his arm through, could abstract
mail from Harper's box.
For about year. Mr.. Harper has been
missing letters of a certain kind. He IL
clerk for the fire Insurance. companies In
| York county, and all insurance agents
send their daily reports Of policies written
to him for stamping. lie forwards the
reports to the cou psniss. Reports Of this
kind enclosed In large envelopes are the
ones that have been missing, There was
no money contained In them and the OBJ
ject of the person taking them has been q
my tery from the first, unless 1t was TO
make trouble for MIR. Harper and dis
credit him with ths insurance companies.
theory advanced by friends OF
Par cher since his apprehension IL that he
is insane. He is Q son of sumner G.
Parchsr, cashier of the York National
blnk, and his family Is one Of the most
prominent and highly respected In Saoo.
His age is about 60. He was married
about two years ago, and has been an
active member of the Free Baptist
church.
| Parchsr has always Deen young man
Of good habits. His position In the bank
was one of some responsibility and there
had never been q hint Of doubt m to his
ensir hone sty. In church work he was
| been prominent, being q regular atten-
dant at Sunday school as well as the
meetings Of the Christian Endaavor So
oiety and other meetings. He holds the
position of secretary and treasurer Of the
Thornton Aea.emy alumni association,
having graduated from the a-a1emy In
1895. Socially aud In business way he
ba, been considered thoroughly reliable
young man.
The strange and una ,countable difap-
psa-anoe of letters belonging to J. I.
Harper tas bothered that gentleman for
the last year aud during the past few
weeks, an Investigation has been quiet
| ly carried on By the inspectors DEPART
ment of the post Office
The work Of the post Office inspection
del artment finally showed that the loss
of the letters occurred after they reached
Saco. The Saoo post office employees were
naturally deeply concerned In the natter,
aud they aud MIR. Emerson bent every
effort to aid in unIayelling the mystery.
Finally the dsooy letter plan was tried.
Envelopes like those the insurance
agents use, having Mr.. Harpsr's name
aud address printed on them. were
marked and put into the mail. They
went through the regular channels and
were deposited In Mr.. Harper's post
offios box in Saco.
As to just wha. pok place last eve-
ming, accounts differ, aud some degrees of
secrecy is maintained by those directly
concerned. Carl Paroher, however. went
to the office at the close of the Tuesday
evening prayer meeting. and was de-
tained there by the inspector. Mr.. Har-
psr's box Is just above that of S. G.
Parohsrs In which the York bank mail
Is put
Early this morning, the Mesns. Parcher,
with Hampton Fairfield, the post office
inspector and Marshal Thomas went to
Portland. After conference with Unit
ed States District Attorney Dyer, Carl
Parcher was arraignsd before United
States Commissioner Bradley, and plead
cd not guilty. He waived examination
and was bound over In the sum Of $1,000
for appearance at the February term Of
the United States district court for trial
The necessary sureties we're furnished
by S. q. Parcher.
Regarding the arrest, James I. Harper,
when seen In the York National bank,
declined to make any statement. He said
that he had been losing letters for some
time, but he did not care to discuss the
matter. The postmaster. the inspector
Marshal Thomas and John L. Emerson
we're equally reticent.
Hampden Fairfield, president Of the
bank, said that In order to stop the
circulation ofvarious extravagant stories
about the trouble, be was willing to make
q statement.
"The long and short OF it Is, said Mr..
Fairfield, "that Carl has been taking let
ters from Mr.. Harper's box and destroy
Ing them. Whatever induced him to do
10, don't know, and he says he doesn't.
IL seems as II he Was aotuated by an In
sane desire to take those letters simply
| because he had . chancs.
"He says the first time he took letters
- hn~ hvp HI In.
from his own boz was whom he was with
Mr.. Harpsr's young son. The boy did
not have key TO his fathers box and
fskei Carl to reach In and take his
mail for him out Of Mr.. Harpsr's boz.