The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-27

was appointed the business dropped to
almost nothing. The facilities for work
ing a boycott were good on account OF
the suburban trains Suddenly the Dus-
mess of the Office increased and did SO
at such an astonishing rate that was
sent to investigate. The increased bust
ness had been going on about SIX
months before 1 called at the Office
which I found located in country store
just as most small offices are. The
postmaster was very affable and when
I asked him how it happened that so
small an office could do so much bust
ness. he explained the system without
dreaming that he had been doing any
thing wrong After the patrons OF the
Office established their boycott he began
to look around for some way in which
he could increase his business and he at
last thought of a great scheme There
was patent medicine firm in the city
which expended q. large amount of
money annually for postage, as they
mailed a great many circulars and
pamphlets, besides having an enormous
correspondence. The old mans scheme
was to trade stamps for medicine, which
the firm would mail their circulars,
pamphlets and such other matter
would not be delayed at his Office. This
had been agreed to and, of course, the
postmaster received credit for all the
stamps he Cancelled. The medicine,
which was at that time one OF the best
advertised remedies in the country, he
sold both [ his store and TO merchants
in surrounding towns think that he
gave the firm a. small discount on the
stamps but I never learned it to be a
fact. He had a regular bonanza and
was very angry when I told him he was
violating the regulations and would be
obliged to quit business He couldn't
see that he was doing wrong and. in
view of the boycott. I felt myself that
he was only balancing accounts made
my report, however, but never heard
anything more of it, I suppose his con-
gresham fixed the matter up with the
department.
Eyes, I had some peculiar experiences
during the time 1 was connected with
the department" he replied in response
to a question. land one of them was in
this state. There had been reports from
different pOStmaSterS along a certain
railroad that letters containing money
were missing, and frequently registered
letters would be delivered which, when
opened. would be minus a part of the
money originally enclosed 1t seems
easy to catch man who hampers with
a registered letter. but it is not such a
snap as one might suppose The regis
tiers that had been tempered with were
all from a great distance and had been
handled by many clerks. The outside
or registered. envelope did not show the
least sign of having been opened and
any clerk would receipt for it as being
in good condition. It would have taken
a long time to catch the man had he
not become careless and opened regis
tiers that came only a snort distance l
watched the reports and finally located
the man, a railway postal clerk, whom
I believed to be guilty then went to
Kansas City and registered a letter con-
tanning two ten dollar bills TO fictitious
name in town 1 will call Arthur. Ar
thur was located on a star route and
mail for that place was sent out from
a town on the line which the sus-
pected man worked I accompanied
the letter TO the town where it was
transferred to the suspected clerk and
then got on the same train which he
was on When We reached the town
from which the star route headed. I
went at once to the postoffice and was
present when the mail pouch from the
train was opened In it was the regis
tered letter apparently in perfect condi-
ton 1 opened it and found only one
of the bills. The letter which I had
written and enclosed with the bills stat
ing that there was $40 to apply on
bill had been changed to read SO and
the whole thing was done so neatly
could hardly believe my eyes. I got on
the train the next morning and went
back to the town which was the end of
the clerks run and, as he stepped from
his car took him in charge He broke
down after a. brief attempt at denial
and admitted to all of the thefts which
had been reported He belonged to a
good family and as all the money was
replaced and several congressman ex-
erted their influence in his behalf ne
never was prosecuted. / learned that
gambling was the cause of his down.
fall and. after his removal he went
from bad TO worse, until he was killed
in a saloon fight in Albuquerque"