The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-01-21
Postoff|cs Employees Got vaIu-
able Packages for a Song
AT THE DEAD LETTER OFFICE.
"Eic :, Following Statement 10 CaiaIogus
Meant That Package Contained Valuable
PrOpsTIy-A Trap SET.

Washington, Jan 2l-R G. Walton,
Miss Lillian r.. Brown. Charles Albert and
Charles Hardlne. clerks In the dead-letter
division OF the post-office department,
have been discharged.
Every year the government holds a sale
OF dead-lettcr packages similar TO the
sales the express companies hold of un-
claimed packages. Postmastcr-Gs
Smith received an intimation that there
was scheme in practice by which clerks
I'm his department secured valuable pack
ages for nominal bids, they or their con-
lederates preparing the catalogues so
that only those'on the inside would know
of the. existence Of The valuablcs
The usual plan WAS 20 put the word
"etsf after description of a package.
Thus the c0taogue, would read 'one
pair OF shoes. one apron one pair of rub
bers, etc.
When the word "etc" was used some
OF the dead-lettcr Office clerks would bid
nigh. IN addition clerks marked cata-
logues with red and blue pencils. the
red marks meaning valuable" and tho
blue mark very valuable" In this way.
because they knew just when TO bid.
they secured property worth hundreds OF
dollars for trivial sums.
After considering the matter Mr. Smith
on December 10 called ia Chief Inspector
Cochrane, First Assistant Postmaster
General Johnson and Fourth Assistant
Postmaster General Bristow. They
planned 10 rap the clerks engaging IN
inspectors from out OF town were called
In and directed 20 attend the sale Of dead
letters held IN auction rooms la This city.
None or the local inspectors VAS ein-
plOycd On the case for fear of arOusing
the Suspicion Of the clerks
Two clerks from the department were
behind The counter conducting the sale.
while in front were TWO other Mcrks.
catalogues IN hand. ready 60 bid IN the
valuable ,sia;d packages When package;
the, inspectors thought the time ripe 10
make test
According TO the catalogue. the pack
age coptained Pair of boy = shoes
q l-2l six women's handkerchiefs. pair
ot -s+t+----f--,- 81 - -
Despite the fact thai these articles were
OF little Valuel one OF the clerks con-
tinued 10 raise the inspectors bid. but
the lot was finally knocked down 10 the
inspector at $3.50 An examination Of the
lace and jewelry valued at $lo
The man who had bid against the In
the dead-letter office, and was believed
In have had hand IN arranging the sale,
so IL was decided 10 arrest him.
\ the conclusion of the sale on the
shoulder by an inspector and requested
10 go 10 the post-office department.
Under his arms We're numerous bundles
that he had purchased. Ia his possession
was found catalogue of the sale. with
some. items marked with red and blue
pencils.
The clerk was pressed and finally nld
all he knew OF the scheme for profting
by the dead-letter sales. The inspectors
followed the other sales through 10 the
end, carefully noting all the bidders.
The scene OF the plot was located I'm
the property-room. on the third floor.
where all the unclaimed packages OF
merchandise ind their way There are
numerous clerks in and about this di-
vision.
As result OF the investigation that
has been in progress ever since. a con-
sultatipn OF officials was held and "A de-
cision reached TO make the dismissals
The Investigations will continue, and
IL Is promised that the dead-letter office
Will be reorcanized.
While the scheme aims at fraud. vet
no law has been found as yet by which
the offenders can be tried