Sunday morning globe., 1901-09-01
A Wealthy WIDOW
And Her Experiences With Chief
Clerk Speich,
MAIL DEPRECIATION DIVISION
or tho Pusl-Oifoe-A Systematic Plan Suo-
oo8siulJ Carried Ou by Mr. SpoIOh Whereby
He Rode In His Carriage with a CoIOred
COachman- Managed the WondrOus Farm
and Collected Considerable Doodle.

The chief clerk of the mail depart
ment in the Postofice is a foreigner or
Swiss named Emmanuel speich. This
official is afflicted with the usual di-
sease Of chief clerks and Department
chiefs-he imagines he owns the office
and that the clerks under him have NO
rights or privileges he is bound to re-
spect In addition to Mr.. Speich's ten
dency to make it disagreeable foI
Americans holding positions under
him, he has branched out and taken
into camp widows on the outside, tC
their great loss financially and other
wise trouble Of spirit and annoyance
The Globe has made a careful inves
tigation Of the following facts, which il
lays before the Postmaster.G General foI
such action as that official may choose
to take. Here is the story:
Mr.. Spiech secured a position in the
Government service some years ago in
the Treasury branch. Recently he Sc
cured a transfer to the Postoflce De
partment and his present position as
chief clerk Of the Mail Depreciation di
vision. Mr. Speich has served in the
Sixth Auditors Office where, no doubt
he learned the peculiar ideas he has
since put in force Of grabbing any and
everything he could lay hands on, in
side or outside the Department OF
course, in purely legitimate way, foI
Mr.. Speich is a stickler for law and
keeps within its protecting folds, being
thoroughly conversant on the criminal
statutes of his adopted country.
Now, Mr.. Speich is a neighborly man
and likes the acquaintance Of wealthy
people, especially widows, In the sum
mer Of 1889, so the story goes, Mr.
speich formed the acquaintance Of a
wealthy German lady named Mrs. H,
This lady had recently lost her hus.
band, who had left her financially com.
Portable. The widow had two daugh.
ters, one of whom was married but
separated from her husband. This lady
had little boy whom the grandmother
idolized. The whole family lived hap
PLY together at 41S Spruce street N
W. in a fine residence, which the wild
ow purchased. The widow, besides
owning stocks, bonds and other securi.
ties, had a magnificent farm near Alex.
andria, Va, valued at over $4,000. The
farm was well stocked and paying
handsome dividends on shares. The
widow had in addition valuable prop.
erty in Chicago and Michigan.
1t is unnecessary to state that Mr.
Speich was thoroughly conyersant with
these facts In fact, Mr. Speich cast
enyious and longing eyes on the broad
acres across the river, and hungered
for a share in the widows riches. But
how to obtain the same and keep with
in the law and his Government job
was a problem that sorely puzzled Mr.
Speich
Mr.. Speich was patient, and as every
thing comes to him who waits, his
time arrived, and that Mr. Spiech EN-
braced his opportunity goes without
saying
The mother Of the little boy died
Her name was Mrs. Rowell. This was
a severe shock to the widow but Mr.
Speich was on hand to offer cOnsola
tlOn. He was most assiduous and help
full in this period Of gloom in assuag
ing the sorrows Of the household. Now
Mr. Speich was studying hard all thii
time to make his first move. OF course
he had a well-matured plan-trust the
chief clerk OF the Mail Depreciation di
vision OF the Postoffice for that. He
sprung It one soft evening, when the
old German lady was in a pensivC
mood, hugging her little grandson t
her bosom, and seeing In his innocent
face the image Of the daughter she hat
lost. Speich, with great sorrow In his
manly voice, almost choked with emo
tion, informed the widow that the farm
in Virginia needed the attention or 9
man OF affairs; that Fletcher who wal
running Il needed looking after anC
that her revenue for such valuable land
was ridiculously small. He suggested
names OF mutual acquaintances from
whom to select, Il should be mention
ed that by this time Mr. Speich haC
the entire and absolute confidence o
the widow and her remaining daugh
ter. Finally the widow asked II h
(speich) could not look after her in
interests. He took night to consider
the proposition. Mr.. Speich is a care
full man and never does anything rash
" or without mature deliberation. II
fact, Mr.. spiech, having the game vel
in hand. took his time, but he consent
ed. did Mr.. speich. and took over OF
his official shoulders the care OF th'
farm by due power OF attorney.
Now, Mr.. Speich, having secured tn
management Of the revenues OF th'
farm. was prepared to spring his mas
ter stroke. The sorrow which he ex
biblted when informing the widow o.
the mismanagement OF the valuable
farm was as nothing compared to tho
overpowering and irrepressible grie
WITH which he falteTingly broke the
news to the widow that her deac
daughter's divorced husband had con
cocted a conspiracy to steal or obtain
her idolized grandson. The widow col
Iapsed az the information, and for
moment Mr. Speich thought he had
g,ne too far. But he was equal to the
emergency. He suggested flight. Inc
widow was as putty In his hands. she