The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-11-01
AS WEIRD
AS COMIC
OPERA PLOT
Astounding Theft of an Entire
POStOffice.
A UNIQUE CONSPIRACY
Government Deceived for Over
Four Months.
RUN DOWN BY OFFICERS
Confession Said TO Read Like
a Novel.
RUN DOWN BY OFFICERS
Confession Said TO Read Like
a Novel.

One Of the strangest cases Of fraud de-
veioped in the history Of the postofice
department has been brought to light
through the fundamentally Of Postomce
Inspector r. n Hosford, Of this city. and
F A. Beebe OF Oklahoma City. 1t is a
story that is stranger than fiction.
r F. Burnett was postmaster at Balm,
Kay county. Oklahoma. He had a regu-
lar commission as such from the post
Office department He conspired with his
brother, George W. Burnett, who lived
at Longwood, six miles distant, to get
the postoflce at that place. Both run
ming country stores at Balm and Long
wood, postof1ces would help their bust
ness.
r F. Burnett proposed to his brother to
erase the initials in his commission and
substitute G. W instead, also to erase
the word Balm and insert Longwood. It
was an unique and daring proposition and
the brother fell in with it. They did the
work 50 cleyerly that wnen G. ". Bur
nett went 70 Postmaster g. II. Penman at
Longwood ana told him that he had been
N-tf'r-----t- postmaster co succeed MIN.
Mr. PellTnan turned the ONCE over TO him
without protest He could not doubt
that he had been removed in view OF the
commission Burnett showed him.
The post0fice was moved over 70 Bur
nett's store last June and has continued
there ever since. After this bold stroke
had been accomplished, It was necessary
TO deceive the postofice department at
Washington. This was also accomplished
by G. ". Burnett forging the name OF
George II. Pellman to all reports and
correspondence with the department. The
postofhce at Longwood continued to be
run in this manner for several months.
the department not knowing that Mr..
Peliman had ceased to be postmaster.
To complicate matters r F. Burnett
appointed the Lorgwood usurper assist
ant postmaster at Bain and the usurper
IL turn appointed r. T. Burnett assist
ant postmaster at Longwood. After this
they actually swopped postof1ces. r. f. /
going to Long8 God and G. w. going TO
Bsin.
When Postmaster PelIman turned over
the postofHce at Longwood 10 Burnett /
the fraudulent appOmtee. he turned over
with it all stamps. money orders. supplies I
ane cash on hand. Burnett used these (
for his own advantage.
me Two brothers entered into con- I
splTdey % o7Iraud ia a larger scale. They /
orcered soods at Kansas city, Memphis .
and other wholesale ceuters and when
me eills hla1nied they placed money to (
me amount cue IN registered letters,
sealed ana Ina'ed them before witnesses.
me elFeiopes OF course would be rlfed
IN me oi-ces ana Wnea ihey reached the
wholesale houses II oao shape, all thar
would ne IN them would be d note stat
ing tIat the sum due, was enclosed In
TINS way tney committed considerable
ir'a''a
Al enc time me Burnetts became
alarmed over thelF own actions and skip
PED the country going into the Chero-
kee nauon' Nhere they remained for sew
eraI weeks Ihey soon Ventured out again
ana resumed 1heF oHlces and their old
metho IS
VINE they were absent somebody made
Complaint against them and that IS what
hrst attracted the attention Of the de-
partment to their eases and caused the
investigation tfat iee- 10 the above facts
both men were oecoyed INTO Ponca city
where confession was obtained from
them after cel1s arrested. he written