The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-27

FRANK NJ. SMALLWOOD ARRESTED
BY GOVERNMENT INSPECTORS.
He Had Been Riding the Mails for
Years, but M~iracuIousIy Escaped
Detection for n Long Time.

Frank NJ. Smallwood, who has been a pos
tai clerk in the railway mail service for
many years. was arrested yesterday morn
ing by Postofice Inspectors A r. Holmes
and w. 7. Fletcher for rifing the mails on
the run between this city and Pittsburg.
Smallwood admitted his guilt when ar
rested.
Smallwood has been In the mail service
since May. 1890, and il is supposed his thefts
have continued over a period of three years.
In that time thousands of letters have been
taken, besides innumerable small pack
ages. which in some instances were very
valuable. The first complaints OF missing
letters were made in December. 1895, and
the matter was referred to Holmes and
Fletcher at that time. The inspectors sent
a number of decoy letters through the
mails, but they were not molested. The
service was then investigated west or In
dianapolis, and it was finally concluded
that the thefts had taken place on the
Pittsburg run. Suspicion fell on Small
wood. but the inspectors afterward came
TO the conclusion that he was the victim
OF circumstances and that the guilty party
was trying to cast Smallwood under sus-
picion.
Smallwood was finally transferred from
one crew TO another. and a watch was kept
on the Kansas mailbag worked by him.
1t was discovered that sixteen letters, all
of which were addressed to Topeka. Kan.
mad been opened, but the fact that there
were many other clerks handling the Kan
sas mail made SmallwOOd's guilt uncertain.
one day Smailwood was injured and had to
lay of OF his run for a few days, and dur
ing that time there was not a single opened
letter found in any of the sacks on his run.
a PECULIAR CIRCUMSTANCE.
But 1t happened about hat time that
while the inspectors were examining an
other sack of mail which had not been
handled by Smallwood two or three opened
letters were discovered. 1t since appears,
however, that these letters had opened
themselves because of poor mucilage. AT
the time the inspectors were completely
thrown off the track and Immediately
presumed that Smallwood was innocent.
Mr.. Holmes sent for him TO report In Gin
cinnati, and at the time informed Small
wood of the suspicious that had rested
against him. Smallwood convinced the of
fcials that he was entirely innocent and
promised 10 aid in the discovery Of the
real thief. Hundreds of letters continued
TO be missed and there was no clew for
more than two years. Within the last
month a new plan was adopted by the in
spectors. After Smallwood had left his
car at the Union Station ii would be
boarded by Inspector Fletcher, and the
latter would carefully inspect all the mail
handled by Smallwood. Trip after trip this
same method was pursued until the in
spectors became absolutely certain Of
S~mallwood's guilt. Yesterday, when he
came off of his run and went into the mail
room TO make his report he found Fletcher
and Holmes waiting for him. They made
a hasty search of Smallwood's pockets,
and, as they expected. found not only
twelve or fifteen letters, but several arti-
cies OF feminine wearing apparel, a lady's
purse with money in it and two or three
stamped packages.
Smallwood at once confessed his guilt and
was Immediately taken before Compis-
sioner Moores. His bail was fixed at $1,000,
but as he was unable TO give il he was con-
fined in the Marion county jail.
Smallwood lived with his wife and three
children at 1I17 Park avenue. Before his
arrest he was one of the most trusted and
highly esteemed clerks in the service.