The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-25
Elmear Motifs Had an Eye For
Valuable Packages.
PostOfice EmplOye Who is
Caught Redhanded.
JEWELLERS THE LOSERS
Many Losses Have Been Re-
ported to Authorities.
Pawn Tickets Reveal Where
Things We're Disposed Of.

Further developments in the case
against Elmer Motifs, a driver of one of
the United States mail wagons at the
Topeka postoffice, who was arrested
Monday by Deputy United States Mar
shall Prescott on the charge Of stealing
a package from the postoh1ce reveal the
fact that he has been pilfering from the
mails for two months.
Motifs arrest was caused by the dis
covery that he had opened a package
which was being transmitted through
the mails. The package was addressed
to James Lasley, at Holy Cross, Kan.
and was mailed at Holton. 1t was
while the package was in the Topeka
Office awaiting change OF mail sacks
that it was taken. 1t was lying on
clerks in the pOstOf1ce saw Motifs pick
table and at about noon one of the
up the package. Later in the afternoon
the package was found under the seat
on the wagon which he drives, broken.
The package contained nothing of in
trinsic value. the contents being several
buttons upon which photographs were
mounted.
In the rear Of the postoffice building
are the stables where the horses and
wagons for carrying the mail to and
from the trains are kept. An extra
wagon is always standing there which
the lodging house of Motifs, who has
been in the employ of the postof6ce de-
partment since April.
Shortly after his arrest by Deputy
Marshal Prescott, Archie Kellam and
T. J. Saum. another driver at the post
office made a search of the clothing be-
longing to Motifs found in the wagon.
Two pawn tickets. No. 631 and 632 is
sued by Abe Jacobson of SOP Kansas
avenue, on June L, and II respectively
for the sums of $1.75 and $3.50 each were
found in the pockets of his coat
The paWntickets were for two rings
which We're this morning identified by
Jeweler Samuel Freidberg of 512 Kan
sas avenue. as two of the rings which
were lost during transmission through
the mails about two weeks ago. and for
which a tracer had been sent out by the
postal authorities.
The rings We're sent by JeWeIer Freid-
berg to jewelry house in Kansas City
and were mailed at Kansas City to be
returned but never reached their in
tended destination.
The third ring. it is believed will soon
be located. Nearly two weeks ago
Edith Mccormick, a 16-year-o1d girl
was arrested for lettering near the post
office. She was tried in the police court
and sent to the Crittenden home. Be
fore being taken from the police station,
however, Motifs called to see her. He
wanted to secure a ring which he claim
ed she was wearing which belonged to
him. 1t is believed that it will be found
that this ring is the third of the missing
property of Jewe1er Freidberg.
Inquiry at the Crittenden Home this
morning revealed the fact that the girl
had made her escape and had run away
from the home some time during the
day Sunday Officers have been on the
lookout for her all day today.
Among the articles found in the
wagon which Motifs used as q lodging
house was an elegant white
fan The fan has not yet been traced
ha
found that it was taken from a package
stolen from the postoffice.
James Wardin, local jeweler. re-
ceived a package from Kansas City a
few days ago which had contained a
pin that had been in Kansas City for
some repairs that could not very well be
done here. but which upon its delivery
to the jewe1er here was found to have
been broken open and the pin found
missing. He Immediately made COM
plant to the postal authorities and an
effort was made to look it up.
Motifs has been wearing a peculiar
pin on his cap for the past few days.
and it is believed that the one he
wears and the missing pin are iden-
teal. The jeweIer is in Kansas City
today, and consequently the pin can
not be Immediately identified.
The rings which he pawned he claims
were given to him by his parents. I
have had them a long while,' he said
to a State Journal reporter.
G. A Wolf. jeweler. at T25 Kansas
avenue, mas reported the loss OF
package containing a pair of cuff but
tons and a small diamond ring. The
package was shipped from Kansas City
at about the time that the pawn tick
cts found in Motifs coat are dated.
TT was only last Friday. though said
Mr.. Wolf, that discovered they were
lost. I spent a little time this morn
ing trying to locate the goods through
the records of the pawn brokers. but
was unable to do So
Motifs was a member of the Twenty
first Kansas volunteers during the
Spanish-American war. He claims Bur
lingame as his home, and says that
both his parents are not living He
has been in Topeka since returning
from the war.