The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-09-24
Detected
BY ODOR or
The GLUE
postotfice Mystery UnraVsIed
by Peculiar Sagacity Of
an Inspector.

Washington Sept. "a. - The report re-
Gently received at the post office depart
ment from an inspector in the New York
district containing a detailed account OF
his successful solution OF a registered
package mystery reads more like a detec.
tive story than a business communication
from government employe to his chief
Some time ago a registered package
sent from the New York office containing
a large sum OF money was received at its
destination apparently intact. but OF be-
Ing opened was found TO contain nothing
but waste paper.
postoffice inspector detailed TO the
case made a thorough investigation, but
failed TO discover the thief. The regis
tration of the package at the various
offices through which 1t passed was ap-
parently correct and suspicion could not
be directed TO any one clerk of the many
who had handled II.
Upon the unsuccessful termina ton of
the inspectors investigation IL was dt-
cided to place upon the case a member al
the Inspectors force who had acquired
quite a reputation for solving tangled
problems in connection with his work
GIVEN FREE REIN.
He was allowed free rein. Several
weeks later the thief was arrested upon
Information given by the inspector and
the greater portion OF the money was
found in his possession.
The post office department officials
were greatly relieved. as although sec.
tion OF the postal regulations expressly
supulates that not more than $40 be paid
Tor the value OF q lost registered letter
this provision has on more than one oc-
casion been declared invalid by the
courts. and the government I'm the event
OF the non-recovery of this particular
package would probably have lost a con-
siderable sum OF money.
The report Of the inspector relates that
or going over the ground covered by his
predecessor on the case he was absolutely
unable to direct toward anyone Ly tie
usual means
lie had often noticed however. ne saws.
that the glue used by the different post
offices invariably has distinctive olor.
and as he studied over the case II came
TO him like a flash that through this
peculiar attribute OF post office glue he
would discover the thief
LANDED THE THIEF.
lie took the registered package which
had arrived at its destination full of
been tampered with enroute. opened anc
sealed again. and softening the Rlue,
familiarized himself with its odor Then
he went 10 the New York Office. the
point II starting of the registered pack.
age. and shifted az the glue pots. lie was
unsuccessful
Then he took 90 the road and stopped
az al the Offices where the valuable pack
age had been handled by different clerks.
all the time paying no attention 90 thc
usual methods ~ detecting postofnce
criminals but simply shifting az the glue
pots
lie was finally rewarded when i'm an
Office near tho place OF destination of
the package by au identity OF smell be-
tween the registered package and a glue
pot on the counter
Satisfied that be had az last reached the
end of his search. he caused watch 1,
be set upon the clerks In the office an the
usual way and finally caught his man
snsndine a portion Of his ili-gotten gains.
The officials of the postofnce depart.
ment are divided between n desire ia
congratulate the inspector for his remark
able exhibition OF sagacity and an ifclina.
uon TO reprimand him for getting funny"
with the department.