The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-11-05
MORE POSTAL CRIMES
RoBBERIEs OF OFFICES AND
BOXES NUMEROUS LAST YEAR
Greater Number of Arrests-Report
Of Postoffice Inspectors Depart
ment Shows That It's Mem
bers Have Been Busy.

Washington Special to Baltimore sun.
During the last fiscal year a larger num-
Der of postoffice inspectors was employ
ed than during any other year In the
history of the postal service. Numerous
irregularities were discovered in remote
country postoffices, which inspectors were
unable to reach in former years. In
some instances frauds were detected ana
large amounts of money recovered from
Certain kinds of crime against the pos
tai laws seem to be on the increas e. SUCH
as breaking into postoffices and robbing
of mail boxes. There has been, however.
an increase in the number of arrests
and convictions for all offenses, the per-
centage being 6.s on arrests and l34 on
convictions.
During the year 1s2,7O5 cases were re-
ferred to the inspectors for Investigation:
The number investigated was 11s.425. OF
which 1897 were left over from the fiscal
year 1901. The number Of offices inspect
ed during the year ended June 80. 1902. was
z3.3o1. while the number OF money-order
offices in existence June 90, 1902. was g.
7S7. There were. therefore. 10. 4s6 money
order Offices not inspected. The omces
not visited are the smaller ones, more dif-
ficult of access. While the revenue from
these offices would not be great. many Of
the postmasters have continued to en-
ploy wrong methods, and in order that
they might be given instructions which
would insure the correction Of irrsgulari-
visited at least once year by an IN
spector.
The total number of registered mail
complaints received during the year were.
S,747, of which s.1s2 related to letters and
oS5 to packages OF these cases $3.50 were
investigated and closed, and actual loss
was sustained in only Ill cases, being
1903 per cent. of the cases investigated.
This same percentage applied to the total
nhnr Of laf Int ranaivad n.
dictate a total of 265 cases In which actual
loss occurred. The total number Of
registered pieces handled by the depart
ment during the year was 22,S3l,4Oo, max
ing an average loss Of but one piece in
every s6l56 handled. The records of the
department for the last six years on loss
of registered mail is as follows:
The losses in 1897 were 10 per cent: OF
an average of one piece in every 22,S4o
handled. In 1893 the loss was 80 per cent.
or an average of one piece In every N,oS
pieces handled; in 1899, 81 per cent, or
10 per cent. or an average Of one in every
1859; in 1901. SIS per cent, or an average
of one in every 44,666, and in 1902, S.W per
cent, or an average OF one piece In every
S6156 handled.
Ordinary Nail Complaints.
There were 1o3.257 complaints relating
to ordinary mail received during the year.
of which So, 100 referred to letters and
40, 557 to packages, an increase or 3,OOz Sor
8 per cent? as compared with the number
of cases of this class received during the
fiscal year 1901. OF these cases 1875 were
investigated, as were 38,10i Of the same
class which were received in former years,
making a total Of s6, $50 disposed OF dur
ing the fiscal year 1902. 1t was shown
that no loss occurred in about rs per cent
Of the cases investigated
Robberies Of Postofhces.
During the fiscal year 1902 there were
1,746 robberies of postoffices, as compared
with 1.635 in 1901; there were II robberies
1901 16 of mail messengers, star-route
carriers and wagons. as compared with
8 In 1901; 465 of street and rural free-de-
livery letter boxes, as compared with
ed for by the growth of the rural free
delivery service. 1t is obvious that boxes
placed along the country highways are
| much more liable to depredations than
| those along city streets.
The number of postal cars burned and
wrecked in 1902 was "a; in 1901. Il. The
number Of postofices burned In lsO2 was
| $50; in 1901, 643. The number of mail
The number of pouches cut or stolen in
1902 was 742, one less than in 1901.
The total number of postal arrests dur
| ing the fiscal year was 1,71. OF this num-
| Der liz were postmasters, rs assistant
postmasters, GA clerks in postoff1ces, i3
railway postal clerks, 20 letter-1carrters.
| 43 maii-carriers and Is employed in minor
positions in the postal service. The re-
mainder DAD were persons not con-
nected in any way with the postal service
and among them were 2s7 postoftice bur-
glars
Disposition Of Cases.
OF the total number of arrests 1,l9l
were disposed of in United States courts
resulting In 719 convictions. One hun
bred and forty-seven defendants were dis
charged by the grand jury. liz discharged
on preliminary examination, 70 acquitted,
in 63 cases sentence was suspended. In 81
cases proceedings were dismissed and Z
defendants died awaiting trial Eleven
forfeited bail and 10 escaped from GUS
tody, leaving 500 cases pending in United
States courts on July l, 1902.
In State courts 113 cases were disposed
Of resulting in ~ convictions and 10 ac-
quittals. leaving 81 cases awaiting trial
at the close of the fiscal year.
Constipation is the rock that wrecks
many lives; 1t poisons the very life blood.
Regularity cen be established through
the uaa of prirklv Rittara ia