The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-01-01
MAY BE A WOMAN
Peculiar Surroundings of a Mail Box
SWiudler.


swindier
Milwaukee. Wis. Dec. 31.-Frank Rause
alias o. ". Lloyds. alias Mrs. o. II. saun-
ders, is under arrest here on the charge
of using the United States mails to de-
fraud.
Rause is accused of masquerading
sometimes as a tramp, sometimes as a
business man, at other times as a stylish
/ ly dressed woman. and again as a hunch-
backed boy.
The officers who made the arrest do
not know whether their prisoner is a man
or a woman. He was arrested as a
hunchbacked boy. On his head was a
stocking cap. which when removed,
showed another cap such as women wear
when bathing. Under this inner cap
was coiled a roll of soft. silken blonde
hair. of which any woman might be
proud
Pause when arrested denied that he
is woman. Dressed as a man he is
slender smooth faced youth Behind
his arrest there IS alleged to be a far
reaching scheme to jefraud jewellers in
al parts of the country.
Rich, Allen & Co. of Chicago sent 81. 900
worth to Rause, but the postoflce in
spccters have recovered the valuables.
Four thousand dollars worth sent by
other firms has also been recovered.
The arrest was made at Randolph, Wis.
at 1 o'clock this morning by PostcfTice
inspector Ralph Bird. Rause was brought
here and his preliminary hearing set for
next Thursday.
According TO the story told By In
spector Bird IN court, a decoy mail box
about half a mile from Randolph. on a
rural route, was the means Of detecting
Rause and unccvering the strange story.
Three years ago the postmaster at Ran
dolDh noticed a large accumulation of
mail for the mail delivery box of o. w.
Lloyd. and on investigation it was dis
covered that the box was claimed by
no one in particular.
It was true that o. ". Lloyd vas a
hardware merchant Of Randolph. tut he
was entirely ignorant of the existence
of the box when asked about it. This
aroused the suspicion of the postal au-
thorit;es.
a little later the express Office at Ran
dolph began to receive large packages
of jewelry.
The jewelry was held at the express
Office for some time and finally woman
presented herself as Mrs c. II.
Saunders. presented herself to the clerk
ana claimed The goods. She was a
stranger, and could furnish no proof of
her identity ana the express agent de-
clined 10 deliver the jewelry TO her until
she could furnish satisfactory proof that
she was entitled to it.
Saunders then made the acquaintance Of /
Peter Thomas. 4 Uell-known young man I
in Randolph She requested him to go
to the express Office. and get the pack i
ages Of jewelry. and leave them under +
q designated culvert some distance from
town. To this the young man agreed. (
Thomas. however. was in the conf /
delce OF Inspector Bird. and instead of /
taking the packages TO the desired place
he left a note in which he stated that
the gcod were too valuable 10 leave in
such secluded spot and requested the
receiver TO call st his house. Inspector
Bird went 10 the Thomas house yesterday
10 wait for Mrs Saunders. During the
lay TO che put in an appearances and
L was feared that the Geccy would not
have The desired results. The inspector
retired fer the night Shortly 1fter I
o'clock this morning some one asked cor
ldrittance into the house. 4 member
p the family opened the door. while
Inspector Bird. taken by surprise hurried
INTO his clothes. Revolver in hand. he
vent into the room where there was
stood a litte huuchbacked boy.
7 an Frank Rauser he exclaimed.
his monev
he handed s. bin 70 Peter This
vas a surprise 70 ar Bird. Bus he re-
.elved some satisfaction when ne 1iscov-
red that tha boy had long blonde hair.
which was one q lie characteristics 81
FRS. Saunders Tho bay vas subfnis-
i've. nEt DENIED aH knowledge n the
fair bcvond his connection with Ms
;arnders. Mrs. Thomas. her daughter.
ia Ser s71 identified TIE Eunchbacs as
Hrs Saur1ers. the woman who had l.ade
h. aVrarsenerts Win sae1n
Mrs Thomas was positive that L vas
na and the same person. but the prfs-
rsr cairalv sns'le6 and dess3ed the l5ea
hat hc was d woman lEe gave The
.a-ae % Frank Rause. he tod he IN
rector rhat = VS. a tramp. fIa SAID
hat about uiiniga1 b. vas tranring
= re raiiroac iuto Rsndelph. vh.n .
roman. 5unPisg from q hueSv. sase
am s. asd toi- him 10 50 = the Is use
r4 81 7aeSase 1gr ner. and - dsd
Eause sai1 ihaf he iesa at Fox Lake.
WIS., aaa also in Cfieess. lie Eeniss
q krlvsiedge % rae crime ana positively
eissss % talE ou she ci-arse against
an. when oaest3ored hsre fesay -
ald PC a. oae ti-ne sll5 fssaaIe fraperls9-
alters term IN saloons g. cAlcsga-
Ins7ecscr Bird hslieres thzt there we're
o sccomplices n TIE afrszs7tes fraud {
- Ia, Rzuss Cd al q me ws-k Il