Evening star., 1902-01-17
Burglaries Of Post Offices on the In
crease.
EMPLOYEES ARE GENERALLY HONEST
Efforts Of Officials to Capture the
Thieves.
T HEY NEV Err LET q P

There were more post offices burglar
ized and burned last year than in any year
in the history of the postal service. and
more arrests were made for mall depreda-
tions and postal ofenses.' said a postal,
official to Star man today.
I'm fact, the criminal record OF the serv-
ice was long one, and, though commend
able activity was shown by the postal
officials, state and United States prosecut-
ing officers, the great increase in these Of
fenses during the past ten years is such
that it VIII attract the attention OF pencil
ogists and others interested in the punish
ment OF crime.
.'At the same time 1t is possible to show
In a very gratifying manner that the en-
ployes of the government In the postal
branch are as a great class honest and
faithful in the performance OF their duty.
The offenses were mainly committed by
those outside OF the service.
Mathematical Demonstration Of Hon.
esty.
''In an army of over 10000 men directly
employed in the postal service as post
masters, assistant postmasters, carriers,
railway mail clerks, clerks in post offices,
mail carriers and messengers, it will excite
surprise when 1t is known that only 305
fell by the wayside and were arrested for
offenses against the postal laws and regu-
1atons.
1.-THE total number of arrests was 1,611,
and of these 101 were postmasters, forty
assistant postmasters, sixty-five clerks in
post offices, twenty-seven letter carriers
forty-three mail carriers and nineteen en-
ployed in minor positions in the service.
'In brief, the active burglar has in late
years turned his attention toward post Of
ia cir
is not now popular by reason of increased
precautions to guard against attack, cleo
trical connections and police alarms ana
improved steel burglar-proof vaults, Post
Offices, therefore, afford a more fertile. II
less productive, field and it Is being titled
industriously by the men who believe that
the world owes them living through il
legitimate means.
s'The increase in this class Of crime is
quite startling, and while the rewards
the government offers for the apprehen-
sion and conviction of the offenders greatly
stimulate the efforts of peace officers to
effect their capture, the percentage OF in
crease in crime goes steadily upward.
1.-The matter of rewards offered by the
government Is not fully understood by the
public. They are liberal. the pay prompt
upon conviction and proof OF claim, and
they range from LOCO to $50.
How to Earn the Rewards.
"The highest reward of $1,000 will be
paid upon the conviction of a postal thief
who robs the malls while they are being
conveyed in a railway mail car attached to
train: $500 upon the conviction OF the
thief of robbing the mails being conveyed
over any post route other than railway;
$3.50 on the conviction on the charge Of
attempting to rob the mails while being
conveyed over any route; $50 on conviction
on the charge Of breaking In post office
with intent to commit larceny or other
depreciation; $500 for the, conviction OF
mail carrier on a star route on the charge
OF embezziement or larceny OF mail matter
mail; 500 on the conviction OF larceny OF
mail matter while it Is being conveyed
over any route or is in the custody Of a
mail messenger or is being conveyed to
and from a railway depot or while the mail
is lying In any depot awaiting transfer.
Various special rewards are offered In
special instances, depending upon the
amount stolen, ranging from $3.50 to $50,
and in any case where the larceny Of mali
matter Is effected. whether valuable or not,
S1OO win be paid. Mail stolen from letter
boxes In the street or from boxes in post
offices or from any public receptacle Of
mail matter Is provided for by special re-
wards upon conviction OF the thief. Re-
wards are paid for the arrest of accessories
and persons convicted OF receiving stolen
mall matter while the government will pay
rewards for the conviction OF persons ar
rested for any offense against the postal
laws not specified. as it Is designed to give
arrest and conviction Of all who may tam
per with the mails In any manner which is
criminal.
Postal Employees Are Barred.
THE postmaster and his subordinates at
every post Office at which a larceny, bur-
glary or robbery may occur are barred
from receiving any rewards for the ar
rest and conviction OF any person upon
the charge of stealing from or burglar
izng such Office or of robbing the post
master or any employe OF the property OF
the United States, and the contractor and
subcontractor on the mail routes are also
barred.
The employees of the service are paid
to perform their duties, and it Is presum-
ed that the honest ones will aid in the
detection Of those who are dishonest with
out the hope OF reward, as Is usually the
service a premium might be placed upon
crime, as many men are INSCRIPTIONS
enough to place their fellow-employes In q
false position for the sake OF the reward,
and there are other good reasons why the
rewards should go exclusively to those out
side of the service.
Last year the government paid out
$l8.975 In rewards in about 100 cases. and 1t
was money we'll expended. In rural COM
munities $1OO is quite sum. and when
the case is such as calls for $1,000 all of
the local peace officers bend every effort
to apprehend the criminal. to the decided
of the mails in transit.
'Penologtsts will find matter for thought
in the question Of crimes when 1t Is con-
| sidered that during the past ten years the
total number Of post offices have increased
only at about the rate Of 10 per cent,
while the increase Of the number OF post
offices destroyed by fire, often for the pur-
pose OF robbery has risen to "A per cent,
and the number Of regular post Office rob-
berries has increased to So per cent.
Vigilance of the Authorities.
'"The increase In ten years OF the number
of post office burglars arrested was S3 per
cent. the percentage Of the increase Of rob-
berries of post offices being about per cent
over the number of burglars arrested.
$50 much for the past ten years. Now
for the past year. with it's great increase
in all classes of crimes affecting the postal
service.
1.-The number Of post offices burned last
year was 643, an increase of over per cent
over the preceding year. The active bur-
glar entered 1.635 post offices. an increase OF
3 per cent, but 32I Of these prowlers were
arrested. an increase of about 2 per cent,
which. though slight, Is comforting.
1.-THE post Office. state and United States
authorities united in determined effort to