The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-05-26
KANSAS NEWS.
For Eight Months F.M.SturgeOn
Has Stolen Letters.
Mail Carrier in the Kansas City.
HIS, POstOfdee.
CONFESSES HIS GUILT.
Was in Debt and Sought Money
by This Means.
Inspectors Peeped Through a
Hole in Ceiling.

Kansas City, No. May 26.-Looking
through hole, which had been made in
the ceiling, Postoffice Inspectors 3. l.
Mckee and D. W. Peters late Saturday
afternoon saw Frank NJ. Sturgeon, one Of
the most trusted mail carriers in the ser
vice, steal two packages, containing thir-
ty-two letters, which had been laid on the
stamping table in the Kansas City, Kan,
postoffice. The hole in the ceiling had
been made for the purpose of allowing
postoffice inspectors to watch the stamp
ing table unperceiVed and for week they
have been watching it at various times IN
the hope of catching thief, who has
been systematically stealing letters in the
postoffiee for the last eight months.
Sturgeon was arrested Immediately after
he had placed the letters in his pocket He
confessed his guilt after being taken to
the private office OF postmaster Sarttn.
His face was as white as q sheet and he
taking letters from the stamping table in
the postoffice for the last eight months
and had no definite idea to how much
money he secured.
The postoffce department viii never be
able to know how many letters were lost
thought that he took letters every even
Ing when ne returned from his route The
two letters. If Sturgeon made this sort
Of a haul every day for the last eight
months it is probable that thousands Of
letters never reached their destination.
Sturgeon never stole registered letters, it
IS thought, and all envelopes that con-
he returned to the pOstoffice. The letters
which contained no money or checks he
threw away. 1t was by returning opened
letters, containing checks and money or
ders that Inspector Mckee was able to
place the crime some member of the
Kansas City, kan. pOstOffice department
Sturgeon Wept bitterly. He has a wife
and a little boy and lives at 414 Arm
strong avenue He is well known in Kan
sas City, kan. where he has delivered
mail in nearly every district in that city
He made a clean breast to the inspector
He said that he was in debt and that this
had worried him great deal He con-
fessed that he had been stealing letters
for the last eight months, but said that
he could not estimate the amount of
money he had secured
1t was not great" he said, possibly
500 Whenever L caught letter that con-
tanned money order or a check or d
draft, 1 knew that it would be bad policy
for me to try to cash it, so I always re
turned it to the pOstOffice and marked it.
opened by mistake"
Sturgeon was arraigned before United
States Commissioner E. S. Earhart and
entered a formal plea of not guilty. His
bond was fixed at ST. 600 and he thinks he
will be able to furnish it. Friends of the
mail carrier expressed much regret over
his downfall. especially Assistant Post
The inspector accompanied Sturgeon to
his home There a most pathetic scene
was enacted The wife of the mail carrier
was wholly unaware of his crime and she
wept bitterly. The little boy elinging to
his weeping mother and begging her not
to cry, was scene that was TOO much
for even Inspector Mckee.