The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-02-13

SurmlSeS, he requested Col. George
A.. Dice, inspector in charge of the
division, to detail two inspectors to
assist him. In accordance with his
request Inspectors Reid and Leland,
of st. Louis, came to Sioux City a
week ago Thursday and began work
on the case.
They took the matter under care
full surveillance, meantime fighting
very shy Of the postof1ice. After
mailing a number of decoy letters,
containing marked bills of different
denominations, they awaited develop
ments. Ali suspicion pointed to Ten
ney as the culprit, but in order to
make sure they kept tab on each clerk
in the office who had anything to do
with the handling of the mail.
Wednesday evening Inspector Le-
Land, who was lowering in the neigh
borhood of the postofice, followed
Tenney as he came out of the office,
and saw him enter Knos' drug store
at Pearl and Sixth streets, and throw
down a dollar bill on the counter in
payment for some cigars. Upon ex-
animation Of the bill a few moments
later Leland identified it as one that
had been mailed by the inspectors.
This was conclusive evidence to In
spector Leland that he had landed
his man, but he did not wish to act
without the cooperation of the other
inspectors, a custom always followed
where several inspectors are detailed
on the same case. Last evening was
picked out by the inspectors as ripe
for action.
| When the suspected mail clerk left
the Office about 6:45 O'Clock he was
closely Swallowed by Inspectors Reid
and Leland. To their surprise he be-
gan to take letters out Of his pocket
and to cram the contents into one
pocket and the envelopes into anoth-
er. That was enough.
The inspectors stepped forward and
Reid tapped the mail clerk on the
1houlder.
"Your name is Tenney, isn't it?''
Tenney looked around and nodded.
"What in the deuce are you doing
here?' added the inspector.
Tenny looked confused and did not
answer.
"You had better come with u.s.
said Leland.
Tenney accompanied the inspectors
without making any resistance to
the room in the Mondamin hotel
where Inspector Craig was ex~pectant-
ly waiting.
empty your pockets, Mr.. Ten
ney," demanded Inspector Craig.
Tenny drew $40 in one and five dol
lar bills out of his side pocket, and
then collapsed in a heap in a chair.
"That's all there is of it," be
gasped. 81 stole it. I'm guilty."
An examination of the bills and
the envelopes containing the letters
Showed that Ienney had in his pos
session three out Of five decoy letters
that had been put into the mail yes.
terday by the inspectors. He did not
have any bills in his possession other
than the marked bills,
Tenney then accompanied the in
spectors to the office of United States
Commissioner II. G. Henderson,
where he pleaded guilty to the charge
OF embezzlement and rifing the
United States mails. He was bound
over for trial to the May term OF
court, and held under bonds Of So, 500,
Unable to give bonds he was taken
at 8 O'Clock to the county Jail and
locked up in the same ward with
evil doors of all sorts and conditions.
The penalty for the crime with
which he is charged is one to five
years. Imprisonment.
Mrs. Tenney has not yet been in.
formed Of the confessed crime of hel
husband. 1t was said at the post.
office that she left Sioux City yester.
Gay morning on the Carroll train.
Tenney, according to his own state.
ment, has been employed in the loca.
postotfice since 1890, having served
in the capacity Of chief mailing
clerk for a number Of years. He has
always been regarded as the mos
efficient clerk in the Office, and was
popular with the other employees
lie was getting a salary Of 81, 200
per year. He and his wife are mem.
bers of the First Methodist church
and his wife especially has beer
prominent in church work and also
in musical circles.-Both were Of
good social standing in the com
munity.
postmaster BadgerOW EXPRESSED