The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-02-26

nished, and that the scheme was purely
one devised to obtain So from gullible peO-
pie who hoped to find fortune and hus-
band or wife for this sum of money. Con-
sequently, the company has been refused
the use Of the mails.
A Post-of1ice Inspector now on duty at
headquarters in Washington once had a
case that was quite out of the ordinary,
and the methods he employed to detect
criminals were novel in the extreme. For
some time letters had been rifled in one
of the large North Carolina post-offices
and large sums of money were stolen.
Three Inspectors left Washington for the
scene. They found that the post-office
was under an Opera House. and believed
that if they could locate 2 lookout over
the office they would succeed in determin-
ing the identity of the thieves. According
ly, they rented the Opera House, and,
working day and night, removed a section
Of the floor. Their plans were nearly frus-
trated by the accidental disappearance of
one of their number through the floor,
falling among the clerks below. The In
spector's presence of mind, however, en-
abled him to explain that he was making
repairs to the theater Their pains were
a clerk in the act of rifing registered let
tiers. While the Inspectors watched he
opened nine envelopes, from some of
which he extracted all the contents, and
from others only n portion, changing the
figures in the letter of transmittal The
clerk had the door of the registry division
locked, and no view could be had of him
from the outside, but while he moved from
place to place he kept revolver by his
side. 1t was delicate work to make an
arrest under such circumstances, but the
n fhn cfoi nd
stealthily approaching the door they
smashed it open. The clerk made n grab
for his weapon, but before he could reach
it one of the Inspectors pressed pistol
under his ear, causing him to surrender at
once. The Inspectors had traced the
rifing of ordinary letters to another clerk,
and they caused the Postmaster to send
word to him that the registry man was
i'll, and it would be necessary for him to
take his place. The new man had been
in the Office less than half an hour when
he opened several letters, and his arrest
was made without delay. Both were given
terms in the penitentiary.
A smart Boston man evaded the "fraud'
provisions of postal laws, and gathered in
funds by plausible bunco game until sup
pressed. He represented that he was the
trustee of an estate named 1.-The Webster
Estate" and as such trustee had large
sum of money to loan at low rate of in
terest. He required prospective borrowers
to advance him certain sums nOmnally
for attorneys and other fees for examin-
ing the titles to the properties offered as
securities. He never made loan and had
no money to loan, but took this means of
securing remittances from persons desir-
ing to borrow money. And, further, there
was no such concern as ''The Webster
Estate" but that name was fictitious and
adopted simply to make people believe the
false representation that he had money to
loan.
A Western mail swindle, which was
eminently successful until broken up by
the post-oflice authorities, was worked
by extensively advertising in reputable
newspapers, as follows:
IAN income of SIS weekly can be earned
in spare time or evenings by any person
able to write, or TO do copying at home;
inclose stamp. Address Co.,
Box 2424, -, -"
To those who answered such advertise
ments long circular was sent, asking that
% cents be sent for complete copying
outfit" After the remittances called for
were received the patrons were directed
to make copies of a letter similar 20 the
following:
Dear Friend: I am endeavoring to
make little extra money, and have taken
the agency for a fountain pen, and can
recommend it to you as entirely satisfac-
tory in every particular, and at the very
low price of % cents. If you can use
one of these pens at this special price, send
% cents in coin or one-cent stamps to the
- Company, Box 2424
-, -, and they will send you one
by mail. Please mention my sales No. as
below, SO that will receive credit for the
sale.
'P. S.-They also make solid gold A.
karat fountain pen, should you want some