The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-04-24
AUSTIN
CRAIG
ARRESTED
Charged With Embezzling a
Registered Package
Was Postmaster at Whitney,
once Lived at Salem

Austin Craig. newspaper man, town
promoter. banker and former post
master at whitney. Grant county,
was arrested yesterday afternoon by
Deputy United States Marshal Hall
on charge Of stealing a registered
letter containing s72 on July 21, 1902.
The United States Grand Jury re
turned an indictment against Craig.
containing two counts. one OF larceny
and the other Of embezzlement
A statement OF the case is that
Craig in his capacity as postmaster
received registered pouch from
Baker City containing six packages.
He checked them and wrote six on
the registered card which accom-.
panied the mail.
A day or two later the card came 10
the Baker City Office with the figure
6 changed to 8. and a line drawn
through the description Of a regis
tered package from Spokane. contain.
ing S72. addressed to James Rupp,
Greenhorn. The package never
reached Rupp. aud Craig. when called
to account for Il. answered that he
did not know anything about II. His
explanation was that instead of
checking on the register card at once
AZ he ought TO have done he copied
The card into his register book to IA
,illtate matters, aud afterward in
checking on the Greenhorn mail dis.
'overed that the Rupp letter entered |
,n the card was not there.
Two clerks at the Baker City post
,hice testified that the package was
mt In the registered pouch that the
,ouch was locked, and went out in
egular order. and must have reached
he whitney Postoiilce. In the Oc'
ober following Craig came to Port
nl and rendered his resignation as
,ostmaster. Il was not accepted. but
.e was removed by the department.
he removal to take place January
asst
Ilesides his dutios as Postmaster,
'alg conducted branch OF the |
;umpter bank. for a. p. Goss, and
oon after the time of the postoiiice
rouble Goss caused the arrest OF
'raig on charge OF embezzlement
II Sl1OO. but the grand jury failed TO
.eturn an indictment In the case.
craig also ran townsite scheme, and
,ltogether appeared To be a very en-.
,rgetlng person.
lie was found by the deputy mar
,hal at his room az 247 Madison
street. and anticipated his arrest, be
'ause he visited the marshars Office |
and was aware that the |
grand jury was Snyestigating the mat |
er His bonds were fixed at $4,000. |
md in default he was committed 20
he county Jail.
Craig is a young man, about 30
Years OF age. and has lived In Oregon |
.or ten years. He formerly published /
he Washington County Hatchet.
weekly newspaper at Forest Grove,
When interviewed by reporter
Craig said he was not prepared 10
make fun statement at this time
IIe stated that he did not receive the
package addressed TO
Roupp, and for that Reason marked IL
1ff the register card and refused 20 re
'eipt for H. He said he could have
compromised the matter by payins
he money. but such an act would
have been an admission OF his having |
nurloned the letter, which he could |
not anord to make, He aoknowh |
edged his arrest on the embezzlement |
charge, but explained that the grand |
Jury returned a not true bin. and that ,
he sued his accuser, Goss. for dam
ages. Goss then left Grant county, |
and did not return for sorne time.
Craig has engaged Marion Butler as
attorney to defend him, and feels
certain that he viii establish his in,
lOcence.
Siwashes in Eastern Oregon are