Omaha daily bee., 1904-07-28
MEBRAsA WEATHER FOREcAsT
F-ir apd wsFner, Triaay Tair.
POSTOFFICE CLERK DECAMPs
GeOree w. Rocco takes sudden Leave
OF Money order Depart-
naent.

George W. Rocco. for the last Eve years
a clerk IN the money order department Of
the Omaha postoiilce. is missing and cx-
ports at work on the records IN the once
assert that he Is an embezaler to the cx-
tent OF $500 or $500 Rocco disappeared
from the ONCE last Monday morning under
circumstances that were suspicious and
Postmaster Palmer Immediately started an
Investigation OF the money order records
which had been IN his keeping The inves-
tisation. which is not concluded. goes back
over a period Of more than two years.
and the inspectors md that Roocos pecu-
lations cover that much time, but will not
amount to more than Sio0
The method BY which the clerk appropri-
ated the governments money to his own
use was by entering up foreign money
orders at amounts less than they were
really issued for. For instance he would
sell foreign money order for $50 make
the record show that II was issued for $50
and put the difference, $50, in his pocket.
So oleveTly did Rocco work his system
that three inspections OF his department
within the last two years failed to reveal
any Irregularities.
Shortage ON Circus nay.
Postmaster Palmer thinks II not likely
that Rocco would have decamped had he
succeeded IN an effort to cover up short-
age in HIS cash for Wednesday, July 20
On the evening OF that day Rocco reported
that his cash for the days business was
$50 short. Thursday morning he told POST
master Palmer that he had sold a number
OF money orders the day before to a Mr..
Turner Of the Ringing Brothers show and
he thought he had made a mistake IN
taking 800 short Of the amount Of these
orders. He asked permission OF the post
master to 90 to Fails City. where the show
appeared IN Friday. to collect the sbort-
age frum Turner. Postmaster Palmer had
confidence in the clerk and suspecting
nothing Irregular let Rocco on to go to
Falls City Saturday morning Rocco re-
turned 70 his post Of duty and reported to
Postmaster Palmer that he had seen Mr..
Turner at Falls City; that the Snowman
had acknowledged a shortage OF 800 IN
the payment for his money orders and had
promised to remit the amount direct to
the postmaster. When Monday morning
came and no remittance from the Snowman
had been received. Rocco asked Postmaster
Palmer to allow him to go to Kansas City
to see Turner again. The postmaster.
could not understand why second visit
by Rocco was necessary and suggested
that the postoflce inspectors at Kansas
City be telegraphed to call on Turner for
an explanation OF his failure to remit.
inspectors Get Into Case.
Rocco was finally told that he could not
go to Kansas City and that the inspectors
there had been telegraphed TO attend to
the matter. This was about o'clock
Monday morning and within an hour Rocco
left the postofice. About the time Rocco
took his departure kilograms were received
from Kansas City inspectors saying that
the circus people knew nothing OF any pre-
tended shortage IN the payment for money
orders at Omaha. Later on Il was learned
that Rocco had never made the trip to
Falls City, but had been merely playing
for time IN which to cover up his shortage
for Wednesday July %.
After leaving the postomce some time
between end 10 o'clock Monday morning
Rocco did not so to his home, but disap-
peafead 30 nicely that the postoface in
speetors have not been able to get any
sudden disappearance that the work OF
investigating the foreign money order
records was begun. IL the clerk had not
failed 70 make sood bis shortage OF We'd
nesday OF last week and thus been forced
to deeamp, the suspicion that led to the
uncoveriRB of his other peculatiohs would
not have been aroused
George w Rocco was born and raised
In Omaha. ne is about 80 years OF age
and has q wife and four children and a
widowed mother, who are left In almost
destitute circumstance at 20i6 Pierce
street The Oldest OF the children is but
9 years Of age