The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1905-11-22


1fartinsville, is in jail here on the
se1f-confessed charge of riaing the
mails-a charge that means a stiff
sentence to the penitentiary-as the
result of clever detective work done
by Post Office Inspector Edward /.
Allen, of Parkersburg, whose fame
as one of the best inspectors in the
United Statcs is known far and
wide, having unraveled some very
difficult and mysterious cases and
brought the criminals to justice.
Smith is a young man. He was
reared in Readv, Roane county, and
is a son of p. NJ. Smith, of that
place. He entered the mail service
as a weigher of mails last February
and was thus engaged about ninety
DAYS. Then he was appointed sub
stitute clerk and acted as such on
the Grafton & Wheeling railway
postal office route, until transferred
to the Short Line September Is last
when double service was inaugural
ed on that line. He was assigned
to the car that leaves here early in
the morning and returns Mt night
He quickly began the practice OF
ri1ing the mails, his first offense be-
ing on September %, when he had
been on the line but ten days, and
at intervals thereafter he rif1ed other
registered letters, the exact number
not being given out to the public.
The losses were reported to the
most Office inspector and at first Mr..
Allen was not sure whether he or
some one else was the guilty party.
But Smith distributed his operations
all along the line and Mr.. Allen soon
concluded all the Postmasters along
the route were not thieves.
The inspector made careful IN
quiry about Smiths private record,
his habits and manner of life, and
learned that he carried bottle of
rmucilage in his car, an unusual
Thing for postal clerk, and having
concluded all the several postmasters
along the line were not engaged IN
riHing the mails, or any of them for
that matter, Mr.. Allen strongly sus-
pected Smith and planned to catch
him In the act, and Tuesday after
noon went from this city to Rine-
hart, from which office there had
been no losses and no letters tamper-
ed with, and prepared test letter
He enclosed a five dollar bill, two
one dollar bills and three silver dol
lars and addressed the letter to
Montgomery Ward & Company.
Chicago, ILL.,, properly sealed and
registered it, getting the postmas-
ters receipt for it, saw the letter
placed in the mail pouch and watch
ed the pouch until it was placed in
Smiths car about Z :25 o'clock. Mr..
Allen then boarded the train, enter
ing one of the regular coaches and
came to the city. Upon his ar
rival at the depot he watched the
postal car and mail until the latter
had been transferred to the wagon
and then he followed the wagon to
the post office on foot, several times
having to run to keep within safe
distance of the wagon.
At the post Office he rushed IN and
had the mail quickly opened and the
contents of the pouch examined. He
found the letter he had mailed had
been tempered with and in the pres
senee of the postmaster and his as.
mt opened it and found one Oh
se one dollar bills missing.
had been detained at the
n ice and was at once accused OF
SO the letter. Mr.. Allen de
"a the return of the dollar bill
r., 5oifl, denied having it and in
5tes the Inspector to search him;
Tie inspector searched Smithsf
rockets and clothing carefully put
led To find the dollar bill. Then
began to strip him. First he
t6oIy off his shoes, ands while taking
e lis trousers. the missing dollar
XII rolled ont on the floor. The
Inspector had minute description
4 ne dollar. which he read to the
ssT1aster, and after fully identity
no the money turned it over to the
.5osstTnaster. who will retain it for
rs before the federal grand jury
Ter 9TH admitted rifiing this
letter. A warrant was
sworu out before Unit
Commissioner Thomas ,.