The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-08-22
CAUGHT WITH STOLEN MAIL.
CLERK SWANDT PUTS UP A FIGHT
Nv CITY HALL PARK.

Arrested on Charges OF Stealing Small
Packsges-The TIefts Cover Many
Months and May Amount 70 More Than
$1,000 -One Other Arrest Expected.
Harry W. swaudt, a distributing clerk
In the parcel room Of the General Post ONCE.
was taken TO the Church street station last
evening by Assistant Superintendent OF
Mails Thomas Owens and Post Office In
speotors Jacobs and Meyer. who had a hard
time o~verpowering the husky young Ger
man. This morning Swandt will be ar
raigned before United States Commissioner
Ridgway on the charge Of larceny from
the mails.
Supt. Owens, who Is In charge OF the
mailing division Of the Post Office from
4 p. M. to 1 A. NJ. began to receive early
In tho summer complaints from the general
superintendent that somebody was getting
away with jewelry and other articles done
up in small packages.
Among the firms which complained that
they had been robbed were the Ingersoll
Watch Company, the Fay Watch Company,
the Ansonia Watch Company, the Gem
Razor Company, the Sherman Safety
Razor Company, the Knickerbocker Watch
Case Company and the Waterman Fountain
Pen Company.
Mr.. Owens took Inspectors Jacobs and
Meyer into his confidence. Several men
were placed under surveillance. but sus-
picion finally centred on Swandt.
1t was noticed that, no matter how warm
the weather, Swandt always wore a jumper
buttoned at the waist but open above.
In his sorting Of the mails II was An easy
thing for him to slip one or two small pack
ages inside this garment.
1t was also noticed that Swandt made
frequent visits to the closet where his street
clothes hung. Also. instead OF going out
with his fellow workers at the lunch hour,
Swandt would take an uptown car and 60
to his home, at 40 Canal street.
Last night the post office inspectors
mixed In a bag containing O hundred or
moro packages Of jewelry from a well
known house two decoy packages, Three
men watched Swandt at his work. Between
tours from the table at which he worked
to the place where his clothes hung.
Swnndt started of as usual at the lunch,
con hour, 0 o'clock, and Assistant Superin-
tendent Owens with the inspectors started
to follow him.
Swandt started at a brisk pace across
City Hall Park and Owens had to run to
catch up with him. His invitation to wandt
to GO back to the Post Office was refused,
Swandt didn't see. either, that Jacobs
or Meyer had any right to interrupt his walk
and struck at the latter. Meyer wasn't
knocked out, however, and returned the
compliment. Swandt then sta rted in to
fight. but gave it up when he found three
men after him and went coolly enough
hack to the scene of his labors.
In each Of his coat pockets were found
four of the packages from the mails which
he had been engag ed in sorting during the
evening. Two more we're found 10 each OF
his back trousers poke to and three more
were tucked away insi de his shirt. Only
one Of the two decoy packages was found
swandt. who has previously borne a
good reputation. has been employed in
the local Office for w years. His salary,
Is 500 a year. When he was searched
last night &l72. 4s was found on him.
Jewelry and cutlery were the thingsthat
swandt took, the Post Office inspectors say.
They think they have sufficient information
inplicate another person to whom
3 wandt turned over his spoils. He never
attend to that part Of the business.
Suspicion was first attracted to Swandt
by an investigation Of his manner Of living.
When not at work he dressed we'll and
always seemed we'll supplied with money:
have received complaints from ~jewelry
and cutlery houses OF losses a%Rgregating
at least Is 600, but it is thought at steal
Ings Of much more than that mount can
be- traced to Swandt.
After the three officials had left Swandt
at the station the Post Office inspectors
to Police Headquarters. Reinforced
by a search warrant and Detective Sergeants
bowling and Drisooll. they went to Swandt's
home. on the fifth floor OF 10 Canal street.
In one room they found hundreds OF
paokag es, some still unwrapped and just
rs they had been taken from the mails.
The inspectors carried away between
hem q suit case containing about $50
Of chains, bracelets and brooches. A
inventory OF the goods seized places
heir value at about 81 200.