Los Angeles herald., 1907-10-03
FORMER FEDERAL EMPLoYE HID
1T IN ROOM
SAYS HE DID so BECAUSE HIS
WORK WAS TOO HARD
Clerk Dismissed from Long Beach
Postoffice Is Liable to Prosecu-
tlon on Charge Of Robbing
Malls
Long Beach onice.
20 Locust avenue
Phone-Home $50.

Phone-Home $50.
LONG BEACH. Oct. 2.-The mysterious
disappearance Of hundreds of pieces
mall here between one and two years
ago was explained this afternoon when
painters and paper hangers at work In
room 8 of the Ocean Terrace rooming
house over Prittie's drug store at Ocean
and Locust avenues, discovered about 800
letters hidden in the rough wall between
the outside Notwithstanding and the
canvas upon which the paper was to be
hung.
Many OF these letters had been opened.
All but about sixty OF the pieces Of mail
were addressed to Long Beach people.
The remainder. none of which bore
stamps were addressed to parties in other
cities.
From the proprit, ,or OF the lodging
house il was learned that the room had
been oupied by Mark e. Tant, 27 years
old, who, until about a year ago, was
employed in the local postoffice. Tant
was appointed a clerk in the office In
1905. In December of that year he was
made carrier. About year ago he
resigned under pressure. A few months
ago he hurriedly gave up his room at the
Ocean Terrace because of the serious i'll
ness of his father.
Inspector Notified
Postmaster Hirsch, who was notified
OF the strange find shortly after it was
made, sent to Los Angeles and called
Inspector Wilson TO the beach to look
into the matter. The police department.
was asked to institute search for Tant,
who, it was learned. had recently been
working as night engineer for the racine
Electric at Boisa Chica.
Marshal Young and Sergeant Fred
Phillips finally located the man at the
home of his parents on Hellman street
and took him with them to the postoffice,
where Inspector Wilson secured confess
sion from Tant.
The prisoner later said that the letters
addressed to Long Beach people which
were found in his old room were letters
which he had been unable to denver
within his eight hours of daily work and
had hidden them away with the intention
of delivering them later. He said that ne
permitted these to accumulate so rapid
ly that he finally allowed a large number
of them to remain undelivered.
The letters addressed to parties living
outside the city, he said, were given him
by people living on his route to mail. He
had forgotten to mail them. he said.
There were about sixty OF these found
today. Tant appropriated the money
given him for postage on the pieces of
mail.
Denies Opening Letters
Tant denied having opened any OF the
letters. The painters who found the
batch Of mail, however. said that many
Of the letters appeared to have been
torn open, while others looked like they
had been steamed open.
Tant was employed as carrier on the
route east of American avenue ana north
of Third. according to his own state
ment. and he had 139 blocks to cover
twice each day. He said he was ire
ouently unable to get around In the al
lotted time, eight hours.
He gave as the reason for his leaving
the service year ago that the post
office authorities objected because ne
went in debt Postmaster Hirsch said this
evening that another reason for his dis
ynissal was that he was found TO have
failed to mail a quantity of letters given
him by various persons. A large drawer
full of such letters was found in the
postoffice, according TO the postmaster.
Tant is in the city Jail here tonight.
Tomorrow Inspector Wilson will proDa-
bly commence action against him on the
serious charge of robbir the United
States mail
The young man has repeatedly asked
that his arrest be kept secret ana
begged that his parents be not told OF his
disgrace.