The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-15
BURKE ARRESTED
ON GRAVE CHARGE
Superintendent Of Station
B is Alleged to Have
RiAed Letter.
GRAND JURY TO
PROBE THE CASE
Accused Promptly Bailed for Ap-
pearance at October Term.
Man Of Wide Popularity,
and Had Been in Gov
ernment Service
IA Years.

Frank p Burke. superintendent OF
Station 'B" of the Richmond post
office. and one of the most wioely
known residents of the city. was ar
rested yesterday morning upon war
rant sworn out by Inspector f. r. Bar
clay, charging him with having
opened and taken money from a let
ter The superintendent, upon whose
person was found an opened decoy
letter. and marked money which the
letter is alleged to have contained
short time before, was at once taken
before United States Commissioners
james r. Brady for a preliminary
hearing. He waived examination and
was sent on to the grand jury. which
meets here on October 18th.
Bail was fixed by the commissioner
at $1,000. and the prisoner was re-
leased. Messrs. r. Lee Peters and u.
a. Stumpf becoming surety. The ar
rest caused profound sensation, as
Burke has been In the government
service for about fourteen years. ana
was one of the most widely known and
popular postal officials here. Mr.. Fl.
accused, promptly offered his services
as counsel and Mr.. George A. Hanson
was later associated with Mr.. Smith
Many Letters Missing.
THO circumstances leading up TO the
arrest of the former superintendent
are full OF interest. For some months
complaints have been coming i'll to
the post-otfice concerning lost letters
in the East End of the city, where
station B is situated, and the depart
ment a few days ago sent down two
special inspectors, +. Il. Barclay and
j. b. Robertson, to look into the case.
They had been on the ground but a
short time when their suspicious fell
upon the station superintendent. Ar
rangements We're at once made stor 4
}decoy test AT an hour when all the
clerks and carriers We're to be out OF
the office, letter was dropped into
the office addressed to Annette Click.
Frederick Nd This letter contained
| two one dollar notes. and a silver hale-
dollar. all of which were distinctly
marked.
In the absence OF the clerks II is
part OF the superintendents duties
to handle incoming letters and to ar
range them for post-markins.
Used Marked Money.
The inspectors waited in the neigh
/
| they saw Mr. Burke leave the office
for a barber shop. No. 2509 East
Broad Street which is only q short
| distance from the station. They then
had the letters in the office examined.
and found that the decoy WAS miss
ing. Going to the barber shop they
| waited until Mr.. Burke had finished
| his shave, and discovered that he had
paid for the service with a marked 81,
which the inspectors identified as one
| OF those placed In the decoy letter,
Postmaster Cabell was at once noti-
Lied. and he went to the scene and
placed the superintendent under de-
| tention. Inspector Barclay then went
| to the Federal Building and swore our
the warrant described above, which
i was executed at II o'clock by Deputy
Marshal John A. Murphy.
Mr.. Burke held n conferences With
| his brother, Mr.. r. r. A. Burke, and his
| counsel, Mr.. Smith. and when the case
was called he waived examination and
/ was sent on. He declined to make
any statement whatever for publica-
ton, preferring to leave this to his
| counsel.
The matter Will go to the grand
Jury on October 7th, and IL the accused
Is sent on his case will come before
1 Judge Edmund Waddill In the United
j States District Court.
The alleged crime is in violation OF
! section 5467 of the Revised Statutes
4 of the United States, which fixes The
/ .|Epunishment upon conviction at one to
ten years in the penitentlary. IN the
discretion of the court.
i Is Widely Known.
Frank p. Burke. who is a man OF
|about fifty years of age, was born IN
4 Essex county, though he came to Riels-8
mond when quite youth. ae was tor
i a long time manager for Captain. "A.
i Pizzini. when the latter conducted g
a x...,.~ fst.N, mn 40 st
i Street, and later he succeeded to the
i ownership of the business
From his. early manhood up TO the
i time OF entering the post-oftlcc, Mr.
tiles and represented Clay Ward both
in the Council and on the Board OF
4 Fire Commissioners. Sss !.
i When the late William III. Culling-'
4 worth was made postmast er under Mt.
/ |Clevelands second administration, Mr..
Burke was appointed superin tendcntaof
i later promoted to superintendent of
i free delivery in the main office, which
4 position he held up TO April !, laos
when he was transferred to the super
Eintendeney of Station B, where he was
j arrested yesterday morning,
Il Mr.4J. M, Gordon, chief clerk OF Sta
tlon B. has been put In charge as SUI
peftraaltHb. petntmellt by pis pthe postmastsr
!. The accused is Il man OF family and
| resides at the southeast corner OF.
l lEighth aud Grace streets
VIII Make Big Fight.
Mr.. II. NJ Smith. a lifelong friend
OF Mr., Burke, was seen last night and
asked ii he had any statement to-
make concerning the case or 4 his
. client.
y II do not care to talk for publIca-
!. ton at this time" declared the law
!. yer, "fnrther than TO say thatgI shall
J make tho fight. OF my life Il for Mr..
!, Burke, and believe he VIII n ba
J exoncrated from tbs. charge against
: hlm. Aiy long Friendship for him and
d his farnilyyWlll impel me to put forth
ri my best efforts In his behalf. and will
tlfight for him to the very cnsi
: '.You may say that Mr.. George A.
: Hanson Will be associated with ma In
: the case. and We Will work untlrtngly
j for the interests OF Mr., Burke