Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1908-03-21
BANDIT STEALS MAIL
FOOLS CLERK BY SAYING HE
WAS AN INSPECTOR.
After Train Had Left Boomers Ferry
Robber Overpowers Clerks at Point
of Gun and Then Goes Through Reg
istered Mail-Stayed in Car Until It
Reached Spokane.


postotfice inspection, bandit obtain
ed admittance to the postal car on the
Great Northern Oriental Limited at
Boomers Ferry, Idaho, at an early hour
Sunday morning, overpowered the two
clerks at the point of a gun, locked
one in closet, bound the other and
put him under the table, and then,
coelly smoking a pipe all the while,
calmly rifled the through registered
mail pouches while the train was pro-
ceeding to Spokane. During the run
to Spokane OF 100 miles, which requir
ed over six hours, the robber received
the mail at the three stations where
the train stopped, and threw off the
paper mail
Just before the train entered the
yards of Spokane, the bandit leaped
from the car and with his booty in
small satchel, which he carried when
he entered the'coach at Bonners Ferry,
made his escape. Harry Diapers
bloodhounds were taken along the right
of way of the Great Northern and
picked up the scent within the city
limits less than a mile from the Great
4NOi lutlu luCy lOllOW6u IL
several blocks to a car line, where the
scent was lost. 1t is supposed that
the robber boarded a car and rode
downtown.
Six registered mail sacks were cut
and their contents rifled. All were for
points on the Coast, the sacks for Spo-
kane not being disturbed. 1t is not
known how much money and valuables
the bandit obtained, but he is supposed
to have made a big haul In opening
the sacks he sustained a severe cut
on his hand, supposed to be the third
finger of the right hand. He bled
freely from the wound and the mail
he touched was covered with blood.
1t was from this blood that was not
yet dry that the dogs were given the
scent.
When the train reached Spokane,
John Nystuen, postal clerk in charge,
was found locked in the clothes closet,
while Benjamin Stumpf, the other
clerk was under the table with a
jumper drawn over his head, and his
arms tightly bound with clothes line
rope that the bandit brought with him
doubtless for this purpose. 1t was then
that the story of the robbery was first
learned.
When the train stopped at Boomers
Ferry about o'clock yesterday morn
ing, a man came to the door of the
postal car and threw in mail sack
and a small grip, announcing that he
was w. c. Bennett, a postoflice inspec
tor.
Il will return in a few moments anC
ride with you 10 Spokane" he said t.
Nystuen, the clerk in charge. Stumpf
the other clerk, was asleep under ;
table covered with mail sacks.
Nystuen glanced at the mail sacl
and observed that it bore the name o
Bennett 1t was a paper mail sacl
such as railway postal employees carr!
their belongings in.
Just before the train departed from
the Idaho town the man entered tn
car.
rs there any mail for me?" he in
CURED of the clerk There ought t.
be some for me. Please look"
Nystuen ran over some mail AM
when he turned around to inform tn
supposed inspector that there wa
none he found a big revolver pointe
at his head.
Locks Clerk in Closet.
After warning the clerk to make n
cutlery and learned that another cler
was aboard, he directed Nystuen t
get into the clothes closet, in whic
there is barely sufficient room for
man to stand erect.
When the pseudo inspector first al
peared Nystuen awoke Stumpf and il
formed him that an inspector was
ride with them to Spokane and ths
he would awake him again shortly.
Ignorant of the daring robbery thu
was going on in the car Stumpf col
tinued to sleep lightly. When tn
train was leaving Standpoint Stuml
thought it strange that he had nC
been called and, looking up from III
derneath the table where he was res
ing he saw the stranger opening letter
AS he was crawling from underneat
the table the bandit turned aroun
whipped a revolver from his overco;
pocket and commanded him to renal
silent or he would blow his head o.
He then threw a jumper over IL
clerks head, bound his hands behiI
him and seated him in a chair to Il
far end of the car, with his face
the wall.
Pouches Cut Wide Open.
Most of the pouches were cut fro
top to bottom, and an examination
the contents showed that the band
had been careful to make thorout
search for plumber. Every packal
or envelope addressed to a bank sho
ed signs of having been carefully c
amined.
Heavy Penalty.
A report reached the police abo
a week ago that several mail pouch
had been stolen from the Northern F
cific depot platform at Sprague, Was