Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-17
Of Robbery to Cover Up
Shortage In Accounts
Is Said to HaVe.Been Confer
red by Postmaster Sampson
Of Hanover, \. H....Shortage Made
Good. ostmaster Arrested.

hanover, ~ H., jan. lb.-fOStIildStGI
Leon +. Sampson, who last night re-
ported to the police that he had been
held up and robbed Of Office funds t.
the amount of $50, was placed under
arrest tonight following 4 confession
which he Is alleged to have made 10
a postofflce inspector. Postmaster
Sampson Is said to have confessed to
the inspector that he manufactured the
story of the robbery on account of a
shortage in the postofflce funds. a
warrant was issued from the office of
the United States commissioner in Con-
cord. and tonight a deputy United
States marshal left that city for Han
over with the document. Postmaster
Sampson, meanwhile, was detained at
the police station here.
The discovery of peculiar circun-
stances In connection with the alleged
robbery is said to have led to suspicion
on the part Of the officers who investi-
gated. Late this afternoon the post
master was subjected to q long and
searching Observation-Disclosures by Post
office Inspector Rapp and ut the end
acknowledged that his story was IN
true. in the cellar of the postofIice 4
was found hidden.
The story OF Postmaster Sampson as
told to the police last night was that
while he was sitting 1T his desk in the
postofiice arranging his cash account for
the middle of the month lie heard q crash
Of glass from window beside him and.
looking up, baheld revolver pointed at
him BY hand outside the window. The
postmaster said that q masked man held
tho revolver and demanded the money
which was On the desk. Postmaster
Sampson said that he turned over this
money and also his gold watch to the
robber who then disappeared. The post
master was discovered lying on the floor
beside his desk apparently in Il fainting
condition by Assistant Postmaster kewe.
who had been in the basement to fix the
fires for the night.
Chief of Police Gauthier. who was no.
titled of the alleged robbery by the post
master, Immediately went to the office
and put in the larger part of the evening
and early morning In an inspection of the
premises. The chief noticed Immediately
that the glass from the broken window
was all on the outside OF the building
and he considered this circumstance
very peculiar one in view of the post
masters statement that the window was
broken by the robber from the outside.
The CHIEFS suspicious were aroused and
he made q thorough search OF the base
ment of the postoiIice, eventually lind
ing the tobacco box containing tie mon
ey The amount, s2S5. found in the box.
is exactly one-haIf of the sum of which
the postmaster asserted he had been
robbed.
Mr.. Sampson is alleged to have admit
ted that he lad used postoffice money to
pay creditors who have been pressing
him, and that he invented the story OF
the robbery to cover up the shortage.
The amount Of the shortage. 1t Is said,
has been made up to the postofiice by
Mr.. Sampson. so that his account with
the government is now correct.
Postmaster Sampson Is under bonds OF
$sNla. He is IS years old and has wife
and one child.