The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1909-03-26
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We'll from my own experience, it
mas become fixed conviction with NE
that no crime is ever committed
where the criminal fails 10 leave be-
mind some clew that, if it is only found
and its worth appreciated will in
variably lead to the detection of the
culprit
Il have case in mind, a post-offiCe
robbery. It happened when | was con-
nected with that department. before
was transferred to the broader field Of
the secret service. will never forget
the village where it occurred. 1t was
town of some 300 or 400 souls in the
Green mountains. 1t had only one
hotel, and in the three weeks that
was detained there, | almost de-
stroyed my digestion endeavoring to
support life on its abOminab!e fare.
believe that | felt keener Satisfac-
ton in the royal meal | secured at
Boston on my return to Washington
than | did in capturing the author Of
the robbery.
THE post-ofiice safe had been
tapped for large quantity of stamps,
about $500 in money and a brand new
money-order book. This last item
gave importance to the case, because
a book of money-order blanks in the
hands Of clever crook can cause the
government more trouble than SEES
sion of congress.
The safe was crude iron affair
which was fastened by means of a
clumsy brass key. The key was too
large and too heavy to be logged about,
and after The safe was locked it was
hid away in corner of the cash.
drawer 4 peculiar circumstance of
the robbery was that the safe had
been found locked and the key was in
its place OF conceament. The cul-
prits had possessed an intimate
knowledge of the habits of the post
master and his assistant. Miss Lundy.
a young lady of fine appearance and
charming personality.
Mason the postmaster, had
theory that two tramps had committed
the theft, He said that two suspicious
characters had come into the Office the
afternoon before the robbery and had
bought five two-cent stamps. He con
Sldered this a suspicious circumstance.
as he said that persons of their type
always bought stamped enyelopes-no
more than they needed at the time
and that they always mailed their let
tiers before leaving the office, address
ing them with the dilapidated pen
maintained by the postmaster at all
country Offices for victims who have
no alternative than to use it. AT the
back OF the building, a window-glass
mad been broken out, and Mason espe-
cAlly directed my attention to it. as
he said it must have been by this
means that the robbers gained en-.
trance to the building. All of the
doors had been securely locked.
made minute examination of the
premises, and the only thing found
was small steel pin with green
glass head. 1t was in a crack of the
floor Immediately in front of the riAed
safe. Without attracting attention,
secured the pin and stuck it beneath
the lapel of my coat | thought il
might prove of value 1t did. 1t was
the key to the situation.
My examination showed that the
robbers had entered the post-office
through the front door, and that the
broken window was merely blind or
else it had been broken by accident.
didn't take much stock in this last
theory, but put the window down as
deliberate effort to muddy the wafer
There We're two doors, front and a
back one. The rear one was kent
locked and the key to it hung on 4
nail in the office. Only Mason and
Miss Lundy had keys to the from
door.
IT was not SO easy to trace Mason
and the young lady on that evening
After some considerable work
learned that neither of them had been
at home the early part of that mar.
ucuiar evening. No one knew where
they mad been nor what they had done
during this period. Mason had left his
home and Miss Lundy her boardpe
house early after supper on thar
night ON the pretext of taking a walk
Mason had returned sometime alto,
midnight The hour of Miss Lundvs
return was uncertain.
Already sorely puzzled over the evi.
dence which was accommodating one
morning, upon arising. was more
than ever mystitied by finding a slim
OF paper under the door of NV room
In a sprawling. unnatural hand fonr
words were written upon it
Mason robbed the safe.
When | visited the postofice, / no.
ticed that Mason was pale and bag.
gard and he was as nervous as
Gagged leopard.
When went to the hotel at noon
found q tiny mite IN tbo tabla a.; -