The state herald., 1909-03-26
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wen, from my own experience, IL
has become fixed conviction with me
that no crime is ever committed
where the criminal fails to leave be-
hind some clew that, II 1t is only found
and its worth appreciated, will in
Nariably lead to the detection OF the
culprit.
Il have a case in mind. post-ofiice
robbery. II 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 II occurred II 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 abominable fare.
believe that | felt a keener satisfac-
tion In the royal meal | secured at
Boston. on my return to Washington.
than / did in capturing the author of
the robbery.
The post-office safe had been
tapped for a large quantity of stamps.
money-order book. This last item
gave Importance to the case. because
book of money.order blanks in the
hands Of a clever crook can cause the
government more trouble than ses-
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 lugged about.
and after the safe was locked II was
hid away in corner of the cash.
drawer. A peculiar circumstance of
the robbery was that the safe had
been found locked and the key was in
its place of concealment. The cul
prits had possessed an intimate
knowledge of the habits OF the post.
master and his assistant. Miss Lundy.
charming personality.
Mason. the postmaster, had a
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.
sidered this suspicious circumstance.
as he said that persons OF their type
always bought stamped envelopcs-no
more than they needed at the time
and that they always mailed their let.
ters 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 H. At the
back OF the building. n window glass
had been broken out. and Mason espe.
cially directed my attention to II. as
he. said II must have been by this
means that the robbers gained en-
trance to the building. All OF the
doors had been securely locked.
l made minute examination OF the
premises. and the only thing I found
was u small steel pin with a green.
glass head. II was In crack OF the
floor Immediately In front OF the rified
safe. without attracting attention, !
secured the pin and stuck Il beneath
the lapel OF my coat. I thought Il
might prove OF value. II did. Il 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 II had been broken by accident.
didn't take much stock In this last
theory. but put the window down as n
deliberate EFFORT to muddy the water.
There were two doors. n front and
back one. The rear one was kent
locked and the key TO II hung on a
nail In the Office. Only Mason and
Miss Lundy had keys to the front
door
III was not 80 easy to trace Mason
and the young lady on that evening.
After some considerable work I
learned that neither OF them had been
at home the early part OF that par.
ticular evening. No one knew where
they had been nor what they had done
during this period. Mason had lef, his
home and Miss Lundy her boarding
house early after supper on TIM,
night on the pretext Of taking u walk.
Mason had returned sometime after
midnight. The hour OF Miss Lundy's
return was uncertain.
Already sorely puzzled over the evi.
dencc which was nccuinulating. one
morning. upon arising. was more
than ever mystined by finding n slip
Of paper under the door Of my room.
In n sprawiing. unnatural hand, four
words were written upon II
Mason robbed the safe.
when ! visited the postofIicc. 1 no.
iiccd that Mason was pale and hag.
gard and hc was nm nervous M a
Gagged leopard.
when I went to the hotel at noon.
I found tiny note on the table In my
room, II was n dainty, perfumcd bit
Of paper. lust the kind that refined
young ladies employ Ia their polite
correspondence. jumped TO the con.
clusion that Il must be further mes.