The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-16
MADE BIG HAUL.
w. E. McClelland, 21 Years Old,
RObs Mails in Topeka.
Served as Clerk in POstOfflce
Since January.
CAUGHT In THE ACT.
Inspectors Saw Him Slip Letters
in Coat Pocket.
Waived Arrangement to Be Pre-
sented to Grand Jury.
CAUGHT In THE ACT,

After working here and there for the
last three months in an attempt to as
certain the cause of startling losses
which have been reported through the
mails in the United States postofnce
at Topeka. government postoftice IN
spectors, C. A Mills OF Topeka, FRANK
F'rayser of Kansas City, Mo, ana n.
S Grogan of Lincoln, Neb., landed
their victim in the postoffice mailing
distributing room last night just petore
midnight William Eugene McClelland'
q young man 20 years of age and Nv
ing with his widow mother at 634 Madl-
son street. is the boy accused OF the
sensational thefts which will undouot-
edly amount to $1,000 or more he
waived arraignment before United
States Commissioner Frank Campbell
sEss lis morning and is now in the custody
: OF the United States marshal. He VIII
be presented to the grand jury for
further hearing. His bond has not been
fixed
The story of the capture of the young
man and the manner in which he has
been disposing of his valuable thefts IS
interesting in every detail.
Last January young McClelland was
hired as a substitute clerk by the local.
postal authorities. He is tall hne
looking fellow with a dashing appear
examinations in good style and was
given the position without a fear of
any kind On March l his work had
advanced to such a degree that he was
promoted to the position Of clerk with
a salary OF $500 per year.
Began Early to Steal.
About this time the losses from the
Topeka postoffice grew heavier and
heavier 1t is customary for a certain
number of losses to make their appear
ance and minor cases are held forth
in every office in the country. But the
losses from the Topeka office We're pure
ly local and tracers could find them at
the very door of the federal building
The above mentioned inspectors were
put on the job at once and they have
been lowering around the postoffice
building and around the city for the
last three months. 1t was not until
three weeks ago that they began to
suspect young McClelland and he was
watched with utn ost care. Evidence
grew stronger every day and last night
while distributing some of the mail he
was seen to slip letter in his coat
pocket. Then a package followed the
course Of the letter and about midnight
Inspector Grogan walked up behind the
clerk and tapped him on the shoulder.
The boy turned around with a jump
and looking the man in the eye for
minute he dropped his hands to his
side and with a stern voice he said:
"All right know what you want me
for"
And he was taken into custody by the
three men at once. At first he was
taken to the police station for confine-
ment but on account of the dirty look
Ing condition of the beds he was shifted
to the county Jail. The inspectors told
State Journal reporter this morning
that he was such a clean manly looking
fellow that they hated to send him in
with the vagrants and drunks at the
police station.
Admits His Guilt.
This morning he was brought before
United States Commissioner Campbell
for arraignment and waived. However
he admitted his guilt to his captors and
after a severe questioning on their part
he said that he had lots more stuff but
wouldn't give the location.
In their collection of valuables taken
from the boy this morning the postof-
fee inspectors displayed a miniature
jewelry store. Bracelets, rings by the
dozen, belt buckles, watches, chains.
? fraternity pins and emblems of all
kinds were found. His sweetheart,
young Topeka girl whose name was not
given out, was also searched and al
most 800 worth of jewelry was found
upon her person. She said that the young
man had only been going with her
three weeks and during this time he
had given her all the articles The in
spectors believe her perfectly innocent
of any knowledge of the crime and they
refused to give her name or entangle
her in the case. 1t is said that there
are any number of young girls in the
city with whom he has had social con-
nections and all of them are plentifully
supplied with valuable jewelry.
In his pockets were many articles
that, in the opinion of the inspectors
and officers, explain the wrong doing
of the boy. He had a score or more
Of the most obscene postcards obtain
able. They portrayed the immoral
nature of life to such an extent that
the mailing of one of them in a post
Office box would have reused as thor
ough an investigation as the one car
ried on for the robbery. In connection
with these cards he had in little red
note book the names of at least 25
Young girls over the city-some of them
from the best of families. Below
their names were the dates" or en-
gagements he had with them. Some
of the dates were made for a 1880
meeting in front of the transfer sta
tion and others in different parts of
the city.
Boy Acts Queer.
In his possession was found num-
ber of valuable articles of jewelry.
a one package which had just been
opened was consigned from the Meyer
Jewelry company of Kansas City to
@ H Morrison, a jeweler of this city.
There were any number of letters
with money in them which had not
been opened The young man had
felt the contents but had not the
chance to open the mail
The postoffice inspectors and the
federal officials are of the opinion that
the Young man is mentally deranged
He is queer in his actions and the
presence of so much obscene literature
together with his i'll contrived action
in giving girl SO much jewelry when
he was getting but $500 year point
towards weakness of some kind. He
uas very crude in covering some of