The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-10-26
HE DID BUSINESS
WITH HIGH HAND
DICKINSON PRESS TELLS ABOUT
INTERSECTION or MAIL BY
NEW HRADEc POSTMASTER
WHO WAS ENGAGED ACTIVELY
IN MMERcIAL FIELD.

Concerning the disclosures made re.
Gently at New Hradec postoface, The
Dickinson Press says:
! The investigation OF the postofffce al
| New Hradec, as promised by The Press
last week, brought out some sensation
al disclosure. For some time numer-
GUS complaints had been made to the
department OF the state Of affairs In the
office. the chief accusation being that
the postmaster had intercepted mail
intended for q local business firm, or
dered goods for himself in their name,
opened registered mail, himself sign
ing the receipt cards, etc.
A plan was laid by Inspector George
s. Drake to catch the postmaster, Rev.
Edward KasaI, who was also priest Of
the New Hradec parish, by means of
decoy letters. On Thursday of last
week the inspector went out to the Of
flee and caught his man In the very
act OF opening letters addressed to
other people.
Investigation followed which disclos-
ed the fact that he not only opened Lett
tiers according to his fancy, but that
he ordered and sold goods In the name
Of the local firm Of Kotselecky q Wo-
kal, with whose business he was famil-
lar. appropriating the PROFITS to him
self. One case in point is cited, where
in he ordered and insisted upon his
parishioners buying. cream separators
of a certain make. the commission ac-
cruing to himself.
One excuse that Is offered for the err
ring postmaster is that he but recently
came to this country; that he was born
and educated in the old country and,
therefore did not understand how they
do things here but ii Is needless to
add that the excuse will not count for
much in this case.
He has carried things with high
hand during his incumbeney and he
must now learn that he is subject to
the law in this country and that Uncle
Sam is very severe With offenders in
the postal department.
On Monday a warrant was sworn out
before Justice Folsom, in the absence
of IT, s. Commissioner w, r. Everett;
and Inspector Drake and u. s. Mar
shall A. S. Quist started out to bag
their game, only to find upon al
at the New Hradec Office that the bird
Idu HOWL.
On Thursday another u. s. marshal
appeared on the scene, arrested Edward
Kasal and took him to Dickinson. He
was taken before Justice Folsom where
he pleaded guilty to charges made and
was placed under 81 900 bonds, which
he was able to give.
The bondsmen for the postmaster
were Rev. Thos. Rabsteinek and SEN
L. A. Simpson Of this city. They re-
signed. however. last June and the
names Of Joseph Polenska and w.
were placed on the bond
1t is not definitely known whether
these latter bondsmen were ever for
mally accepted. in which case the for
mer will be held for any shortage
which may be found in the accounts.
1t Is not known, however, that there
Is any shortage. Irregularities and mall
feasance in Office are the present
charges.
1t Is understood that Edward Kasal
made a full confession to Inspector
Drake on his visit at the office last
week, possibly thinking that by so
doing the various charges against him
would not be pushed. This, however,
Is not the way Uncle Sam does bust
ness