The new era., 1909-04-15
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replied:
We'll, from my own experience, 1t
has become fixed conviction with me
that no crime is ever committed
where the criminal fails TO leave be-
hind some clew that, if it is only found
and its worth appreciated, will in
variably lead to the detection of the
culprit.
II have case in mind, post-office
robbery. 1t happened when | was con-
nected with that department, before I
was transferred to the broader field of
the secret service. ! will never forget
the village where 1t 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, l almost de-
stroyed my digestion endeavoring to
support life on its abominable fare.
believe that l 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,
about $500 in money and brand new
money-order book. This last item
gave Importance 10 the case. because
a book of money-order blanks in the
hands of clever crook can cause the
government more trouble than a ses-
sion OF congress.
The safe was crude iron affair
which was fastened by means of
clumsy brass key. The key was too
large and too heavy to be1ugged about,
and after the safe was locked it was
hid away in a 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,
young lady of fine appearance and
charming personality. s
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 a suspicious circumstance.
as he said that persons of their type
always bought stamped envelopes-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, window-glass
had been broken out, and Mason espe-
ciaiiy directed my attention to 1t, as
he said 1t 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 l found
was small steel pin with a green
glass head. 1t was in a crack Of the
floor Immediately in front OF the rified
safe. Without attracting attention,
secured the pin and stuck 1t beneath
the lapel of my coat. l thought 1t
might prove of value. 1t did. 1t was
the key to the situation.
MY examination showed that the
robbers had entered the post-ofiice
through the front door, and that the
sproken window was merely a blind or
Else 1t had been broken by accident.
/ didn't take much stock In this last
theory, but put the window down as a
deliberate effort to muddy the water.
There were two doors, a front and a
back one. The rear one was kept
locked and the key to 1t hung on
nail In the office. Only Mason and
Miss Lundy had keys to the front
door.
1T 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 par
ticular evening. No one knew where
they had been nor what they had done
during this period. Mason had left his
home and Miss Lundy her boarding
house early after supper on that
night on the pretext of taking a walk.
Mason had returned sometime after
midnight. The hour of Miss Lundy's
return was uncertain.
Already sorely puzzled over the evil
dence which was accumulating, one
morning. upon arising, l was more
than ever .mystif1ed by finding slip
OF paper under the door of my room.
In sprawling. unnatural hand. four
words were written upon it
Mason robbed the safe.
When visited the postoffce, no.
ticed that Mason was pale and hag-
gard and he was as nervous as a
Gagged leopard.
When went to the hotel at noon,
found tiny note on the table in my
room. 1t was a dainty, perfumed bit
OF paper, just the kind that refined
1Rung ladies employ In their polite