The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1910-04-30
Bemidji Lad Stole Mail From P0stofi!ce
Lock Boxes Lett Open by
Patrons.
A CHECK FOR OVER $4,000
FOUND BEHIND LOCAL STORE
George Wnterstein C0nfesses to Break
ing Into Several Houses, Stealing
Money and Jewelry.

While fast developing into an
accomplished thief and burglar, the
criminal career of George Winter
stein, the 14.year-old son of a local
carpenter, was checked this morn
ing by his arrest for stealing letters
addressed to prominent business
firms from the postofice boxes.
One of the letters contained a draft
for over $4,000 and in all, the checks
amounted to several thousands of
dollars. The boy confessed to break
ing into several houses within the
last two weeks.
Winterstein admitted to Chief
of Police Benner and Carl Egge of
Crookston, postoffice Inspector, this
morning that he had taken between
80 and 40 letters from lock boxes in
the Benidji postoffice on which the
combination had not been turned.
He had taken checks from the
letters and attempted to destroy the
remainder. Other boys, younger
than Winterstein, who had helped
him spend much of the money, aided
the officers in recovering % letters
which had been hid behind the
stores of John Doran and John
Flemming. Among the letters found
were some belonging to the Crooks
ton Lumber company, C. w
Scrutchin and H. A. Simons.
Young George took a check to
the Office of the Crookston Lumber
company week ago, saying that he
had found it. He was given IS
cents by one of the Crookston men.
Yesterday he went back to the office
again with two more checks made
out to the company, declaring that
he had found these slips also. The
police were telephoned and went
over to the Crookston mill, where
they arrested the boy.
Winterstein confessed this morn
ing that he had opened several
boxes, which had not been locked,
and taken letters, many of which
contained checks, the total amount
of which was nearly $4,000. He
also acknowledged that he had
broken into several residences within
the last two weeks, securing consid-
cradle money and jewelry. The
homes of DR.. Gilmore, Clerk of
Court Rhoda and Ed Stevens were
among those entered by the young
lad. Many of the checks had been
rubbed with dirt to make them
&ppear to have been lost and found
on he streets. A check for over
40 70, belonging to the Crookston
l umber company, was found by the
pe llos today behind Doran's store.
Upon investigation by Postmaster
Erickson last evening it was found
that over 100 lock boxes in the local
postoffice had been left open by the
renters. These people arc advised
to use the combination on their
boxes.
Postofice Inspector Egge had not
decided this noon whether to prose-
cute Winterstein in the United
States courts or to turn the case
over to the state. He is awaiting
the return of County Attorney Nc
Kusick to the city. The city
authorities are determined to arrest
the lad, if the government men
should allow him to 90 free, for
burglary. Young Winterstein will
probably be sentenced to the state
reform school at St. Cloud.
Chief of Police Benner believes
that he has put a stop to a long
series of petty thieveries and house
breakings by this arrest. His
opinion is that young Winterstein
is responsible for a large number of
such acts which have been committed
in Bemidji during the last two years.
The other lads, who were found with
George, had nothing to do with
stealing the money or checks and
were dismissed by the officers, but
George is in the county Jail, await
ing the return of MI. McKusick.