Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-01
WORK QUICKLY DONE
intelligent Action in Richmond
Post Office Case.
PRAISE FOR INSPECTORS
Robbers Run Down With DISPATCH
by Officers Detailed to Pur.
sue Them, -.

Il cannot commend too highly the bril-
liant work OF inspectors F. r. Barclay,
]. B. Robertson and ]. c. Rooms in the
Richmond post Office robbery case. They
skinned the Sherlock Holmes stories to a
FRAGILE"
Such was the declaration this morning
OF Inspector Harrison. in charge OF the
Washington division, Post Once Depart
ment, whose men tracked and captured
two of the Richmond burglars and recov-
cred the greater part of their booty.
The robbery is said to have been the
greatest ever suffered in the postal serv-
ice, and, according to Inspector Harri-
son, the men who followed the clue with
success have made a record never before
equaled by the inspectors force.
1T was not alone in their obedience to
Instructions said Mr.. Harrison, but in
the exercise OF quick and correct judg-
ment at every stage, and all the time un-
der the most difficult circumstances.
There were a dozen times when a mis-
take would have resulted In total failure
in the case, but it was fever made
Method Of Burglars.
Mr.. Harrison said the burglars, after
entering the room where the vault was
located. blinded two of the windows to
shield their operations. They then bored
hole in each Of the vault doors, thread
ed 1t with a fine instrument used for that
purpose and fitted a lever In 1t that was
worked back and forth until the bar on
the inside of the vault door broke and the
locking combination was destroyed. No
dynamite or nitro-glycerin was Used,
although the burglar outfit which was
captured, and which Mr.. Harrison says Is
the most complete one he has ever seen,
contained explosives and everything nee
essary TO such work. Inspectors c.. II.
Saffell and v. E. Alberto of the Washing
ton division were also employed in the
case.
Mr. Harrison says the most valuable as
sistance was rendered by l.. L. Scherrer.
chief special agent Of the Chesapeake and
Ohio railroad at Richmond. Mr.. Scherrer
gave his personal services to the inspect
ors at every stage Of the case where they
were needed. Fay, alias Cunningham, the
man who was captured in the street
spectors Barclay, Robertson and Rooms.
Chester, the other man, was caught by
Detective DAILY OF the New York police
department.
Praise From Pinkerton Men.
The warmest admiration Of the local
inspectors work was expressed, Mr.. Har-
rison said, by a noted Pinkerton man
and others in New York. Stamps valued
between $4,000 and $4,000 are still miss
ing. The money taken from the rob-
bers on their arrest, between $3.50 and
$500. Mr.. Harrison said. was probably
thei" own and not money taken from
the Richmond post ONCE, where they only
secured 1910 In cash. He believes the
remainder of the stamps will be recovered
and hopes to ultimately land the other
thief or thieves, for he says, the burglary
was committed by more than two.
With the robbers outfit was captured
their plans for contemplated burglaries.
notably one to follow the Richmond case
at Asheville. N. c. He says there is but
little. if any, doubt that Fay was en-
gagged in a Chicago robbery which &C.
CURED several years ago.
Inspectors Barclay. Robertson and
Rooms are still engaged in the case away
from the city. and inspectors Saffel and
Alberto are shaping up the ends at Rich
mond. Mr.. Harrison arrived in this city
from New York at midnight last night
and was warmly congratulated by the
departments officials on his appearance at
the department this morning.