The Washington herald., 1912-04-08
NEWSOFALEXANDRIA
Post-ofice Employe Charged with
Rifing Mails-Egg Rolling To-
day at Washington Park.

Alexandria. Va. April III. Linden
Wheatley. thirty years old, a mailing
clerk in the city post-office, was arrested
shortly before l o'clock this afternoon
just after leoving the post-office. by
Post-offics Inspectors Mosby and Robin
son, on a charge of rifiing a decoy letter
Of s. Wheatley will appear before
United States Commissioner R. p. W.
Garnett at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning
to furnish bond for his appearance
Thursday morning at a preliminary hear
ing.
wheatIey was arrested by means of a
decoy letter sent from Richmond, Va.
to Atlantic City, n. ]. The letter was
mailed last night in Richmond and sent
to n ficticious address In Atlantic City.
II is claimed the letter contained eight
81 bills. all OF which had been marked
by the inspectors. This letter. Il is al
legged, together with a number of others.
all for New Jersey, came into the Alex
andria office this morning. In post-Offics
circles this frequently happens, and the
letters thus sent are again placed i'm a
pouch by the mailing clerk and imme-
diately dispatched TO their destination
after being marked 'Missent."
1t Is said that when the package con-
tanning the decoy letter arrived the in
spectors were secreted in the Office and
watched Wheatley. His duties having
been completed. he departed. and had
gone but a short distance from the Office
when arrested by the two inspectors.
who had shadowed him.
Immediately after his arrest wheatIey
was escorted back to the office. and an
examination disclosed, il is said. that he
had in his possession rs. among which
was the money from the deCoy letter 1t
fS -lafpn.ad Nngnarfprg 10 ha
cused sign each of the marked bills and
returned TO him the sum of SIS. Wheat
ley denies the charge, and claims he can
prove his innocence.
II Is understood that for some time past
money at times sent through the local
post-office has been missing. and the
Post-office Department has been working
on the case.
The arrest Of wheatley came as a
shock TO his many friends in this city.
He is well known and has always borne
an excellent reputation, never before
having been in trouble. He lives with
his wife. child. and parents at 4l6 South
Lee street, and has been employed at
the city post-office as a mailing clerk for
about seven years. He receives a salary
OF sl.1O0 a year. having recently been
granted an increase.
A meeting OF the city Democratic COM
mittee will be held at s o'clock to-mor-
row night at the Hotel Rammel. when
plans will be made for the primary which
will be held April y for the purpose of
a mayor. eight members OF
the lower branch Of CITY council, and
four members OF the board Of aldermen.
At this meeting the cost OF the primary
will be assessed against the candidates,
and other arrangements made.
separate window has been installed
in the city post-ofice by Postmaster
Eggborn on the ST. Asaph street side of
he lobby. for the postal savings business. |
instructions and information regarding |
he working OF tbs department will, II |
s announced, be given by a clerk to the |
'atrons of this department.
Since the installation Of the department |
here the business has grown rapidly.
AIexandria's younger population will |
o-morrow afternoon journey to the
George Washington Park, formerly |
Shooters Hill, west of this city. for the |
purpose OF egg rolling. II the weather |
s propitious IL is expected that the hill |
will be thronged with the little ones,
many of whom will be accompanied by
heir elders.
The Alexandria Musical Club has ar
anged TO give a free concert at 4 o'clock
n the afternoon.
Many of the youngsters in this city,
by their parents, have also
tanned to go egg rolling at the White
-ot, in Washington.
The funeral Of James Finnell. who was
illed by being struck by an electric
rain on Friday last. took place at
clock this afternoon from his home.
q North West street Services were
onducted by Rev. John Lee Allison,
astor OF the Second Presbyterian. |
'hurch. Burial was in Bethel Cemetery.
Notwithstanding the showers this
forming, large congregations attended
he various churches throughout the
ity, and many Easter costumes were
cen. The Easter parade this afternoon
'as. however. postponed until next Sun
ay.
A-euchre will be given Tuesday night ',