The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-27
SCHERER TO GET
SMALL REWARD
Postmaster-Gencral Won't APP
prove $500 Claim for Trail
ing Post-Otfice Robbers.
SENDS REPORT TO SENATE
Department, However. Comedies
That Officer Rendered
Splendid Service.

While admitting that the capture
! of the Richmond post-ofiice robbers
and the recovery OF their loot was
due largely 10 the work of Luther /.
Schercr. general agent of the Chcsa.
peake ana ohio Railway, Postmaster
General Hitchcock, IL . report made
to the senate yesterday. says that un-
der the law he does not think that
Mr.. Schcrer should receive more than
$500 for his services Some time ago
a bill was introduced in Congress 10
pay MIR Schcrer $500. The Senate
wanted Information. II turned to the
Postmaster General. who declines TO
! recommend payment above that gen
orally provided for in such cases.
| Immediately mpcn the receipt OF
tho report of the postodice robbery
/ an Investigation was begun by post
! Office inspectors, who wcrc ably as
sisted by Mr.. Scherer. Upon his
suggestion it was ascertained that a
few days before the robbery man
claiming to represent "A New York
novelty house, had rented n sample
room in the AIhambra Hotel, at
eighth and Franklin Streets. i full
description OF the man who rented
the room was obtained from thc hotel
manager and upon breaking open the
D
all entrances had been carefully
wired
Trunks Traced From Hotel.
Il was also learned that three
trunks had been removed from this
room at about o'clock on the morn
ing OF March IS. 1910. ny a driver
End checked to Washington. With
this information, arrangements We're
made win MIR Schcrer for the use of
Il 81, l,i
assistance In iracirg the three trunks
BY his aid it Was ascortdincd the
trunks had been rcchccked at Wash
ington, to different destinations
The trunks were followed by post
office inspectors the robbers appre-
hended in New York city. and $751;
.iS in stamps was recovered. The
work of following the trunks and APP
pretending tho robbers was perform
ed by the post-cflce inspectors and
others based uron Information Sc
cured by Mr.. Schcrcr In his Office by
use of the long distance telephone
the expenses incident to which We're
paid by the department. OF course
the services OF Mr. Schcror were Of
material assistance in the capture Of
tho burglars
Claims for reward on account OF
services rendered IN this case were
submitted to tne department by Mr..
Schcrer and others. and the inspectors
recommended in this case tho payment
of tho max! A1.m amount of reward al
lowablc under the Postmaster Gem
erals notice OF reward and recon-
mrnded. in view OF the services rem
dercd that Mr. Scherer bo paid an
amount Of $500, the payment Of the
rems5pler slOo. bsins commended
for one OF the o.Aer claimants IN the
case
Held Down by Inv.
TIC claims. accompanied with nil
other papers relating thereto, have
oeen certified to tbs auditor for the
Post-Onice Department for payment.
The department does not desire TO
bcl!ttle the services rendered by Mr..
Scherer In this case. but recognizes
that his assistance was probably tho
greatest factor in the apprehension of
two notorious professional burglars
and the recovery of a large amount Of
government property. However, the
offers of reward made ny the Post
Office Department and the amounts
fixed for the arrest and conviction of
certain offenders are based upon the
appropriation made ~ Congress. and
nave been in effect for number of
years There have been a number of
exceedingly mc-itoriotis cases, in which
tha claimants have been REIN bursed
only 10 the extent Of the maximum
amount payablc under the notice OF
reward. and though the services of
Mr. Schcrcr n tbs instance were val
,iHflo {. * suggest sd whether II would