The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-09-20
Israel Edmunds, Re
Gently Suspended, Is.
Caught Red-Handed.
POCKETS BULGING
WITH LETTERS
Woman Whose Suspicious Were
Aroused Called Officer, Latter
Drawing Pistol to Stop
Flight - Police Believe
Negro Had Long
Been Stealing.

Caught red-handed In the aot. Israel
s Edmunds. colored mail carrier
who has been under suspension since
carly in August. was arrested last
night by Policeman W. e. Harris OF
charge OF rih!ns the mail box at the
corner OF Hancock and Clay Streets
When searched in the Second Station.
Edmunds's pockets were bulg!ng with
unstamped mail. and many OF the let
ters had been opened. and, perhaps,
empticd OF money
Postmaster Edgar Allan. rr was
notified Immediately OF the arrest and
at once telegraphed the Information
TO the Post -Ofiice Department in Wash
!ngton. He said that he would appear
IN Police Court this morning. and that
ne would request that the prisoner be
turned over 10 the Federal authorities
re stated that Edmunds had been
placed under suspension pending an in
'esosation into alleged irregularities
First Seen by woman.
Edmunds was frs, noticed standing
AT the corner OF Hancock and Clay
streets by Mrs. Warren. who lives in
the nclghborhood According 10 her
statement, he had already opened the
ma!i box once and taken out mail. and
Was evidently waiting for another on
portnnity TO finish his work, when she
ran across TO the home OF Policeman
Harris. 100 West Clay street TO noti-
~ him OF the suspicious looking man
lurking on the corner
harris was preparing 10 20 TO bed,
as he had been relieved at O'Clock
lie pccred out OF his window. and also
noticed Edmunds \ westbound Clay
street car came up. aud Edmunds. ac-
~
passed, and then stepped 20 the curb
Ing and looked up and down the street
Ihen. the officer says. Edmuuds opened
tne mail box and took out the mail
which he showed into his pockets.
OFFICER shoots Warning.
hastily donning few clothes and
throwing his ralncoat over his
shoulder the officer crept out of his
house. and advanced toward the negro.
But the latter saw him coming, and.
ieapinS back from the mail box. ran
westward up the street. Drawing his
revolver and shouting a warning, the
officer started in pursuit. But nc soon
outran Edmunds. and caught him with
in the square.
Edmunds offered no resistance In
custody Of the officer, ne walked to
the station. where he quietly submitted
10 the customary search. lie voiced
no protest, and replied haltingly to all
question put 10 him. lie appeared to
be dazed and nervous
Letters were found in every pocket
Many of them had been opened. but
the prisoner would not say whether
he had taken money from them. TWO
one-dollar bills and some small change
were also found among his possessions
In addition there was 4 small nle and
key which had but recently bean
fled.
Some Mailed In August.
The police believe this TO be the KEY
with which Edmunds opened the mail
box. Some Of the letters which had been
opened we're dated August 10, showing
the police say, that Edmunds had evil
IDENTIFY been rifimg mail boxes for
some time. Thsy were discolored from
much handling and pocket wear. ON
ono was an outside address. showing
that the letter hal been mailed some:
where on Allen Avenue. There were
numerous postcards and picture
postals. One OF the postcards was, by
some strange fortune. addressed TO the
First Police Station, being n notice
from Cit" Electrician W. H. Thompson
Some OF the letters were intended for
the foreign mails. and there was one
written in Greek. AT least the police
took 1t to be Greek Sergeant Kerse
placed all the mail in a package, and
It will be used as evidence against
idnlundS Wnen ne appears In Police
Court this morning. Postmaster Allan
will ask, however, that it Ire turned
over TO him as property of the United
States authorities. Whether. however,
il will have to be kept until Edmunds
comes up for formal trial to be used
again as evidence. remains n question.
Threw Mail Away.
Edmunds was suspended by Mr.. AL
Ian OH August S, following n charge
that he had left n large bundle of
mail, containing forty circulars and
one letter. in n pile of railroad ties
on the tracks of the Richmond. Fred
ericiisburg and Potomac Railroad. One
OF the letters found on lSdmunds was a
personal one to him from the post
master, explaining why he had been
suspended. Another letter. written by
Edmunds himself. which had not been
mailed. contained his explanation OF
the act charged against him. He said
that ho was covering the routes of two
men, and that the mail matter in
trusted to him was inordinately heavy.
He placed the circulars and one letter
in the railroad ties, he said, because
he had not time to pack them while in
the post Office. and that he placed them
In the ties because they were in his
way. He went back for them, he wrote,
but may have dropped the bundle when
ne walked away. The bundle OF mail
described In Mr. Allan's letter was
later found and turned over to the
post office authorities. Mr.. Allan said
that Edmunds had been in the mail
carrier service for about two years. He
was school teacher before entering
the postal service. His letter shows
him to be man of good education.
Edmunds said that he is thirty eight
years old. His home is at 1905 Jac-
queline Street. lic has a wife and
family. When asked why he robbed
The mail box, he said simply, II don't
know"