The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1914-02-14
BOYS CAUGHT
RIFLING MAIL
NUMEROUS INSTANCES or LOST
MAIL ARE NOW EXPLAINED
WILL PROBABLY GO TO LANslHG
Post Office Inspector Sehlaback Win Take
Up the Case FOR the Government
Very Soon

Patrons ut the Crystal Falls post
office have been complaining for sew
eral months about the loss OF mail.
Those particularly affected were A.
Mendelson. Carl Brewer. Aryid Bjork
and Mat Hurja. Much mail sent to
these people had been lost In transit
somewhere but where that somewhere
was couldn't be fathomed until
couple OF weeks ago when some boys,
hanging about in the lobby of the post
Office attracted the attention of Post
master Ball and he ordered watch
kept. Matt Hurja became very in
terested as he was losing lot OF mail
and he set his boys to watching TO try
and get some idea OF the persons re-
sponsI BILE for the theft.
Wednesday Onie Hurja noticed An
drew Thomas and Fred Hill. two boys
about IA years old, come out of the
post Office and 20 up the alley back OF
the post Office. They slipped in be-
tween the Parks hardware building
and the Moriarty building and in
short time lodged out again and ran
on up the alley. Hurja followed them
up and found several letters belong
ing to Mr.. Mendelson and Mr.. Brew
or, torn open and scattered about the
ground. de reported his lind to
Postmaster Ball who immediately
went 10 the place and found the mail.
Jimmie Strand. boy about the
same age as the two mentioned, was
in the Office at the time the two boys
were there. He was found and he
identified the two as having openeu
the Mendelson and Brewer boxes and
taken the mail thereirom.
Investigation carried on that after
noon disclosed the fact that an organic
cd gang OF thieves has existed among
the boys, the two mentioned, with Joe
Oleshosky, who was this week sent 70
the industrial school. formed the great
or portion of the gang. Whether
there are others or not has not been
discovered but il will all come out In
the investigation which the post Office
officials will make.
It is learned that many different
stunts have been pulled off by the
boys. At one time two packages re-
oieyed by parcels post disappeared
They were addressed to Mat Hurja
and their disappearance is explained
in the fact that Mr.. Huria lost his key
some time ago and IL fell into the
hands OF this gang who came TO the
post Office. opened the box and reached
in and grabbed the packages. The
tag 20 one package was found ON Su-
perior avenue several days after the
disappearance OF the package
Postmaster Ball at onos reported
the affair TO the post Office authorities.
Ho got into communication with NJ.
Il Schlabsck. inspector for this dis
trio. who was at the 500 at the time
he called mp. Mr Schlaback replied
that be will be here in a few days and
take the matter up
It Il not likely that the boys will
get off this time as the party interested
is the federal government. In the
case Of the state courts. leniency mas
been carried TO degree, here. Many
times boys have been brought before
the Judge Of probate and let 90 on q
promise Of good behavior, because
some one made plea in the boys be-
balf. This condition has been winked
at until the boys have got very bolc
and many other boys who associated
with these bad ones have been inhu-
enced % wrong ieing.