Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-12-13
METUCHEN POST OFFICE
AND OTHER PLACES ROBBED
tContinued from page ID

Inc real estate office OF Edgar
Campbell. adjoining the express
office, was also entered some time
yer the weekend, but IL was said
this morning that nothing had been
stolen although the contents had
been rihed.
At $50 o'clock last night John
Farrell. assistant postmaster. went
into the postoffice, turned on the
lights and opened the door of the
Workroom In order that "A view of
the safe might be obtained from the
street. At 2:20 o'clock this morning
Mr.. Farrell returned to Metuchen
from New York. AS he passed the
postoficc he noticed the door which
he had left open in order that the
safe might be seen was closed. He
entered the building and found the
safe door wide open, the drawers OF
the counter badly damaged and the
back door jimmied open.
The thieves had hammered the
lock on the rear door. which con-
tanned several thick iron bars, until
the lock had been broken. The
wooden door was then jimmied
open. The safe. which weighs 1900
pounds, was badly battered. a sledge
hammer having been used by the
thieves in breaking the combination
after which a crowbar was resorted
to to pry open the door. The top
compartment of the safe was then
accessible and stamps and cash
amounting to several thousands of
dollars were taken. A compartment
made of steel in the bottom part of
the safe was apparently not opened
although marks on the hinges show
ed that efforts had been made to
fnrnp ~ nnpn Tho fhiaNaa N 20 Mt =
" could not slide the bolt back
which held the door in place. This
compartment was said to have held
the largest quantity of surplus
stamps.
The thieves took time TO spread
the contents of the safe out upon
the counter and select only the large
sheets of stamps. Detached stamps
were not taken. nor were the postal
money order blanks nor postal saw
ings cards. The drawers under the
counter were also damaged from
blows ~ the sledgehammer.
Postmaster David A. Powers
would make no estimate of the loss
although first reports placed 1t as
high as $4,000. Postal authorities
arrived early this morning and went
over the situation. 1t vas then esti-
mated that the loss would be some
thing under $1,000, possibly between
$4,000 and that amount.
A Ford sedan, the property of
Carson A. Johnson. who is in the
taxi business. was standing in front
of the express company's Office last
night between the hours of Z and .
o'clock, when the robberies are
thought to have been committed. \
spare tire and rim on the rear of
the ar, together with a tire holder,
the red light and license plate were
stolen from the car while it stood in
the street. The license plate was
No. 200,460 n. j.. and only the ear
plate was stolen. 1t is h general
belief that the thieves were in a
Ford and wanted a spare tire. In
their hurry they ripped away all Of
the equipment attached to the tire
holder and tire. 1t is thought a
chisel was used in cutting away the
braces.
County Detective William Fitz-
patrick was on the scene of the
robberies this morning and took
several photographs of the finger
prints which were found on the safe
and other parts of the office. The
jobs were crudely done and are
thought to have been the work of
amateurs. None of the mail in the
postoffice was disturbed, as far as
can be learned.
The new postofice building was
erected this year and occupied for
the first time about May j. Offices
occupy the second floor of the build
ing.