The New York herald., 1921-10-28
HAYS HERE WORKING
ON Big mail HOLDUP
Quick Capture Of Bandits
and More Adequate Protec-
tion His Programme.
ARMED CONVOYS NEXT
Failure to Carry Out Orders
on This Subject Under
Investigation.
AGENTS HAVE ONE CLUE
Driver Of Looted Truck Gives
Description Of One
Bandit.
AGENTS HAVE ONE CLUE


was divided into two distinct branches,
in each Of which Mr.. Hays is con-
fident the culprits will be disclosed
shortly.
The first. and the one in which Mr..
Hays was very busy yesterday. con-
Germs the responsibility for sending
Frank Havranik, the chauffeur, away
from the City Hall station with a
truck from which was stolen $1,454.-
129 In securities, cash and jewelry,
unarmed and alone, despite the fact
that an order Of Mr.. Hays himself
provided for both convoy and arms.
The second branch concerns the
r. 5ers themselves. who are still at
la ge and about whose pursuit very
little has leaked out. Rush D. Sim
mons, chief Of the postal inspectors
who arrived here yesterday with Mr..
Hays. said positively that he expected
an arrest before the end Of this week.
and Mr.. Hays said Mr.. Simmons would
be here until the bandits were caught
Armed Guard Herearser.
Mr.. Hays. emphasized the fact that
he regarded both the dereliction within
the department and the robbery itself
as very serious matters, with penalties
in proportion to the damage suffered
by the banks, trust and insurance COM
panies and individuals.
What am / going to do about it,"
Mr.. Hays said. Two things. First,
prevent recurrence Of the outrage.
Second. recover thu stolen property.
How am I going to prevent a recur-
renee? BY the enforcement Of rules
and directions made last April These
provided that chauffeur OF Govern
ment mail truck should be armed and
that In cases OF heavy shipments of
registered mail convoy of an armed
man on a motorcycle be provided at
the discretion Of the local postal au-
thoritles."
WAS the chauffeur armed or under
armed escort?"
mo, he was not. He should have
been"
was there any culpable negligence
in this case?"
That's what we arc looking into
now"
Mr.. Hays said he and the other postal
authorities are studying methods for
greater protection OF mail trucks from
bandits. He spoke of placing an alarm
gong on each truck, to be started by
the drivers foot.
"The mails are sacred" he declared.
II would stop at nothing in the way of
penalty to protect them from robbers.
approve an increase Of punishment to
the severest penalty possible In these
cases. with new legislation II necessary.
would draw the line at nothing"
naar,tfa flio hfc mail rohhary tho
largest ever carried out In this city.
there has been decided success in the
fight against bandits since tho order OF
Mr.. Hays arming postal men went out.
Bandits Get the Worst OF II.
During the tweive months ending
April 8, 1921, %,9O.)OC was stolen from
the mail OF this s3,2O00oo was recov-
cred. The men were ordered armed
April .. In the five months since then
ending September 8 total losses by rob-
berry were only $SS000, of which $4,000
was recovered.
mirable," Mr.. Hays said. "They are
determined that mai robberies shall
STOP
Mr.. Hays produced a telegram which
had just reached him.
There was a robbery yesterday at
San Francisco. Clerk Frank Adams
tried to prevent il. He was killed. but
we got back the bag OF registered mail.
And the other day two bandits We're
killed in Texas"
There were week ago plenty Of
shotguns and revolvers to be had by
postal authorities simply by filing a
requisition. Strangely enough. not n
gun was to he had yesterday by POST
master Morgan himself All had been
applied for. Mr.. Morgan said motor
cycles had been ordered for armed con-
voys who will accompany mail.
Just when the responsibility for send
ing HavranilS out unarmed will be fixed
could not be stated by Mr.. Hays. but
the name OF the postal officer or Off
GERS guilty OF negligence will be made
public
One Clue From Driver.
The number OF postal inspectors
working on the case jumped yesterday v
from nine to fifteen, and more will be
used If necessary. Every lead Is being
followed. Havranil. gave the men some-
thing to work on yesterday by saying
that one OF three men who held him up
tailed In description with bandit who
on Sept. 10 robbed n Los Angeles post
office. This man was somewhat vague
ly described as being an American be-
tween 80 and 80 of age. 6 feet seven
inches in height. i60 pounds in weight.
with dark complexion. dark smooth hair
and clad in a dark suit with dark bow
tie and black soft hat.
Postmaster Morgan pointed out that
the actual value of the loot, az far as
the bandits were concerned, was be-
tween $4,000 and $4,000. as the nego-
table bonds. worth s74.30e.09. cannot
be sold for the reason that banks and
bankers all over the country know the
numbers. Mr.. Morgan gave out tho fol-
lowing summary Of the vaIuables stolen !:
No. Of Items. Amount
Bonds, etc, reported as
negotiable ........... SO ST4gO6 o.