San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-02-25
Postoffice Inspectors Find
Their Efficiency on Trial
When $S6,050 Stolen
From Macon Postoffice.
BY THOMAS WHITE.


Copyrisht by The San Antonio Light.
Macon, Ga, Feb. Misunderstanding
a large shortage in the accounts OF
a suicide postmaster, inspectors were
concerned whether he had devised
method that will nullify existing IN
spection routines and possibly permit
immense losses through similar means
i'm other postoffices of the country.
I'm TO the present the investigators
have failed TO determine exactly now
the defalcation was hidden. IL al
mittedIy is essential that the problem
he solved il postoffice funds are to De
made secure elsewhere.
There is a second side to the puZ-
zle. That is how il was possible LOT
the chief official of the Macon. post
office, in a city Of 10000 to pile up
In less than a year n shortage OF
Ss6 05O One week ago today, Hill
yer Rudisill, in charge OF the ottiSe
excused himself for n moment whiIe
inspectors were making the usual
check of his accounts, sauntered INTO
an adjoining room and shot himself,
Before the body was cold 1t was
indicated that his accounts were IN III
bad shape. Complete tally oil all
stock and cash on hand determined
that the shortage was the largest IN
the nostal service in a long time.
since then the inspectors have been
irving to find out exactly the method
used 10 conceal the defalcatiOn. They
have been compelled TO lay aside the
theory that Rudisill converted TO his
own uses since last May, when the
hooks were approved as balanced, any
such amount as $S6,050. 1t could not
have been done, they say, without at
tracing attention. ~
Look For Manipulation Method.
The inspectors today turned 10
the theory that the shortage covered
number Of years and that some
method of manipulation was the
means used. Before becoming post
master Rudisill was assistant for Il
years. The suggestion is made that
by cleverly withdrawing stock from
sealed packages and then replacing
the seals he was able to deceive the
inspectors who balanced the accounts,
The Macon office carries on its
books between 100000 and S3OO,0OC
of stock. During the 81 years that
Rudisill was assistant postmaster he
had complete charge of the stock stor'
age room to which there was only the
KEYS he carried. Since he was con
firmed as postmaster he has retained
these keys.
The inspectors believe he planned
through bold stroke to cover up hi!
shortage by declaring the postOffict
had been robbed, but that his nerve
failed him at the moment and he &C
cepted suicide as the easiest way out
The reason is letter found addressed
to r. II. Tomlinson, the local inspec
tor, in which he set forth that tn,
postoffice had been robbed last No
vember, but that he had failed to re
port it at the time. This directed
attention to the office records which
show that at that time Rudisill mad,
a requisition for $4,000 worth o
stamps.
Hoped To Deceive Inspectors.
One letter found asked TO havt
Tomlinson check the office as he hat
done last year and another TO tn
assistant postmaster saying:
II have passed the crest Of my use
fulness. / feel tired and am hal
blind" The tenor of all the letters
however, indicate that he was hope
full eventually he would be able t
deceive the inspecting officials. The,
came in Unexpectedly and checke'