Show I A SLICK IDAHO POSTMASTER How a JThicviiisr Nasby Contrived to RoT Uncle San POUTLAND Ogn June 5The Oregonians Lewiston Idaho special says Isaac Hibbs was appointed postmaster at Lewiston in March 1881 Last January the registered mail pouch was robbed Official investigation investiga-tion developed nothing and the affair was eventually forgotten On May 2d last Hibbs leftfor an alleged silver mine on the Upper Columbia The Postal Inspector alarmed at his continued absence investigated the affairs of his office and found that Hibbs had been writing receipts for a large number of registered mail packages DESTINED FOT FICTITIOUS NilTES in the different post offices supplied from Lewiaton The modus erandi was as follows Lewiston is a mail distributing point for a large number of offices in Northern Idaho and Eastern Washington Hibbs would issue money orders for fictitious names at these offices draw in favor of the bank in the town where the orders were payable and the customary letters of advice were forwarded to the paying postmaster He then wrote to the banks that he would shortly visit the town enclosed the money order and requested the bank to cash them and PLACE TilE AMOUNT TO HIS CREDIT On deposit until he arrived Later he wrote to the bank that he could not make the contemplated con-templated visit and requested that the draft for the amount of money on deposit be returned by registered mail to the fictitious name attached to the money orders and always at some office whose mail passed through Lewiston The drafts arrived bv I registered mail and Hibbs signed the fictitious ficti-tious names returned the receipt cards and the transaction was completed Money orders are limited to 300 in favor of one person but with forethought and judicious distribution of dates and places an opening offers through which AN UNSCRUPULOUS POSTMASTER COULD BANK BUrT THE UNITED STATES I The amount of defalcation exceeds 20000 I and is expected to reach 50000 an amazing i moderation considering the opportunities The Postal Inspector says the robberies will necessitate the authorities reorganizing ihe money order system of the United States and elsewhere THE SCHEME IS SURPRISINGLY SIMPLE And officers are surprised that it was never I thought of and worked before John Evans cashier of the First National Bank William Keltonbach cashier of the Lewiston National Na-tional Bank Alexander Thiessen and Wood worth were his bondsmen for 8000 Alexander Alex-ander and Thiessen were secured before Hibbs left Hibba was last seen May 80th at the second crossing of the Canadian Pacific taking in Missoula and Helena and I I gathering the drafts ordered sent there I |