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Story
October 21, 1822
The Alexandria Herald
Alexandria, Virginia
What is this article about?
Discovery of a 1822 mail robbery when unopened letters, including one with $10 stolen, are found in an old house south of Richmond. A subsequent letter was torn but not robbed. Suspicion falls on a mail driver who delayed reporting a lost mail with opened packages.
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An old Mail Robbery newly Discovered.
We received, on Saturday evening last, a letter dated at Richmond, June 22, 1822, via the general post office, with this endorsement- "Opened by the robber of the mail in July last." The small sum (only $10) which it contained, "the robber" of course, did not suffer to escape his fingers. A package of others was returned at the same time; but was marked as a part only of the missing mail, among which, we are informed, there is one, not yet found, from Richmond, to a gentleman in this place, containing $600 in money. None of the single letters, returned, had been opened. One of the latter description which was put into the Richmond post office, the next day after the one above mentioned, we received (from the same person) in due time, but torn in the middle of the bottom (through all the foldings)- very probably in the expectation of being as fortunate as with the former one.
The letters are stated to have been found in an old house some miles to the southward of this place; and the postmaster general says the robbery was committed in July, but our letter is dated in June, and should have been received within three days.
No clue has yet been had which is likely to lead to the detection of the robber. But, we think, there is little doubt but that the person having charge of the mail ought to know something of the affair; and there is one circumstance which has been credibly related to us, which we do not think right to let pass unobserved.
A mail driver on the southern route, a short time since lost one of his mails-- or says so: when found, a number of the packages had been taken out and broken open; which he never mentioned for ten or twelve days after. There is something, certainly, not right in this.
We received, on Saturday evening last, a letter dated at Richmond, June 22, 1822, via the general post office, with this endorsement- "Opened by the robber of the mail in July last." The small sum (only $10) which it contained, "the robber" of course, did not suffer to escape his fingers. A package of others was returned at the same time; but was marked as a part only of the missing mail, among which, we are informed, there is one, not yet found, from Richmond, to a gentleman in this place, containing $600 in money. None of the single letters, returned, had been opened. One of the latter description which was put into the Richmond post office, the next day after the one above mentioned, we received (from the same person) in due time, but torn in the middle of the bottom (through all the foldings)- very probably in the expectation of being as fortunate as with the former one.
The letters are stated to have been found in an old house some miles to the southward of this place; and the postmaster general says the robbery was committed in July, but our letter is dated in June, and should have been received within three days.
No clue has yet been had which is likely to lead to the detection of the robber. But, we think, there is little doubt but that the person having charge of the mail ought to know something of the affair; and there is one circumstance which has been credibly related to us, which we do not think right to let pass unobserved.
A mail driver on the southern route, a short time since lost one of his mails-- or says so: when found, a number of the packages had been taken out and broken open; which he never mentioned for ten or twelve days after. There is something, certainly, not right in this.
What sub-type of article is it?
Crime Story
Mystery
What themes does it cover?
Crime Punishment
Deception
What keywords are associated?
Mail Robbery
Discovered Letters
Stolen Money
Suspicious Driver
Post Office Theft
Where did it happen?
Richmond; Southward Of This Place; Southern Route
Story Details
Location
Richmond; Southward Of This Place; Southern Route
Event Date
June 22, 1822; Robbery In July Last
Story Details
A letter dated June 22, 1822 from Richmond was robbed of $10 in July, later discovered unopened with others in an old house southward. A missing letter with $600 remains lost. Suspicion arises from a mail driver's delayed report of a lost and tampered mail.