1910: Stolen jewelry found at post office - El Paso Times (blog)
March 15, 1910
Owning to the fact that Uncle Sam discontinued the postoffice at Irby, Okla., is due the recovery of jewelry and silverware valued at nearly $700, taken from the residences of Mrs. A.M. Loomis and frank Powers.
A few days after the robberies, which occurred about a month ago, Mrs. A.M. Loomis and Powers called detective Billy Smith into consultation and he began work on the case. Then a package was mailed at the El Paso postoffice addressed to "Mrs. J.A. Frazier, Irby, Okla.," the name of the sender being given as "Mrs. John Little," of El Paso. She gave her address as general delivery.
The package aroused suspicion and a clerk at the postoffice opened it and found it to contain articles suiting the description of those stolen from the Loomis and Powers residences. Then postmaster Smith got into communication with the owners.
A card was sent to Mrs. Little requesting her to call, stating that there was no such postoffice as the one she had marked on the package, which was true, the office having been discontinued. For a month a detective employed by Smith waited at the postoffice but no one called for the package. In the meantime smith had notified the city detectives and they worked on the case.
Monday afternoon, a woman representing herself to be "Mrs. John Little" called at the postoffice to secure the package but, instead of it being given to her, she was turned over to the authorities an at the police station was docketed under the name of "Lillian Harvin" and charged with being "a suspicious character." She has been living on Broadway for some time, the police say.
The Packaged Opened
This morning postmaster Smith, accompanied by Frank Powers, Charlie Loomis and Sidney Johnson, all of whom had been robbed, went to the police station, Smith carrying the package. There the woman said: "I do not claim ownership of any of the articles contained in the package."
Then all the interested parties returned to the office of justice E.H. Watson, where the package was delivered by postmaster Smith, who, in accordance with his duties as postmaster, protested against delivering the package. His motion was overruled by the justice and the package opened, all the various articles being identified by Mrs. A.M. Loomis,Charlie Loomis and Mrs. Marie Loomis and Frank Powers. Only one pair of brown kid gloves, a ring ans two picket knives of uncertain value were not identified.
Goods Delivered
The goods, after being identified, were delivered to the owners. They were one pair of glasses, two silk handkerchiefs, one silk embroidered handkerchief, one silver tea strainer, one dozen silver almond dished from which Mrs. Loomis's initials had been eradicated by the use of acids; two fountain pens, one pearl handled pocket knife, one pair of long white kid gloves, two pearl handled fruit knives, two silver salt dishes, one pair of scissors and steel pocket knife, one silver button hook, two silver salt dishes with one spoon, one safety razor, Frank Powers's gold watch and chain, valued at $250; Charlie Loomis's gold watch and chain with Knight Templar charm, one piece of blue satin, one St. Anthony statuette, one marquis ring, opal set with eight diamonds; one opal ring with pearl setting, one heavy gold band ring, one piece of a black fur. The heavy gold band ring, the silver button hook and two cheap pocket knives and the pair of brown kid gloves were not identified and are believed to have been stolen from some other place.
