Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1835-06-11
MAIL ROBpER CONVICTED.

MAIL ROBBER CONVICTED.
At the recent session of the Circuit Court
of the United States, holden in this town,
Sylvester w. Sheldon, formerly postmaster at
Londonderry, Vt. was tried for a violation of
the Post Office Laws, by a robbery OF tho
mail. The facts, detailed on The trial, and
proved to the satisfaction of the Jurors, who
composed the panel, by which said Sheldon
was tried and convicted, were of kind which
showed most deliberate, and cool blooded
robbery. II appears that early in the month
of May, 1884, Phineas q. Sergeant, Esq. post
master at Chester, VT. undertook TO send a
package of money by mail to correspondent
at Brooklyn, N. Y. Of the first package 30
dire :ted no information came, until MIR. Sar-
geant, having sent second time, received a
letter from his correspondent stating that his
first letter had arrived, but with the money
distracted. Towards the last of the same
month, Mr.. Sergeant commenced mailing
more money, but with an intention to detect
the offender lie accordingly enclosed
sum of money to the same correspondent, re-
tanning sundry descriptions Of the bank notes,
with the testimony Of others as to the mail
ing OF the same. lie then praccedcd in ad-
vance of the mail, aud on examination at an
Cllicc farther from Chester, on the route, than
Londonderry, discovered that his letter had
been detained. He pursued this course two
or three successive times, until having be-
come satisfied Of the place Of delay, he mil
cd package and accompanied the mail con-
tractor on the route. The mail was careful
ly examined both before its arrival at Lon
douderry, and after il had been opened at
that post Office. On the examination, utter
passing said office at Londonderry, it appear
ed that letter mailed ut the Chester office,
on the day before, had passed through the
Londonderry office with the money taken
ont oft, while the letter mailed ON that day,
had passed safely, no robbery having been
c"Innlited-lrobuby Sheldon installing a.
mother, directed to Jeremiah Barton, and at
terwards found Oh him, for the one Contain
ing money. On Sunday morning, Mr.. Sar-
geant, with his brother, Is. B. Sergeant, Esq
Deputy Marshal, and several citizens Of
Chester, went to the house of Sheldon, to ar
rest him. After several attempts to discover
the money purloincd by Sheldon, they sue
ceeded in finding upon him, one of the iden-
tical bank notes enclosed by Mr.. SARGENT
on the Friday previous, but could not lind tho
rcmaiader. On that occasion, Sheldon m,do
his escape, but through the Iaudable exer-
tlons Of MIR. Sergeant, he was ut length ar
rested at Massena, N. V, and committed to
jail III Rutland, VI.
The proofs of Shcldon's guilt ns ts the rob-
berry OF the letter, in which the said ten dollar
note was enclosed, were clear, distinct and
positIVc-resstng on the testimony of un-
hnpeached and uniinpcachable witness. And
no one could doubt, on the trial that the same
abandoned villain purloined all the money
sent 10y Mr.. Sergeant M before described.
Great credit should be set down TO tho
Mcssrs =. O. and b. Is. Sargeant, and several
others, who with unusal perseverance, and
energy effected the arrest and detection of
the pirate. In prononncing sentence npon
the robber, his Honor Judge Thompson, was
lucid and impressive. The beauty of his Ian
gnage and It's dignifcd strength, were be-
yond the ordinary cast-it cannot be rccited
with any justness. In substance he said ,"lou
have been charged with an inirnction of tho
Post Oiiice Laws Of the United States. in
robbing the mail, while acting as Postmaster.
lon have been arraigned, tried and convict
ed by The verdict of your country, and found
guiity OF the offence charged against you.
violation OF the Post Office Law, BY rob-
biDg the mail, and that too, in the person Of a
postmaster, is indeed, a serious offence
Men are selected by the government for such
stations, who are generally rcputed for their
good standing, integrity and honesty; and for
one, thus selected, to betray his trust, tho
confidence rcposcd in him. aud prostit,t. it to
the base purpose Of robbery, shows him,ef
devoid OF all manly principle and possessed
OF most complete dcpravily of heart.
Tie Post Office is place nf hiali respon-
sible trust; 1t is one in whicl, all are deeply
interested, and which, if violated, does irrrp.
arabic injury. When you were arrested and
the officers Of the government were about to
c"nlnc you for conveyance to place of Sc
cnrity, you showed some scnsbi!ity-some
remains of feeling towards your little boy,
who was present, and you desired not IN be-
bound before him. But in your violations of
your high trust as Posniastcr-in your delb-
crate robbery oI,he mail, which pissed thlo'
your hands, you appeared perfectly reckless
ana I"st--lost to all comp,Inctions of con-
sr'ence-lottt to all regard Tor right lost to all
the tender relations Of life, as a husband and
father-iost to younself-your fiends and
your country. You have evnced hnrdihood
seldom seen and have appeared destitute of
every thing " hich renders life ofany value.
In the verdict Of the jury, the court are
constrained to say that they entirely concur.
Ii u sustained by the most tincon,roycrtiblc
proof, and in thcir opinion, the jury could not
nave rendered any other verdict, only in yio-
latt of thcir ouths.
Ihc Court now proceed to srntence YOU 10
hard labor in the State Prison, for II years.
Uindsor Statesman.