New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-11-27
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Mr. Phelps, the post master at Dntfs Forks, Ohio,
and his Two daughters, Sarah and Jennie, aged Is
and II, who arrested On charge 6F ATTRACTING
package Of money from the mail, underwent an ex-
animation before a United States Commissioner on
Friday, the 10th. Mr.. Prentiss, a mail agent, tessf
fed that be mailed decoy letter and followed the
mail examining the bags after leaving every post.
office on the route. Sarah changed the mail at Dufs
Forks and after II left that Office the package was
missing. He returned when the following occurred,
as detailed by witnesses:
Sarah denied having detained the package; Wit
ness insisted that it there; Mr. Phelps was Called
Sarah and her father talked apart from witness and
the others, and after moments conversation, Mr..
Phelps returned and said 1t is 80 my daughter
did take the package yesterday Sarah added
Yes, did = remarked that she could not explain
why she did -that it must have been an infatuation
beyond control said she had burned the letters but
would give mp the money. Jennie then came into
the room; Sarah wentinto the kitchen with Mr. West
to get the money (wtness identified the money
given up as the same which he mailed in the deCoy
letter. witness told the defendants there was good
deal more money missing Sarah and Jennie denied
ever having taken any before Mr. Phelps said very
little he told the girls g II you have got any more
give it up = witness told him be knew the money
had been taken at that Office as he had been watch
ing the route for weeks they denied it, and witness
insisted conversation lasted perhaps hour in this
way; Sarah finally said she had $40 more, which
she went into the kitchen and got and gave to wit
ness still insisted that there was more money; told
| them the claims already filed amounted to SIS or
| 500; Sarah charged Jennie with knowledge Of it,
but Jennie denied taking any money after some
discussion between the girls, Jennie remarked, I've
| got $40, and intend to give it to him. which she
did; witness still insisted that there was more money
missing Sarah remarked, g What if the money has
| been spent 2" witness replied that her father must
| pay the amount OF the claims that had been filed ;
Mr.. Phelps said he had been in Cincinnati part Of
the summer to doctor his eyes and that the refur-
nishing of the house had been done while he was
away from home said he had left with the girls So
in money said he asked the girls how they got the
things and they told him story about the money
being presented to them, which he did not believe.
Jennie did not confess to having taken any money
| from the mail
Phelps did not show much solicitude in the mat
ter as witness expected Jennie did not confess to
having taken any money! farther than the expires.
sion that she had $40, and would give it to him.
No testimony was offered for the defense. Their
counsel claimed that there was no evidence whatever
to implcate Mr.. Phelps or Jennie and moved that
they be discharged. The motion was not opposed,
and the Commissioner ordered their discharge from
custody, and required Sarah to give bail in $500 to
answer the charge at the December term Of the
United States Court Bail was promptly given by
friends.