The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-08-11
ALLEGED MAIL ROBBERY EXAMLNA-
TON BEFORE THE UNITED STA TES


ALLEUED MAIL fOBBERI - EAAWLNA-
TON BEFORE THE UNITED STA TIES
COMMISSIONER.
Yesterday morning the examination of witnesses
in the case of Nathaniel Mahoney, charged with
purolning letters and money from the United States
Mail, at Orleans, Nd, was continued.
VIM Meade Addison, Esq, United States Dis
trict Attorney for the government, Messrs R. j.
Brent and j. j. Farley for the accused.
William H. Grove, testified that on the 18th of
June he was present when Mr.. Wachter counted
out S7l.50, and saw him inclose it in envelope;
witness took it to the post office and handed it to
Mr. Sim, the clerk, and told him he wanted the
letter registered; Mr.. McCafrey in the office at
the time, and Sim handed the letter to McCaffrey
who registered it.
Thomas Callan, testified that he was Postmaster
at Orleans he left there on the morning of the 18th
of June, about o'clock, A. NJ, for Hancock and
returned on the 18th of June; left before the arri
val OF the mail; witness wrote letter to Wachter
for Hansrote, asking Wachter to send him some
money for his bark Hansrote asked witness to take
care OF the letter for him when it came from Frede
rick; when witness returned home asked Mahoney
II the letter had come, and he said it had not; the
way-blll of July 18th, received at Orleans office
on the 2lst of June, it entered on the book on
the 2lst, in Mahoney's hand writing; the registered
letter was not received; the way-bil is marked one
pkg. k" the letter mailed for Cumberland by
Knight on the oath of May; witness was in Balti-
more at that time; the book of the Office shows that
cents were received on that day; the record has
been altered from to 8; alterations frequently
made.
Two letters written by Callan to McCaffrey, at
Frederick, one dated June 23d, and the other July
9th, were produced and read by Mr. Brent; Callan
says that the letter never came to hand, and that
the " registered return bills" both came to the
office in one envelope. H
BY Mr.. Brent-Witness opened the envelope con-
tanning the registered return bills himself, on
the 2lst or 22d of June; the post office is at wit
ness, store; it is sort of a back room persons
coming to the store frequently gl through for the
nj orr inf ha coll Mahn 4ho
only clerk engaged there
James T. Knight, testified that he wrote let
ter to Horace Resley, Cumberland, on the oath of
May; had no envelope, and went to the post office
to get one while putting the letter in the the envel
ope, Mahoney said, &" ou're slow putting up
package, let me do it," Mahoney took the letter
and money and put them in the envelope; witness
saw the money put in Mahoney said the letter was
late, and witness asked him if he could not alter
the book; said he would, and witness saw him
make the alteration there two letters marked
on the book ,and MahOney then marked three letters
afterwards MahOney came out of the Office and
held up the pouch and said, Cpd like to see anybody
get it out :" witness did not see the letter put
in the pouch, the package directed not receiv-
ing reply to the letter, wrote to Taylor at Cumber
land about it, he said no such letter was received ;
witness then told Nathan about the letter being mis-
sing, he said he guessed not as he had marked it
way-bill registered; wrote again to Taylor, and
he said the bill was not so marked, then told Ma
than this and he said ''perhaps he didn't mark it
so, but he thought he did,"
Lawrence Hanstrote, testified that he received &
letter at the Orleans Office from Mr. rsWachter, da-
ted July 18th, which letter was open, when handed
to him Mahoney handed it to witness; the letter
said to have been registered, containing ST. 80,
never was received by witness
James Ii. Stott, testified that one night he saw
Nathan take letter from the office, and say he had
mind to read it ; he did read it, and then handed
it to witness, who read it too the letter was from
a young lady living near Orleans, named Rachel
Northcraft directed to a young man living out
west named George Harker; witness read the letter
from curiosity; wanted to hear what Rachel had to
say knew the young lady this occurred two or
three months ago; don't know if Mahoney sealed
the letter again. don't know what became of it.
BY Mr. Brent.-Think this was in MAY, about
Z or O'Clock at night; think the weather was
warm.
Mr.. Brent.-''Can you recollect if the letter
was warm?"
Witness.-''Well, don't know"
Contnued.-Talked about this few davs before
Mahoney was arrested, with Callam and Knight.
James Norris, testified that some time last
February he was at the Orleans office; there was
letter there from young lady in Kentucky named
Mary Stevens, directed to her brother William
Stevens; Mahoney opened this letter and read it,
and then handed it to witness, who also read it;
William Stephens dead, but the sister did not
know IT. the parties were cousins of Mahoney; Ma
honey asked witness what to do with the letter. told
him to do he chose but that he better send it to
William Stevens mother, who lived about ten miles
ofin Pennsylvania; witness told the postmaster
about this few days before Mahonev was arrested.
I The evidence being concluded. Mr.. Addison said
it was for the Commissioner to decide whether the
| Government had sustained the charge of purloin-
ing money, DC. If the prisoner acquitted of
that, he would ask that he be held for trial for
opening the two letters, under the act of 1926 sec.
"a, which says that any person connected with the
! Department, who shall delay secTete, destroy or
open any letter, not containing anything valuable,
shall be fined $500 or imprisoned six months, or
| both
| The Commissioner said he considered that no evi
| dence had been adduced before him to sustain the
charge of purloining money frem-letters; to the
charge of opening letters, he would hold Mahoney
in the of $500 to take his trial before Court.
| The witnesses each bonded in the sum of $3.50 to
! appear and testify in the case.