Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-07-12

we had -four paste only.
I'd Cross Examinaton-Mr. Mahin has had
the envelope and also Mr. Grinnell. Don't
know whether it has been pasted down and |
torn up since had it. think Marshal Dill
has had the envelope. He was engaged in the
matter and suppose he was employed, but
don't know. Of late have heard this case
spoken of considerably and suppose it has
been tried on the street corners. Feeling a
conviction that Blake had tritled with the let
ter, desired him to confess having done so.
He would not and did not seem alarmed about
the the matter. He was discharged from the
office on the 14th of June. This was the first
charge against him. Mr.. Mahin suggested that
there be a trap laid on the morning of the
14th, but did not approve of it, as | had no
suspicious of any one in the Office. went to
see Mr.. Williams, the father Of Blake, and
told him that had made a sad discovery
that had evidence in my possession which
proved his son guilty of a crime. Don't think
made any preamble regarding politics am
sure did not. Upon our return | told him
that did not desire to undertake anything
that should be attributed to political differ
ences, and wished him to witness whatever
might transpire.
John Mahin sworn-l am postmaster of
this city, | was in the Office on the evening
of the 18th of June last. (Wimcss was here
shown the letter. The first saw of this let
ter was on the 14th of June Mr.. Stein bro't
it to me soon after dinner, at the Eichelbcrger
House. | took the letter to my room and put
it, with other articles found, under lock and
kew | have no knowledge of who opened the
letter after it was deposited in the postollice.
| think | know Blake Williams handwriting,
and Judge the word lone" as it is written here
was written by him. Soon after going into
the postoftice bought quart bottle of ink
ofPalmer & Demorest, manufactured, | believe,
by Arnold. l could not get Mr.. Brockhage to
STAY with me in the Office, and | conferred
with Mr.. Williams in regard to employing his
son for month. At the end of the month
we Thought best to retain him longer. | have
no knowledge that any one was in the office
during the afternoon of the 18th of June and
the morning Of the 14th except Blake Will
Hams, James Mahin, Mr. Stein and myself
account book here produced) This is the
book we found in the box when we searched
it. (demoranda book also produced) We
found this also in the box. Should say this
is Blake Williams writing took possession
of the two books and gave Mr.. Williams re-
ceipt for them.
Cross EXamined.-l kept possession of the
articles and finally delivered the box and con-
tents to Mr.. Grinnell. There were no altera-
tons made while the books were in my posses
sion, and none could have been. Never saw
the books until they were taken from the box
The box was fastened with strap, and could
have been opened at any time. 1t was under
a shelf or counter, but not out Of sight. Never
; knew the box to be opened except when open
ed by us. When l asked Mr.. Williams for
the services of his son as clerk | remarked
that thought the boy attentive, honest and
trustworthy Mr.. w. showed no opposition
or hesitation in giving his consent had
: never had a suspicion of the boys's honesty
until two days previous to his discharge.
Court here adjourned until , o'clock P ~
AFTERNOON.
James Mahin sworn. - Am clerk in the
Post Office. Was there on the 18th and l4th
of June. Am usually in the office from ore
to half past six in the afternoon, and from
,, seven in the morning till dinner There was
no one else in the office that day but BlaEs
W illams and Mr.. Stein. My brother job
Mahin was there short time | thinl, Bak
and Charley Cadlc slept in the Office the night
OF the 18th and 18th. Crhe letter above re-
ferred to was here produccd.) | did not no
. tee the address of the letter, and did not see
,, it opened. Charley Cade brought the letter
to me from the drop in front on the gentle
; mems side and said ''here is letter partly
opened-what would you do with 1t ?" said
| would leave it as it is and show it to Mr.
Stein.
!. account book was here shown witness. J
= | have seen Blake Williams writing in this
book am sure it is the same one.
(Memorandum book produced) Don't
think ever saw Blake writing in this book.
Cross Examined.-I went into the Office the
next Monday after my brother took posses
!. sion Of it. Am sixteen years of age next win
ter. Have never been sworn as clerk Have
no other brother in the office. A brother o!
mine who lives up the river was in the Office
one day to see John Mahin but only STAYED a
short time. gave him ten cents out of the
drawer and replaced it. lie never was there
: but once. believe | was there the evening Of
the 18th but am not certain | think Blake
went away that evening but am not positive
. If was there stayed till quarter past seven
and Mr.. Slime was with me- | was at the of
flee the next morning at seven or quarter pass
and was there during the day Don't think
there was any one in the Office alone the next
= day. Sometimes people come into the inter-
or Of the office. Printing Office boys do moi
come there often. They sometimes come fol-
:, copy for the paper. MIR. Stein, AIr. johnson
and myself are there now Mr. Garner took
Williams place and was there two or three
weeks. Know Of no money being lost since
Williams left Cadlc brought the letter to me
the first time saw it. Didn't know it had
, been stuck to another letter | told him to
put it in the distributing box and show it to
Mr.. Stein when Stein came around
,, Re-Examined.-I have seen money in the
possession Of Williams The night before he
was charged with this offence saw him have
j.; two packages Of bills as large as my wrist
He tore off the paper that was around them
, and showed me the bills. He took one pack
age from one pocket and one from another.
I'd Cross Examination.-Aboutt two weeks
before Blake was discharged from the Post
Office he showed me fIom his portmoaaie fifty
or sixty dollars, which he said he got from a
lottery The packages of bills saw the night
before he was accused Of this offence. fifteen
or twenty minutes before the Iowa CITY mail
arrived. Some of the money he showed me
from the portmonaie was upon broken banks.
Illinois money. One Of the packages was
larger than the other He showed me one at
a time and tore the paper off the corner of
each, then put them back into his pantaloons
pocket. Don't know but might have dreamt
it, but am sure Of seeing it first Supposed
Blake had five or six hundred dollars with
him at the time, as he had been telling me
before how much money he had, and | was
under the impression he was showing the
whole Saw the denominations but could not
swear what they Were He did not propose
to give me any money. Have not told the
circumstances to any one out of the Office
First mentioned it to Mr. Mahn. He was
discharged the next day. The stamping block
is in front and writing desk at the back of the
room. When saw the packages we were
standing side by side Homer Perry once
came into the interior of the office to see if
there was anything f + him, but was told that