The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-04-11
ffe 6st .ofiis6 fSr ietfefs for 3idMeli

I times known Wesley to ask for letters
for G Bidwell; did not know anything
more of prisoners than that they inquired
for4etters at the POst-oiiice for, the ,as,
sulhed hamesgivea IlUA LII 10
Mr. Lewis Jones (jailor) sworn. Re
side in Ohio county; am .iailor and depu-
| ty sheriff; l have n T. Eldridgc III, yclis7
tody, his appearance is somewhat chang
| ed by the absence of false teeth: he had
the teeth since his confinement injail.
A. w. Campbell sworn-Reside in
Wheeling; am postmaster; there are no
specific instructions from the Postofliee'
Department in regard to the disposition
of letters to parties charged with fraud,
only general one to cooperate with of
ficers in, the discharge of their duties; 4
have not opened any iletters to any of the
persons III this ease; but have handed
them to Mayor Sweeney. Witness idcn-
| tilted number of letters which he said
he had handed to Mayor Sweeney
Crossed examined-Did not know if
| the Mayor had any authority to receive
these letters; he recognized the Mayor
| as an officer of The law who had Il right,
out the letters OF suspected parties; from
Mayor Sweeney's character, and from the
evidence submitted by him, witness be-
| lieved there was proper and sufficient
grounds for the delivery of those letters
| to Mayor Sweeney
Hon Az Sweeney sworn-I do not
know anything about the goods pnrchas,
ed in Pittsburg, only by hearsay. My
attention was first called 10 this case by
Mr.. Mole, Of tie firm of r. Gillet II Co,
who applied for u search warrant for
goods, and next by Mr.. Line. of Cincin-
natl, under similar circumstances; some
letters were intercepted purpOrting to
| be from A. b. Brand at Louisville; these
letters were all similar, and served to fix
| in the mind of the witness that these
parties were connected with BOvar u
| Co; | received an anonymous letter
from Athens, Ohio, informing me that
letter was mailed to Joseph Seacrist, ii
also contained a copy of the contents OF
the letter to Seacrist | called on the
postmaster at Wheeling, and obtained
the letter addressed to Seacrist, received
about the ODD, which was as follows:
"ATHENs, O., Tuesday noon.
Joseph Scacrist, UhceiiRg, Va.
II learnt them trick worth two
theils by jumping from the tram; was
not hurt a particle. Will strike the
Cleveland and Wellsville railroad abont
EIGHT miles above here; will locate some
whero along the road: willwrite you at
that station; don't know anything ahont
I'D; they have my writing-dOn't deny
if, but tell them yon can't help his writ
inc to you Have not heard word
from G. Look ont for that telegraph OF
ficc-they show dispatches; that IS the
way they found me. They opened my
letters to W. before they delivered them.
Don't be afraid now they can't prove
ANYTHING; but G. had better fight rather
shy of W. he might stay in the vicinity.
They intended 10 put me on the witness
stand in reference to Line Il Cos goods,
They only postponed that suit expecting
10 Get me; il is all right now; let them
fire away. Tell him that think | had
better 90 to Erie and buy on Buffalo
Destroy this. . We had better 90 it alone,
or drop it, ,. ..
This ANONYMOUS letter also informed
ms that one was also sent 10 Wesley,
which was also intercepted and read as
follows:
ATHENS, ONO DIST ~
".JohR JFeyIeg
Sound as dollar; feel bully. Send Il
letter y in Harriet's husbands name
They have a knack of opening letters in
that office. We will give the d-dhounds
trial on that the first thing they know.
expect they will open this. Remember
letter goes with this to my brothcr-n-
laws name.
Other letters We're intercepted from
the postofiice; one of which was adj
dressed to j. Wesley, one to j. W. Bid
well, and one to JOS. Seacrlst.
GThese letters were read i'll evidence,
and were somewhat ambiguous, referring
to Harriet's husband and j. W.; one pul-
norted To be from John Wesley, stating
that he was at Cadiz Junction; request
ipm the party addressed to come up on
send some money; telling them not to
purchase ticket, but pay fare on cars.
Witness deemed The contents of thcS"
letters sufficient grounds for the arrest
of the parties; | think MI Cole before
the decision was rendered in the Line
case The information contained III q
letter from Evansville, addressed Ia John
Wesley (Which was lead III Cunrt) led 10
the arrest of Cole ut Evansville
Cross Examined was my orders
chat Wesley was arrested; there was no
warrant issued for his arrest until some
time after the arrest had been made;
had been informed by the jailor that he
could hold a prisoner three days without
a warrant; | had no authority to inter
ccptrlettprS except in my official capaci-
Mr. II. Q, OFT recalled, When Bovar
and Cole bought me ont, they did not
give any account of their former resi-,
dcnce; Thought Mr.. B6var said he had
done business in Petersburg; did not ask
him about the matter
Thompson MKclvcy swen-Am tel
cgraph operator in the city; know OF dis
patches having been sent from here to
A. b. Brand A dispatch being submit
! ted 10 witness, he recognized it rs one
that bad been sent TO the telegraph Office
with Instructions to charge expenses TO
account of S. s. Botar Il Co. The wit
ness recognized Others as answers to the
same. am aware of dispatch being
received from j. b. addressed to John
Wesley; also know OF an answer beng
brought to the office 10y Wesley
Mr.. Fleming recalled-A dispatch be
| inc handed To the witness, he sad ne
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