The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-01-09

u
THE CASE OF WILLIAM a. JAMES
A final examination in the case of
William a. james, Mail Agent on the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, between
this city and Cumberland, charged
with robbing the mail on Saturday
last, was made by U. s. Commissioner
Hannibal Forbes, Esq, yesterday after
"CoE.'' j. q. Lane, Special Mail Agent,
in the employ of the Z. S. Government,
was sworn, and testified that it was his
duty TO ferret out as far as possible all
rObberies of the mail; that several cases
of this kind had been referred 10 him
by the Postotfice Department; that on
last Saturday he went TO Cameron, on
the 3. s. o. z. r., for the purpose OF
mailing decoy letters for this city. One
of these letters was addressed to K.
Whipple, contained counterfeit go
bill, a good one dollar note, legal ten
der, and a 80 cent postal currency bill.
Another was addressed to the Register
office, containing 50, and third TO a.
J. Livingston, containing something
over 81. Did mot remember the exact
amount. Before starting to Cameron,
showed the letters and their contents to
q. 5. Long, Postmaster at this place.
One of them, the one addressed to the
Register office, was sealed, but was
broken open by him, and replaced by
another while in the postOffice. At
Cameron showed the letters to the depu-
~ Postmaster there, and told him to
make memorandum of the addresses.
After showing the letters to the Post
master, did not give them into his
hands, but sealed and put them in the
mail pouch himself. Then got aboard
the express train and came to this city;
went at once TO the postotice, and
there awaited the arrival of James
with the Cameron mail. When
James arrived, engaged him in
conversation while the mail was
being opened. Conyersed with him on
various subjects. and finally asked
him some question about the Cameron
mail James then said to call Long.
Went and called Long, who came out
into the distributing Office where James
was. James then took out of his pock-
ct blank government envelope, con-
tanning money, which was produced
and recognized to be the same put into /.
the letter advanced to L. Whipple. |
James stated that he had found the en-
velOpe addressed and unsealed in
the mail pouch from Cameron that it |
fell off the table in the car and that he !
had picked il up and discovered money |
in It. BrOached the subject to James. I
James was in the Post Office about u half
hour before any allusion was made to |
the business.
John f.. DdUiS, sworn-Testified that /
he was deputy postmaster at Cameron.
Was in the office on Saturday last, at
tending to business. Lane came in,
and stated that he wished to mail three /
letters for Wheeling. Saw Lane put
the letters in the pouch, after sealing
them, or pretending to seal them. Read
the superscriptiOn on the letters, and
found that they were addressed as
stated by Lane. Did not read the let
eTs, but saw that they contained money.
Was told by Lane that some one had
been robbing the mails, and was try
ing to catch him.. Locked up the sack.
Kept IL IN his possession until the mail
train arrived. Handed il to James.
y. s.. Long, Postmaster, sworn-Testi-
fed that Lane came to his private Office,
morning, and showed him
three letters addressed to f.. WhippIe,
A. j. Livingston, and the Register office,
money. Did not read the
letters. Saw the money and made
OF the same. Knew that
Lane was going to Cameron for the pur-
pose of mailing the letters as decoys.
In the evening, when the mail arrived,
It was enptied on the table in the hop
per, and search made for the letter ad- ]
dressed to l.. Whipple. Letter was not
found. Engaged james in conversation
IN different subjects while the mail was
being opened Afterwards went to his
private room- Was called back again {
BY Lane to see James. James handed
aim blank government envelope
containing the same money as that Z
n the letter addressed to Il. Whip
pie. James stated that he had
ound the envelope in the mail
rom Cameron unsealed. Went !
With Lane and VIM. Pussy. clerk at
POST Office, to mail car standing on Bal Z
imore and Ohio railroad track. Made I
| search OF the car. Found several Y
pieces or envelopes. Identified those
'eiore the Commissioner as the same.
WiLiidHI Pusey. sworn.-Teslified that. 1
" Mr.: Longs direction, he opened the
nail bag from Cameron, Saturday
light Went over the letters twice. Did
lot find any letter addressed to f.
Nhipple among them. Went 10 mail
ar with Long and Lane. All three
eaTched the car. Pulled some sacks Off =
able In car. Piece OF white paper fIut- r
Sred down to the floor of the car. Lane I
licked It up, and held it to the light. q
Jaw L. Whipple written on it. Held a 4
andle in his hand at the time. Identi- \
ed the piece.
JohH BrOicR, lSigoTr-Testified tina /
g was employed at the Post Office in a
his city. Was at the Post Office when
anes came in with the mail. Did not
ear James say anything about Cam
ron matter until Long was coming in.
anes then remarked that a curious
ling had happened ut Cameron. A
'tter had b5en put in the mail, con-
lining money, but without being ad-
ressed or sealed. James remarked q
lat the matter had slipped his mem =.
~. -.-.-- . =
This closed the testimony for the -
rosecution. The defendant offered no
'stimony.
The Commissioner said that from the q
'idence he would be obliged to hold u
ines for trial before the L. ). District (
ourt, and would admit him TO bail in
ie sum OF $4,000 D =