The New York herald., 1869-07-21
NEGROES IN OFFICE.


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The Case Of the Negro Postmaster Turner In
Macon, Ga.-rriai a Charge Of Counter
feiting Nosesof a New Jersey National
Bank.
[From the Macon tca.) journal and Messenger
July Ill
The trial OF Turner on the charge Of counterfeing
bank notes Of a New Jersey national bank was COM
menced yesterday morning before United states
Commissioner Morrill,.
ton, and the accused was defended by Messrs
Weems and Cowes OF this city, and Mr.. stevens, OF
the arm OF Stevens Steveas OF Atlanta,
Owing to some te hnicdl irreguarltyo the amdavlt
OF Captain Q. c. Nell, OF the Treasury Department,
was collected to by Air. Weems, defendants attor-
ney fhls caused very little delay, however, as the
case was dismissed and immediately new affidavit
gotten up. covering the whole glounas.
Alter q few preliminary remarks MI: Powell;
Teller OF the city Banking Company, was sworn aS
Witness Mr.. Powell testified as foilows:-
am teller Of the City Banking Company, doing
OF Georgia and located on Third street, OF the city OF
Macon; do not remember the date, but some time
since ns r. M TO
be changed for small bills, cannot say which, which
detected as being counterfeit and gave back to hlm
l did-nOt max, ANY mark on the bill to prove its
spurlousness and neither did Turner, but he
Cfurner) saying he believed the Dill was gotten from
. woman. took the DILL and left the bank.
Cross examnaJiOn-Can't name any month, as
the rejecting counterfeit money u OF frequent
currence; am not positive whether Turner tnuended
ner had no account IN any other person name with
the City Banking Company; l can't say whether
ceve It; Turner then went out; W. ?. Goodai.. casn
Ter OF the CITY Banking Company, also examined the
bill, and by him was also pronounced spurious; can
say whether turncr came 10 deposit this money
for o certain woman do not remember the entire
conversation; Turner wanted TO leave this bill In
hands OF bank; cannot remember that Turner said
that ne got this bill from woman, but think ne
said 80; am teller OF the City Banking Company,
and do know counteueus when ! see them; may
deceived, however; / have not taken an unsound
bill In two years; have never seen the original
Treasury note plates o. can detect
information gathered from works on the subject, by
engravings sent from Washington and BY becoming
familiar with the notes 0eneraly; Turner did not ask
to have his bill examined; 1t was national bank
note; can't say what oank: do not know who signed
the note; took no record OF IT. MI mt have been
necessary TO have II before me to detect the COUNTER
feit re- cted some time ago fifty dollar counter.
seated by Turner was rejected either from the pate
sisnature do not remember which; l do not
know what bank TINS ol was on, nor by whom
signed; all nau0Da bank notes are very mucn alike,
save the signatures; my Judgment was that the bill
Turner presented was counterfeit and rejected &C.
cordingIy; remember but this one time that Turner
presented any unsound money; oae but an e X
pert could have detected the bill as being counter
ielt
present in the room; know OF circumstances under
which he stands charged; the Atm day OF July Mr
ettei from General Gartre OF Atlanta told me thut
he was ruined and wished 10 know my advice az to
Turner said he expected 10 90 to Atlanta and wished
my advice; In defending his course to me 10 this
transaction he went on to state tnat he had given
81, gOO OF this money In controversy TO o cOlOred
woman named Marian tiarrIs; that ne had done for
the reason that he feared he might he killed on his
passage FROM Washington TO this city, and that he
did not wish this money TO be found on his person;
he said that the money was 10 De held Ior him until
nv
Turner said tnat this money was founo be-
tween himself aud the woman Marian Harris on
O car seat while travelling; ne SAID that ne In
structed her not attempt to pass aLy OF It, but TO
relura IL TO him alter ne reached home; and tnat
aad this woman-as to It's .Genulneness; she
insisted that cue could pass 1t, but he insisted
tias sne had better not try to do SO.
refer entirely to counterfeit money when l say
this money; conversation occurred in my Office,
No. 10 Cotton avenue IN Blob county, state OF
Georgia aud city OF Macon; know of Turner hav
times; my reasons are tnese:-At some period be-
tween four and SIX montns ago Mr.. Turner was In
my ONCE, and Mr. O. T. Ward the Ordinary OF Blbb
county, when Mr. Turner produced Sl0J bill, ana
remarked that he had presented IL at some bank In
irs spuriousness Mr.. Ward examined it and Thought
II was Q good b, and said he would ascertain
whether or not It was good; they then left my
know; and this Ia all that know OF that bill until
uross.examination feelings are not hostile TO
the accused, except SO lar a. regard the man as a
criminal; had no preyudIces or III feeling toward
or az az amy ss o his spn
been appointed Postmaster, that 81 intended TO
me DO itn or words to that eject am editor OF The
the American U,ton and did write the article "1ur-
ner 10 irons" taere copy & Of an article on Turner
fepdant's attorneyl Defendants attorney offered
this article for the purpose Of impeachment.
do declare that did publish the article that the
assertions Of the rebel press false that Turner
was carried to Atlanta In irons; had told P. Nj.
Doyai during the month OF May last tnat hail. intended
In connection with this matter as II was only poii.
tica question; did not tell person In the presence
OF William Jones, on the corner OF Payne's drug
store, about three weeks ago. that Turner was q
and tnat he would soon put him where
the dogs wouldn't bark at him.
lanta, Ca: l am q special policeman; | arrested q
woman named Marian Harris for passing counter.
felt money; there was another woman with her, who
resides In Augusta she said her name was not Har-
rig, bat SIMS and that she had come direct from
trunk, ana asked II 1t was not her name and she
said 1t was; then took the two women TO the guard
house; called the Marshal Of the city and showed
my despatch; she, Marian Harris, first objected to
be searched. but the other woman was willing to be
searched for the counterfeit money; Marian Harris
rarty 10 search her. stood little dIstanrc to Keen
the crowd bacS; shc handed pocketbook murphy
bere produced itl 20 nlm, and twas passed to me;
felt, aud $,01 Of genuine greenoacks; ali the cOul.
terfeits on FIRST National Bank OF Jersey City NJ j.
found this lotter IN Marian Harris tIunk -
WASHINGTON, d. c., June s. 1862
Mrs. HAunfs:--
Dean FnEND-I shall start South on Wednesday or Thurs
day morning. You had better go home, too from what
you had better sart on Tuesday uigh Come washing
Ton, and II don't meet the depot get carriage IA
bring 10 the OF Third aud souh Carolina
avenue. Answer At whether wait for you or moi
Direct the s,reet and south
lima avenue, " ashlnston, ID. O. II, NJ ri RNER
Answer NJ once.
Court then adjourned TN ten O'Clock this morning,
Comments Of the GeorSln Press on the Turner
Case.
lFrom the Macon Ga, Journal ana Messenger anti