Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-12-24
Kexar Falls.

Mr.. Editor - Tho public mind has re-
Gently been excited aud startled by the
arrest and trial OF William L. Sargent,
Esq, Postmaster at kezar Falls, for the
alleged crime OF tampering with letters.
In view OF tho fact that Mr.. Sargent has
for moro than three.score years borne u
character Tor veracity and intcgritx, -
stainless, irrsproachable and unimpesch'
able, and that hitherto no person having
business at his Office has ever questioned
his honesty, an explanation seems nee
e.sary. And the tact that even now thai
he is placed under bonds to answer tt
the charge hereafter, the titled men ant
eminent citizens OF Oxford and York
Counties by scores are proffering him aid
and the rank aud file OF tho sUrroundin.
region arc extending their sympathy al
most to a man, justice TO the unfortunate
man imperatively demands that the facts
be recited.
Within year certain SUMS OF money
had been lost SomeUkere in the mail
Mr. Pelcg c. Nadsworth. q prominent
citizen of Hiram, had lost fifty dollars
This did not lead him to suspect Mr.
Sargent, for his family had loaf money
previously, that Was not mailed at kezal
Falls nor sent in that direction, and they
have for years had the largest mail tha
passes through Mr., Sargcnt's hands. bn
express to me their perfect confidence II
his honesty, and believe the fault TO be
elsewhere.
An officer was induced by some per
sons connected with the mail service be
low Kezar Falls. to mail several dccoJ
letters to Kezar Falls, one addressed tc
VIM. Barker, which WAS opened by
man bearing that name, Others were adj
| dl essed TO fictitious names, one OF them
was scarcely sealed-lust stuck together,
and had money sticking out OF 1t con
spicuously. No one claimed the bogus
letters. and Mr.. 5. preparatory to send
ing them away as the law directs, pushed
the money into the letter out Of sight,
with his pen. holder, and sealed the letter
more securely with mucilsgs --withou'
breaking the slight seal it already bad, OF
in .sayw.y disturbing the letter. On the
same day the detective appeared and
claimed the letters, when the man who
mailed them testified that the lettel
above described was not Just as he mailed
il. For this gray.hnired man,-a Tria
Juslice-whose good name can be safely
sworn 10 by thousand OF the best citi
zens of Cornish, Parsontield. Hiram
Porter, Brownheld and Freedom, is tori
from his ,ick family and carried of like
ielon. Mr.. S, besides his own il
health and poverty, has to bear the bur
den OF tho support Of three orphan
grand children, ono totally deaf; also !
daughter who has been perfectly deaf
and nearly helpless for years.
Having myself known Mr.. Sargen
eleven years, and having some years sen
and received some three hundred letter.
through his hands, chseliully bear my
unsolicited testimony TO his honesty.
venture to hope that all persons will re-
member the Saviour's Injunction: "H'
that is without sin among you lot hin
first cast stone. and that any one pur
posing to circulate counterfeit money by
sending il in bogus decoy letters, to temp
men to sin in order TO punish them. vii
remember to pray-"Our Father .
teal rs net into temptation
LLswELLYS \. WApSwoRrH.