, 1873-01-10
ALLEGED MAIL ROBBERY.
Trlal Of Leo Canmas1, nh ES.Post 0ltlco
Clerk, Charged with Abslraetlng
Six Dollars from n Regis.
ierch Lotfer.
Beginning Of Tho Testimony for Tho Pro.ocut[on..'
Evidence o! Postmaster Eastman,

Tn tho Unitod States District Court, yoator1ny
afternoon, tllo caao OF Leo Canmnn, charged
with opening a lottor wliito employed III tho
Post 0lIlco, and a1,straoting tho contonsB, wns
talton up. jury was empanno1ed without
much difficulty, md Dir. 0loyor stated Tint ho
proposed to provo tint Cannan oponod Il rog-
appropriated two 90 bills.
mr, Van Arnlau, tho defendants counsel gaya
nh outline Of Canman's history, telling where la
WAS educated, and Of his entering tho arnly to
ausfst in putting down tho rebellion, and Of l!iB
thoft. It was vol known, Atr. Van Arnau
uaid, TINT nt tho timo Ca,lnlan
ontorcd tho Post Otlico 1t was n don of thieyos
Largo ss,res of money woro conntant1y miuBod,
and it would appear to tho jury thaL tho wit
noseoB for tho prosecution Ind nlnlly bottcr o1,-
portunitfos to tako the money than tllo tlefond-
mt: lie aglcd the critical attention Of tho jury
named Stuart, who would toatify aa to tho taking
Of tho money. Tho tefondant utterly tlonicd
tho truth Of the allegation. lie would show tho
history Of the life Of the dofondart, nnd would
Frank 4. Eastman, sworn: was Postmaster
Of Chicago In h1ay last know Nfr. Cnllnlan 1lo
waa In tho employ OF tho Department at that
tfmo; lo left tho o1lco aftor tho alleged tlloft;
havo no personal knowledge OF tho tranpac-
tion.
Cross-c1amincd; Thoro nro about 800 mon
employed In tho Pont Olico thoy aro classified,
tho carriers having space by tlion1nolyos in tho
gallorion, the general delivery olsrks portion
tho Registry Department Is not. in tho main
building, but in Heparato room, having n tlia-
tinct entrance thoro aro four general depart
,nontB, tB,-carriore, distribution, delivery, aud
monoy-ordor; thoro is also i special agents
department, but 1 havo nothing to do with it
therc is Q stamp department, too, which n,akes
five departments; thoro woro flvo Buposintend-
cnts, ono for each; do not remember their
hn 'H o oe9 ss ah' hsfo oVop se
tho arss IN" apponted u 10 "se wont QUO into to
tho newspaper, or throwing department,
but was aftorwarde transferred to tho Registry
think at that timo. Mr.. Henneborry was at tho
hoad when Cannlan loft Cannan performed
his duties with clerical ability and diligence;
know Linn uli8htly ooforc ho entered tho Pont
the Registry Department.; part Of thom were
womon; Canman had no dutioB to perform out
sido Of Tint department; lotterB wero received
md Registered tAoro. ant. receipts woro sent to
istorod thoro; the, employees ,wero divided
into scts ono day and two night -
and worked eight hours; 10 not know
tho exact hours tho day-sot wont on; ono won't
of when tho other can1o on; do not know par-
ticulurly what Mr.. Can1nau was engaged at; I
never saw package Of foreign registered lottora
opened; Was not practically acquainted with
tho way in which tho work vas douo in tho DIFF
ierent departments.
Redirect examination: Cannlan was brought
to my notice through his friends; llo WIS highly
recommended to mo !; / know nothing OF mY own
knowledge Of his ability; thoro is an Assistant
poBtmastor; lo reports to mo, and takes orders
from mo, watching tho workings Of tho dopart-
InentH; the safe i'll which Registered 1otters
wero kept WIS In tho room in which
Can1nnn wAB employed, and it WAs
part OF his duty to visit it; o hole was made In
the ceiling Of tho room by my direction, for tho
purpose of giving tho detectives place Of OBJ
servation.
Re-c,'oss examination Canmnn's deak was in
tho northeast corner Of tho room; cannot toll
whore tho Bafo stood thon.
Re-redircct examination: LoHBos Of money
WoEo frequently reported during my admnitllra-
tion, but do not remainder d single instance
!. einco Cauman loft before llo camo 1osBos wore
reported to mo; I know mnn nn1ne1 Owens it
was to mo reported tint lo had taken money
know man named Stone; he dropped tho
evidence Of his guilt Oh tho floor do not
know wllothor or not Dlatner reported tho cir
cumstnnco to mo !; thcso reports wero mhdo
nftor Cnnman loft but tho persons named woro
not in tho Registry Department; during my term
of Office tAoro was reported to have beon Btoon
between 81 400 md Sl,500 tho largest amount
during tho September before tho fire I think;
never got my trace Of it; tho letter III which it
was enclosed was also takon; Oanlnan was not
in tho eet which bud charge Of the mail in which
TINT lotter cano.
The Court then adjourned,