The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-25
THE UNITED STATES MAIL ROBBERY
Continuation Of the Trial Of Rockafellow at
Trenton-A Love Letter as Weapon Of
Prosecution Interesting Facts for
the Postmaster General as Well
a. for tho Public

The case OF the United States vs.. Rockafelow
was resumed yesterday in the District Court at
Trenton before Judge Nixon. As on the preceding
day every available space In the Court room was
occupied by deeply interested and anxious
looking audience. The mother Of the defendant,
together with his sister, brother and betrothed,
Miss Gardner, occupied seats near counsel.
large number OF his friends were alse present
from SOmerville.
The accused was not an employee OF the Post Of
fee in which the depredati0ns took place at the
time OF their committal, as errOneously stated.
Rockafellow formerly worked for Porter In his
printing office. but was never connected with the
Post ONCE. In order to throw more light on the
manner in which the theits were committed, it
may be here said that the superstition rested on by
the prosecution Is that the guilty party obtained
the keys OF the grocery store adjoining the Post
ONCE, and by this means, after Erecting an en-
trance into the store had procured nail or some
other rod OF metal and with II forced back the
spring lock which secured the door of the
Office leading into the store. 1t VIII
be understood by this that the Post once and
grocery store were separated by light partition,
ana in the corner of the building the door ques
ton Is located. Rockafellows mother keeps a
boarding house, and one Of the clerks in the store
boarded with her at the time the depredations
were committed. This clerk closed the store at
night time and carried the keys with him. 1t s
alleged by the prosecution that Rockafelow, who
also boarded with his mother, managed to puroin
these keys while the clerk was asleep undetected
by him. Both men occupied rooms next to each
other. 1t is also alleged that Sunday night was the
time always chosen by the accused to carry out his
designs. The counsel for the prosecution rested
their case yesterday alter examining witnesses.
Of the once was the rs pu on
the stand. Over two hours were consumed In the
taking OF his testimony. He c0rroborated the EVIL
dence OF his father, and nothing new was elected
from him, with the exception that he saw Rocka-
fellow deposit letter in the dr0pbox, and imme-
diatey afterwards one was taken from the box,
which proved to be one OF the decoy letters. He
was not sure 1t was the one deposited by the &C
cused. There was box in the front Of the office
large enough to permit mans hand to 60 through
and abstract letters. Favorite parties had access
to the ONCE besides the employees, and often came
inside to get their mail. he testified that ROcka-
fellow had complained one time OF q registered
letter directed to his mother which had gone
astray.
Culver Barcaow the well known Tom Scott lob
byst, was next sworn He merely testified that
he kept drug store two houses from the Post
once and that some OF his letters had been miss
ing about the time charged in the Indictment. He
was also collector OF internal revenue. Mis- EVIL
dence did not lead to any direct charges against
G. W. Marx, member OF the Secret Service de-
partment OF the United States followed BarcaOw;
vile; before he took him in custody the accused
alluded TO settlement OF $500 or $500 which he
OHefeu 10 make laSt rail-, anu the accused 1urther
said that II wish to God had settled - he subse
quently said there was "a job put up on him." The
Headquarters Of the witness were IN New York and
ss s OF ts on
which Reckafellow was engaged, testified to the
handwriting Of the accused IN the subscription
book OF his paper. IA batch OF envelopes was here
produced and examined BY witness. The SUPER
SCI. ptien on them, 1t Is alleged, Ia in the hand.
writing OF the accused and further, 1t Is stated by
the prosecution that these were returned through
the drop box with the missing letters enclosed)
He said the handwriting was similar, but would
subscription book.
Nathan Richardson, q rather stubborn witness,
who gave his evidence with much reluctance, after
being admonished by the Court, testified that he
was familiar with the general handwriting OF
Rockafellow, especially with the word Somervine
envelopes, said that 1t was his express emphatic
opinion that the superscription on them was in
ROckafell0w's handwriting.
Mr.. Gaylor, a Post ONCE Official also testified
that he believed the handwriting in the book and
that on the envelopes was similar.
Richard Latan testified that he heard Woman
the grocery store cleIk who boarded with RocKa.
fellow say that the bstmastersuspected Rocka-
This closed the evidence for the prosecution
Mr.. vanatta then addressed the Court in reference
to the point he raised the day before the def
milton of the word email" He wished to quash
the Indictment on the ground that stealing from
the Post ONCE and from the mail were two distinct
offences.
The Court ruled that the case should go to the
jury, and that the question be reserved Tor future
Mr. Clark Wade then opened for the defence in
short address to the jury, after which Eugene s.
Doughty was placed on the stand for the defence.
He testified that the drop box was often so full
that II was easy to abstract letter therefrom.
He also alluded to registered letter. directed to
his father, which was receipted for but not de-
vered until numerous inquiries had been made
for 1t.
letter written by the accused to his sweet
heart Miss Gardner, was frequently brought up
when his handwriting was being compared 1t
was in the possession Of the District Attorney. A
number OF witnesses will be examined to-day who
will testify to the good character OF the accused II
IL intended by his counsel to prove an abi. That
is the main point Of the defence 1t is expected
the case Will go to the jury this afternoon
The testimony for the defence thus far shows
reckless management OF the Post ONCE, and to this
end counsel for the defence are bending all their
energies. One result OF this trial will be to place
the Postmaster in very unenviable position
DOMESTIC THIEvING.