The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-29
THE UNITED STATES MAIL ROBBERY
RockafeIlow, the Defendant, ON the
stand-The Testimony or Experts as to
His INTERCHANGEABLE ON the


stand-The Testimony or Experts as to
His Handwriting-Evtdc ON the
Aiibi.
The somerville mail robbery case was continued
In the United States District Court at Trenton yes
terday. This was the fourth day OF the trial. and
from present indications IL Is most likely that
another day will be exhausted before 1t Is sub
mitted to the jury. On Friday last, when wit
nesses testified to the easy access had to the
Post once from the grocery store by means Of
forcing PACK the spring lock OF the door
leading thereto by using pair OF
scissors and penknife In the hands OF boys who
were in the habit OF resorting there on Sundays o
good deal Of surprise was occasioned at such
reckless management or the Post once. Yester-
day new light was thrown on the case, when the
defendant testified that he had Through Mr.
Clark, his counsel, prorered at one time to give
$1,000 to have the matter hushed up, although at
the time he insisted that he was innocent of the
charge preferred against him, but would suffer the
extortion rather than be disgraeed by having his
connection with the matter made public, and also
for the reason that he feared II Miss Gardeners
this anianced) father heard Of 1t the marriage
gagement would be broken.
After Edward L. Hill, Peter Vandeventer and Job
d. Kenyon were examined for the defence,
the former testifying to the loss OF some Of his
letters through the SosG Once, and the latter
two as to the good character Of the accused,
Daniel 8 the aeendant hs was then
iolows:-Lived part OF eight years In Somerviile;
am printer on the 9TH etn and In 81 october e
ing, the 7th.,, OF Octoser, | left that place
for Somerville; did not deposit any
letters IN the somerville Post once on the 6tn or
directed In defendants handwriting, were handed
to him, aud which were received through the SOM
After looking at them he denied that the handwrit-
ing his, and said he did not deposit them in the
the IN eq he
written to Miss Gardener, OF Whte House Station,
| by him, on the 7th Oct0ber.) He never had con-
versaton with young Porter about any letters; he
| had seen an article in Somervie paper In
| directly charging him with the theft, and had
meani''
the witness underwent most rigid cross-examt
deyelopments were e ADVISED Sv NV
Clark to go see Mr. Porter with third party about
| the charge; my brother was the first person whom
consulted on the matter, but never said any
thing to Mr.. Porter about ii on the 2st OF January
went away from Somerville to New York city, and
boarded for over four weeks; then came back to
| SOmervllle, and In four weeks after came back
lst OF April; while in New York was looking for
| situation, and heard while was there That an
Indictment had been found against me; the first
! time consulted with Mr.. Clark about the matter,
| ! desired to be arrested and brought before q
| United States Commissioner; afterwards author
lied Clark to pay 81, 900 to have the thing hushed
| up, because was In position in society of much
| respectablty and was afanced to young lady OF
me obtained publicity would be dsgraced and
| my engagement with Miss Gardner vltiated
| therefore had rather submit to the
| eXtortion OF paying the $1,000; l had
| arranged to make q mortgage on my prop
erty TO secure that amount, but when publicity
| withdraw the proposition. The witness was on
the stand nearly two hours after his direct evidence
| had been concluded.
Mr.. Clark was examined and gave history OF
the negotiations defendant had with him in refer
ence to the charge, which does not differ materially
with the general facts as sworn 10 In the foregoing
| evidence.
| Joseph G. Payne. an expert from Brooklyn, N.
| y, then testified that he had twenty years. ex-
perience as an expert In handwriting, and for the
last ten years was witness In several important
| suits in New York, Boston, Brooklyn and other
cities 1.-THE envelOps, defendants love letter and
| the newspaper subscription book were here pro-
| enough OF tests to satisfy himself that the hand
| writing was written by one and the same hand.
| Mr.. Crater, teller OF the National Bank OF New
ark, testified that he had not the least doubt bu
that they were all written by one and the SAM
| person.
These last two witnesses were called by the pros
| ecution. The Court then adjourned to this morn
| Ing at ten O'Clock.
| The time OF the alleged depredations by defend
ant Is put down by the prosecution as occurring OF
the 5th. 9th and 7th OF October. Numerous wit
nesses testified on Friday last that the defendan
| was absent from Somerville during these days and
| was at the White House station, nine miles from
the scene OF the rObberies. Respectable witnesses
also proved the accused to be OF unexceptionably
good character.