The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-03-04

| D'yOfC CHUtU Ottttbo N'"'"''o''O''t' IL
b Force.
The case of the United States VS.. j.
D. Leaonard, the postmaster at Kane,
charged with opening and OBTAINING
letters adresscd TO his former partner, f.
w. Meese, was heard Friday. The
evidence is, as follows:
f. w Meese, sworn rcside at
Kane, Pa, | am acquainted with j. D.
Leopard; on the 14ih day of October,
1873, received letters (marked A. q
b. opened as they now are; l was at
Smlthport at the time my wife brought
them to me.
Cross-examined by j. Ross Thomp-
son, Esq,-.--I wen, to Smethport Sep
tember II, 1873 | did no. return to
Kane until some time in February,
1874; was confined in Jail there on
charge Of forgery, preferred by J. d
| Leonard; think there was another in
formation ag,iust me, and prohaps | was
held on that charge; Mr.. Leonard was a
witness against me at Smethport defend
ant and | had been partners and the
partnership has never been Dissolved by
my consent, although defendant pub
lished dissolution notice September
15, 1873.
Defendant was aud still is postmaster
at Kane; | never delegated authority to
him or any enc to open mg individual
letters it was never the habit or custom
for us to open each others individual
letters, exhibit "a" is in the hand
writing Of Mr.. Schuer, of Wsrrcn
exhibit "B." is from Jos. Clark, Jr.,
OF Warren
Rc-cro Observation-Disclosures and
| were III the grocery business; we be
gan in January, 1869 the firm Of
Schuer e. Son, Of Warren, were mer-
chant tailors; we did not sell clothing
but did deal in furnishing goods we
never purchased clothing OF them we
never purchased groceries of Clark &
Co, | was discharged by tie Court as
[ understand because the alleged for
ged check was lost.
Catherine Mcese, sworn--I am the
vile of i. W. Mecse, (exhihit "a" and
"B'" shown witness,) | have seen these
letters before; the day went to Smeth-
port to see my husband, who was in jail,
Mir Leonard handed me these two let
ters; | reached Smethport the same day
and delivered the letters to him; Mr
Leonard told me TO take the letters over
to Mr.. Mecse, that he (Leunard) had
openeo them and ssid he thought he
had done wrong in opening them,
examiuation-We were mar
ried 10 Cumberland, Md, about thirteen
years gro; ply madeu name was Gather
ine Peuwc; we went to Altoona, Pa,
from there to Broad Top, in three years
to Kane, Pa, whore he las been en-.
gagged in the mercantile business; my
husband had been in Jail at Smethport
twJ or three weeks before visited him
the first time; the next time | visited
him was in about two weeks thereafter.
at " hch time | took the letters to him;
when Leonard gave ne tie letters | was
in Mir. Campbell'S Sleigh in front Of the
post office; Campbell had beeo working
for my husband aud Mr. Leousid; he
was boarding at our house ut the time:
| did not get out Of the sleigh, Camp
bell did; for what purpose | don't know;
the store and postofice were together;
dou't iecolcct anybody was standing
about the door; | believe it vas abou.
ten or eleven A. NJ; | caut possibly
say whether it was slejghing or not at
th1t time; Mr.. Campbell vas standing
on the platform during the conversation
between tie defendant aud myself we
had a team; Mr.. Leonard brought cut
the letters and said "hcre are Two let
ters for your husband; / opened them
aud think | have done wrong" | don't
remember that he said IL opened them
by misiahe;" l am sure he did not say
so; The euvelopcs are nov just as they
were then; can't read writing; | don't
think tie writing On exhibit "B" is my
husbands
ke-drect-I cant read writing, aud
as | put The letters in NY pocket with
out looking ot tacm, cant now say
whether the writing Is tie same it then
! was.
James Campbell, sworn l reside at
at hsne; | know defendant, ON election
day, October, 1878, | was taking Mrs.
MeeSe over to Smethport; | had some
business to do With Mr. Leonard and
stopped to see him; Mr.. Leosard
brought out two letters ani, banded
them to Mrs Meese; l can'tsay whether
we were using sleigh or wagon; the
Snow came early and we sometimes used
one and sometimes the o;lltr; defendant
handed the letters 10 lcr aud said,
Hese are two letters for Frauk; 81
Ut ened them and shouldn't nave done
it; | supposed they concerned the firm. "
Exhibit a and Is shown witness.l To
the best Of my recollection these are
the identical envelopes.
Cross-examined | put no marxs
upon the envelopes; | cant swear those
are the identical letters; | am sure ex.
hibit Is is not the same; it was at the
time defendant handed. them to Mrs
Meese the name j. d. Leonard was not
then on; | never saw the lstters since
was at the Jail until yesterday in the
presence OF Mr.. Meesc; he onl y sskec
me if | recognized the letters; | hsG
read the address at the time | first saw
tie letters; should not say exhibit i
is in handwriting Of Meese; there is
resemblance TO his.