National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-04-14
THE POST OFFICE FRAUrs.



United States Commissioner Ingersoll sat 81
the Criminal Court room, City hail. last evening,
to hear the case Of the United States against
Messrs. Hines ard Van Week, for an attempt 70
bride certain clerks Of the post once to assist I'D
frauds on the Post Once Department ,-
AS soon as the Commissioner appeared an M and
his seat, Mr.. w. A. Cook arose at the tso!e en-, 49,
said: viii you tell me, Mr.. Commissioner "heiS
are my aceusers? 1870
Mr.. 1ngersOii. Judge Fisher Will represent the
When the case Of Hines was called, 1t appeared
that there were three informstons az Slpst n S'
one charging him with attempting to OXIDE S IIa
peI; the second with like attempt on y M OOl1
and the third fer an attempt TO brt6e floyu. -,
Some Of the atidayits in MT IT,, n es,n SS sen.
pied in looking for them, Mr.. COOK sagsSsSou
that the case Of Van Week be proceeded Win;
was suggested ~ the S1 asdsTIt as IL wa;
Mr.. Cook said this was one of the cases in which
he did not feel like waving anything,
The case Of Hines was then set aside, and that
Of Van Week proceeded with. w..
The affidavit of MI. WoodWaro, enaLghH We, ~
Post Once Department $780, with intent 70 m
duce him to do an act contrary to his duty as
clerk in this, to procure his assistance 70 W; v.
GIddipgs and others in frauduIently obtaining
the consideration Of certain bids Tor contracts lOr
carrying the mail
to find certain Information for certain sum,
which he agreed to do. Van Week asked him II
he could furnish certain information 70 he-
tle the lowest bidder on certain mall routes In
Texas He said there were %, 900 in 1t. witness
was to give him the lowest bid on some routes In
Texas; don't think he said anything 70 witness
forwards got 800 for the information; witness got
the money at different times, the hrst $50 at
Aman's, on Ninth street; Kettle made the nrst
payment there in the presence of Mr.. Van Week;
Van Week introduced Kettle to witness; witness
asked for the money and got it; witness asked ior
it because he had furnished the lowest Dias %
WAS desired: Kettle afterwards put in Two or
three lower bids.
Crossexamiped: witness could not say whether
his duties as clerk had any connection with Texas
postal routes. Does not remember the numbers
OF the routes as to which he gave information.
Van Week told witness that he wanted ITO in
troduce him 10 friend OF his, who was q very
nice fellow" Van Week never gave witness any
money or asked for any from him. Kettle gave
witness
THE MONEY AS A LOAN,
lust as he would get a loan from anybody else.
w. d. Kettle testified that he asked Mr. Van
Week to introduce him 10 Colt, and the three
met at Helmus', on Seventh street; there made
arrangements; then followed several wine din
ners. got acquainted with Colt and then ap-
preached him on business, and the result was
that Colt brought me the book and showed me
the figures of the lowest routes. Witness gave
him 500. Livingston to Willis and Willis TO
Montgomery, in Texas, perhaps Paris to Mount
Pleasant, or perhaps San Antonio to Corpus
Christi. Did not loan the money; don't loan
money; that was especially in the terms PAID
it for the information received. Colt got in all
$40. Van Week was present at the time VIII
ness paid Colt 500. Colt drew on witness Tor
$500. and witness told Van Week he couldn't see
it. Van kind Of laughed, and said he thought It
was pretty heavy. Witness made nine bids In
consequence of the information gotten from Colt:
[Certain bids were shown, 3l,2o, SllI and
others and witness said those were his bids He
supposed that Van Week knew wine dinners
were not given without purpose
ness the case was adjourned until to-day at
O'Clock p. N.