Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-06-18
The Mail Contract Corruption Cases.


After our report Of the trial of Jerome J.
Kinds. charged with corrur;iHg a govern
merit Officer, r. = ChanCei,} closed in the
Grim nal Court Yesterday
William II. Turner testified that ne was
CORES POTding clerk In the contract office of
tae Post once department. in February last;
ara lie explained 10 tie jury the ildOTse-
ments on the bids put in ny I''dnss; iden-
BIS hands.
TIE prosecution rested their case a. this
point, reserviug their right 10 put in a con-
tract.
MR.. PELHAM OPENED FOE THE DEFENCE.
. arguing that one aCcOmpliCe cannot corrrbO-
rate another. and that Channel was a part
ctyy cyiEtigffS. He claimed that Channel pro-
I posed 70 give the lowest bids TO Kettle and
not to Kinds. who had nothing 70 do with 10
and knew nothing OF the corruption until the
corrupting had been done. The jury must be
satisfied beyond q reasonable doubt that
Kinds corrupted Channel. and that the Post
Office authorities were not accessories in the
procurement of the Indictment against
Kinds; The prosecution have shown only
that Channel and Kettle were the parties di-
rectly concerned in the tranSa ction, and IL
has been shown that Channel was not
United states official. speaking le gally.) but
mere emplOye OF the Post Office depart
ment.
TESTIMONY FOR DEFENCE
William II. Belts testified that Channel
called on him AZ the Imperial hotel. alI he
proposed TO jump the city if 500 was paid
II. u. MarSIen testified that Channel told
him he did not know of his owl klowlelge
whether Kinds knew of tine use of the seal on
the bids put in by Kettle at Kinds house on
the Sunday in question; Channel represent
ell That he was special agent of the Post
Office department, but he said that he want
Cd nothing said about it; had an interview
with Mr.. Woodward in relation TO draft
given him on the Post Office department;
Woodward said to witness that the eyes of
the whole country were on the Post Office do
paTtment, and Kettles claim could not be
paid just vet. but that witness need not feel
uneasy about the money: that if it were paid
then il might be subject to mi>cOnStruction
from the public; that afterward the amount
of the draft was paid; had also interviews
with Judge Spence and Chief Clerk rench,
who made similar statements.
Edward e. Ingersoll testified tina he was
United States commissioner; Channel was
charged with the offence that Kinds is now
on frial for. but the charge was Withdrawn
by the Post Office authorities.
TO-DAY.
The trial was resumed this morning. and
Mr.. j. III. Cook. a notary public was sworn:
lie testified that he took the affidavits OF w.
I: IddIngs on certain proposals, on the 10Th
of January last.
W. II. Beck testified that he knew Iddings:
saw him in the early part of the present year
at the Sixth Auditors office.
On cross examination witness sail that he
saw Iddings here after Mr.. Sleats became
sixth Auditor.
Dr. Il. W. Bliss testified that he knows
Kinds; that his character is good.
EX-POSTNASTER GENERAL CRESWELL As |
WITNESS.
Mr.. ]. \. j. Creswell Sworn:-Wftness was
postmaster General until July last; witness
knew Kinds, and as far as he knew his rep !
utati6n was good; only knew him as a con |
Mr.. r. II. Andrews, John II. Semnes, Geo. |
Larle, W..B. Moses, Judge Embrv. Judge J
Hood and y. &. Farnum. also testified to the |
good character Of the accused.
ChaS. Pelham and Col. Belts testified TO /
tire signature of II. Cochran on one of the |
papers.
Taylor Page testified TO accompanying |
Channel in carriage 10 Kinds house. where /.
remained half an hour. and when he came |
back ne SaId he had got some mOney-an |
order on Mr.. Nichols.
CrOSS-eXamined:-TliS was about tho 10Th |
or 11th OF March.
Col. Cook proposed TO ask a question a. 10
whether II was not customary for clerks 10 |
furniSe information 10 contractors and l
receive pay for it-whether such action was
rot allowed by the department?
The prosecution objected, and the question
was ruled ont.
Col. Belts recalIed:-KnOwS T. L. Tddinrs
mas not seen him for several months: believe
that he is not here.
The defence here closed.
TESTIMONY IN REBCTTAL.
Ire government called in rebuttal Frank
l. Channel Witness denied the testimony
of Belts 10 the effect that he (witness) had /
proposed 10 leave the city for 500. Witness
TecoliectS having had an interview with
Betls AT The Imperial Hotel, and Il seemed
anxious To know what he (C) would swear
10 bId rot propose to leave town for 500
TINS testimony was taken under excep-
ions
inns closed the testimony. and the court |
IOOk e recess until one O'Clock