National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-05-15
THE CASE OF FRENsLEY.
His Examination Before the Police Court
Yesterday.

Yesterday.
John L. Frensley, messenger In the Treasury
Department, had Q hearing before Judge Smell
at the Police Court yesterday, relative to the
larceny Of eiEhty-hTe dollars from the redemp-
ton bureau Of that Department. Mr.. B. g. Un-
derwood, receiving teller, sWore that upon miss
ing the money he acquainted Mr.. Graves Of the
fact and took the precAution to register all the
notes. He then notified the secret service bureau
of the loss. Witness gave 3 description Of the
manner Of doing business at the counter.
Cross-eIamined: Could not tell the dSnomina-
lions Of the notes missed, but could swear to the
amount. The money was lost between the hrst
register the notes received. During the month
of Decent Der he was in the habit Of asking Frens-
leyto stop at bis counter during his temporary
room constantly during ONCE hours Frensley
was frequently charged with the duty Of carrying
both new and old money back and forth through
the building.
A. l. Dr1mmond, detective, testified to visit
to Erensley's house on the 4th Of last January
and not finding him at home. Saw him after
wards the street and followed him to the house,
and entered without the prisoners knoWiedgei
watched him through an open space in the boards.
An anonymous letter had previously been sent
him, warning him that he was suspected OF haV-
ing things in his house belonging to the Depart
neDt, and advising him to get rid Of them; Wit
ness saw him cad the letter, when he went to his
trunk and pulled out an express letter and
lighted q match and set IRE TO the letter and
threw it in his stove. Afterwards arrested him
and searched his premises; found several articles
Of stationery, and in his pocket so Of new green
backs, which he claimed to be his months pay.
The arrest was made on the pretext Of his being
engaged in the counterfeit business; charged him
with burning the envelope, when he could give no
satisfactory reason for doing SO, only that he had
received It from Virginia by express; on inquiry
at the Adams express once Sscertained that such
package had been passed.
Miss Matte Yeatman, who boards at the same
house the prisoner does, testified that on the 9Th
Of January last Frensley gave her q cigar-box
and an envelope, which he said contained money,
and requested her to take charge Of It for him,
alleging Is reason for such action that he was
frequently solicited for the loan Of money, and
did not Wish to keep any about his person. Frens-
ley afterwards called for the envelope. She gaze
It to him, and he opened IT and took tl5 out OF it.
as he said, and returned II to her unsealed. She
counted the contents RDd found SIS; some Of 1t
was mutilated currency.
Characterization: Witness is employed in the
Treasury; did not have possession Of the box
half an hour; the package she kept three or four
days; did not examine what the box contained.
Mrs. Bennett, who lives in the same house as
the preceding witness, testified to seeing the
envelope opened ond the old notes, but could not
remember the amount; the money was replaced
in the envelope, which was sealed. The further
hearing OF the case was postponed until to-day.