Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-10-04
A Postmaster's Love Affair.
AND HOW HE GOT INTO TROUBLE FROM
RIVALS LETTERS.

AND HOW HE GOT INTO TROUBLE FROM
RIVALS LETTERS.
PARKERsBURG, W. VA, September 16.
Thomas Rector, ex- postmaster at Leech's
Dam, in this county, gentleman formerly
1T good repute. has been indicted on three
counts-for- tampering with the United
States mails. violation of oath of Office and
illegal correspondence, under the following
peculiar circumstances:
According to report, it appears that Mr..
Rector, who is d man about forty five or
fifty years of age, and the son of Baptist
minister, had fallen in love with a young
lady Ill the neghborhood. named Miss B.,
and in the course of time became engaged
to her. A young medical gentle
man named S., who was residing in the
Same locality, having seen the young lady,
who Is said to be a very handsome and
amlatle person, also took it into his head
to become enamored Of her.
This happened some months since, and
Miss B. leaving the neignborhood on a
visit, s.. had no opportunity to state his
pond with the fair one through the me-
dunn OF Uncle Sans postal department.:
lie left home and went to one OF the large
cities to attend the lectures, and the first
eplStle was written from the city. An an
SWer came in due time, laden with the
breath Of roses and breathing true friend
ship. Encouraged beyond measure by his
success, his next and the following ones be-
came warmer and more ardent IN answer
to those received from the dear one In the
distant mountains of West Virginia, and
hnally an engagement was contracted.
Some time after, Mr. s. returned to West
NIrUJnjl and Of hiS flrCt fhOnOkt
was of the one who had inspired his manly
bosom with the delightful sensation of
true love, and donning his best suit, he
called at the residence of Miss B., who had
In the meantime returned home. Imagine
the horror and establishment of the young
EsculapiuS when, after tremblingly breach
ing the subject OF their epiStolary CORES
pondence, in being told by the young lady
that she knew noJhing about it; that she
had never seen him (S.) but few times,
and never had thought of him in any other
light than that of a casual acquaintance.
Disconnected and disguised with thel
world, s. left. But the matter did not drop
here; Adjective was put to work, and in
a very short time had hold of the author
OF all the trouble.
Mr.. Rector, who acknowledged his guilt,
pleaded in extenuation that after his
engagement with the young lady, upon the
eve of her departure, she had requested
him to open all letters which should come
addressed to her during her absence. This
duty he had faithfully performed, indeed,
rather too faithfully, as he not only opened
her letters, but answered them in her hand
writing, and with her signature; or, as it
is claimed, got some one else to act as
scribe while he dictated. Rector had bro
ken his engagement with Miss B., and
married another lady some time before the
correspondence ceased. but having gotten
into it kept it up until detected.
The case will probably come up in the
next United States Court, and will, no
doubt, prove interesting. as then the whole
romance will be detailed by the high con-
tracing parties, and some omissions of an
interesting nature divulged.