Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-04-15

1t would appear from the following, in
last Fridays Pioneer Press, that Mr.. Ber'
tram, the postmaster al Adams, In this
county, has got himself into a little scrape
with the U. 8. government which it will
be almost impossible for him 10 get out
of without suffering severe punishm ent
Mr.. Bertram has, We believe, enjoyed the
confidence of the people Of Adams dur.
ing his entire residence there. He was
first clerk in Mr.. Krebsbach's store, and
Is now one OF the partners we believe.
For several years he has been Clerk of
the town of Adams, and his sudden fall
is truly surprise to his friends. Poor
fellow; the way of the transgressor is hard.
Saturdays St. Paul papers say that Ber-
tram had his examination on Friday be-
fore United States Commissioner Cordozo,
by whom he was held to appear at the
next term of the United States district
court, and was committed to Jail in de.
fault of $1,000 bail.
Last evening Thursday Mr.. 3. p.
Child, special agent of the post.ofdce de-
partment, arrived in St. Paul with a man
named A. Bertran, postmaster at Adams,
Mower County, charged first with hav-
ing made false return of cancellation of
stamps for the purpose Of increasing his
compensation and second. with having
disposed Of stamps IN payment of his debts
and in the purchase of merchandise. The
point in the matter is that the govern.
ment allows a postmaster in such small
towns certain percentage on stamps can.
celled. In the case of Mr.. Berlram he
returned to the post-of1ce department =
larger amount As having been cancelled
than was really cancelled, and thereby
sought to get pay for more stamps than
were really cancelled. Al sample it
may be stated, that in February, on actu.
al count Of stamps cancelled on matter
sent from his Office, the amount was $18.-
18, while for that time he returned to the
department $134.65. This is simply for
one month. 1t is claimed that other
months will show quite as large differ
ence the same way. 1t Is also asserted
that he sold stamps to the amount of the
difference between $18.18 and $l34.65,
pockete1 the money, and then added this
difference to the $i8.1S, aud sent the sum
total to Washington. The government
officials have not yet examined into his
accounts Tor any other month than Feb
ruary, but they are Of the opinion that
he has been doing this business right
along, and has made a regular business
of selling these stamps, pocketing the
proceeds, and then adding what has been
cancelled to what he has sold and send
ing the whole amount to the department
and drawing his percentage upon the
whole.
This conduct is declared by the United
States statutes to be mlsdemeanor, and
IS punishable by fine of not less than
$500, or Imprisonment for not more than
ment, at the discretion Of tho court.
A reporter Of the Pioneer Press called
at the Jail last evening 10 see Mr.. Ber-
tram and hear whatever statement he
might have to make. He seemed to be q
plain, simple German, net much exper-
fenced in the ways of the world. When
asked if he had anything TO advance by
way Of explanation, he replied that he
had nothing particular to say except that
he was guilty, and was ready 10 pay the
$50. When asked what $50, he replied
the $50 the Law calls for. He said that
he had not read the law himself, but that
some Chicago runners had told HIM he
could do this in regard to the stamps and
that there was no harm in 1t, and that all
no would have to pay would be $50. He
had no idea at all that the nue could be
any more than $50. or that it was posi-
BILE to imprison him. He said that he
had offered to pay the officer the $50 and
did not want to DO kept in Jail ever night
He was evidently surprised that he could
not be allowed to pay this sum and 60
about his business