Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-12-01

fosl orFlCE DEPARTMENT ASKED TO MAKE GOOD
THE Loss.-A S1.200 CLERK WRESTLING WITH A
LEGAL PROBLEM FIT FOR THE ATTORNEY GEN
ut is enough to tax the ability of the Attor-
| ney General to pass upon matter Of this kind.
not to speak of a twelve hundred dollar clerk, u
| remarked a clerk, wearing puzzled and vexed
expression on hiseountenance. as he plunged into
corridor Of the Post Office department, armed
with vast pile Of what appeared to be official
| correspondence. Accidentally brushing against
| him as he rushed past, STAR re-
porter sent the papers flying across the
corridor. While assisting the gentleman in
picking up the papers, the reporter, modestly
disclaming the possession of superior legal
ability. asked to be enlightened as to the nature
OF the weighty problem that the government
| st1pendiary felt unequal to pass upon.
Go to Mr. Blank, the division chief: he NAV
tell you, rejoined the clerk, snappisIlly hurry
| ing away.
| Mr.. Blank, when the matter was mentioned,
| chuckled softly to himself, and said:
II don't know that ought to tell you. for
the joke is on the department. but it is too good
to keep 1t is Just an example Of simon pure
| rascality. Happening on CALIFORNIA; golden
strand of course, like the other products of that
| gifted country it must have its wild flavor. But
| here goes"
THE TALE UNFOLDED.
| Turning to file Of papers, the chief looked
over one or two, found what he sought, and,
| turning his chair into more comfortable posi-
| ton, said: 81 wanted to recall the name. 1t is
Kimball-John Kimball. He hailed originally
from Utah, and had drifted over the Rockies
| into the Cnnaman's Mecca. San Francisco.
Times were hard, and as Mr.. Kimball was ayerse
| to manual labor, he sought to live by his wits;
not a bad stock in trade, either, as it appeared.
Like other gentlemen of his ilk, he loved to fire.
4uent the hotels, and soon became known to
season frOwned, he happened to be in the office
OF one OF the most prosperous of the San Fran
| cisco hOstelres just as the mail was brought in
wonder whether my draft has come in, Bob,
said he to the hotel clerk. he cOolly picked up
the pile Of letters and proceeded leisurely to ex-
| anime them.
Among the pile was card from the city post
master informing Mrs. Brown that registered
package was awaiting her at the post Office.
Who is Mrs. Brown carelessly inquired the
sharper as ne silly slid the card into his pocket.
wealthy English lady; been here about a
month"; answered the busy clerk, without OBJ
serving the bit Of sleight of hand.
In about twenty minutes kimball appeared of
| the post office and handed to the delivery clerk
Che following order, which he had prepared en-
route:
Mammoth Hotel: Please deliver to bearer the
registered package addressed to Inc, now in the
! post Office Mrs. j. A. BROWN
| The clerk scanned the bearer with shade of
suspicion in his manner, which Kmball quickly
OWNED. Producing the pOstmaster's notice to
| Mrs. Brown, he said The lady told me to show
| this also The clerks doubt was removed, and
ne handed over the package, which contained a
draft for EGO, and an enclosure Of valuable Jew
elry.
THE SHARPER AND HIS PLUMBER.
Kimball already had an extensive acquaint-
hiatt Of
to be OF noble descent, and display as an emblem
of their calling the three golden balls of an
ancient Italian house. Therefore the iewelry
soon reposed snusiy in an iron safe, and. with a
roll ofgieenbacks of portentous SIZE Mr. Kim
ball emerged into the street with the kindly in
tention of intoxicating every acquaintance of
the male gender whom he should encounter,
But, as he was under the necessity of imbibing
with each and every one of them, the task ex-
| ceeded his ability, and he fell by the wayside
He was, in due course. aroused by policeman
from comfortable nap on cellar door. and
was sOcn ensconced in the caabOose
Next morning, as lawyer Of some
prominence in San Francisco was passing
through the corridor of the Jail he was
man, neatly attired. This was Kimbal, who
mad, forgot to say, invested a portion of his
plumber In new suit OF clothes. He stated
that he was son of Gen. Kimbali, of Ogden
on a lark the day previous, but would
not for the world have his respected father hear
that his son had been locked up in the caaboose
If the lawyer could get him out, and have the
matter kept quiet, he would be literally re-
Warded.
In my younger days." said the Chief drop
ping into reminiscent mood, zone OF the sub
jects for arguments before our village debating
society was is it fair to cheat a lawyer and
| we decided that it was; but YOU couldn't But
they didn't know Kimball. However, to con-
tinue: The sympathies of the lawyer were en-
listed. He took the case; went privately to the
Judge before the opening of court, and, repre-
senting the matter as simple spree, succeeded
In getting an order for Kimballs release and
the young man again breathed the air of free
dom.
Now said he to the legal light. Il can't paw
you until I have cashed this draft. l am not
known at the bank, SO, perhaps, you will iden-
tify me-
OF course the lawyer consented and when the
draft was cashed and he had received his fee he
shook hands with Mr.. Kimball who Immediately
shook from his feet the golden dust of San
Francisco, and was there seen as the poet says,
never more
THE OLD LADY WANTS HER MONEY.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Brown began to inquire
about her expected remittance At the post
office she was told that the registered package
had been delivered, and the forged order was
produced. Fastening to the bank, she was
met with the information that draft for EGO
payable to Mrs. Brown, had been Endorsed and
collected by Kimball, who had been identified
by reputable lawyer. Still the lady insisted
on having her money. and the bank was COM
PEELED to hand it over, although they retaliate d
by immediately calling upon the legal light to
refund it. He protested, and explained the cir
cumstances but without avail, and was forced
to make good to the bank the EGO. Then
the lady proceeded to the post Office and
demanded the value of the iewelry
stolen by Kimball, on the ground that the post
office is responsible for the proper delivery of
registered matter. That claim has been trans
mitted to this Office for adjudication. Then
comes the lawyer with claim against the post
office for ECO, alleging that he was mulcted in
that sum through the failure of the postal clerk
to observe proper precautions in delivering the
| registered package. That claim also comes to
this department. The postal clerks answer to
the complaints is ingenious. Instead of deny
the claimants, he looked up the universal
postal union treaty, and takes his stand
on provision therein contained. declaring I'M
mailable articles Of jewelry and like valuabes.
He holds that the stolen package was not prop
erly in the, office; that it was unmaiable; that
his bond only covered articles of mail; and.
therefore, that he could not legally be held re-
sponsible for the loss of the package All of
the papers have been turned over to the clerk
you met in the corridor, and he is wrestling