Connecticut western news., 1884-10-01


 to make two vats of precisely the same color, although to an unpracticed eye there would seem to be no difference; also, that note-paper is ruled ln large sheets, and then cut up; and that the wires which mark the lines will vary slightly in the use. The two sheets of paper were shown them. and they testi- fled that in their opinion the two were colored from the same vat, and that they were cut from the same large sheet. The postmaster was called upon the stand, and testified that he had no knowledge of the opening of the en- velope. The defendant did not attempt to control any of this evidence. After arguments of counsel and charge of the judge the case was submitted to the jury, who, in about an hour, returned verdict of not guilty. It was understood that on the first ballot the jury voted ten for conviction, one blank, and one for acquittal, and further, that the tales man who was not known to the defend ant, was the one who voted for acquit- tal, and that within the hour the other eleven were brought to his opinion. But the verdict upon these facts did not sat- isfy the community. In the mean time, the postmaster had resigned his office, and another was appointed in his place.
 Before the time of the trial and after v-o.l 4ho-o ,rara rupooVu of IoaSas nf money and other articles from different shops and dwelling houses in Peabody, under peculiar circumstances. A few months after trial, the proprietor of a shop from which money and goods had been missed several times employed private watchman to remain in the shop nights. One night, when the proprie- tor aud the watchman were in the build ing, it was opened by false key, and a person entered and proceeded to take articles, when he was seized; but before he could be properly secured he escaped by jumping out at window, and has never been heard of since. His name was Daniel F. Gate; he was carpenter, and for some years had been in the em- ploy of one of the principal house-build- CTS in the place, and had sustained good reputation. Upon his escape, the proprietor secured the services of an officer, and went to the clearinghouse of Gate. In his room they found large assortment of articles, many of which were afterward identified as stolen from different parties, and among them was a large quantity of postage-stamps. They also found plaster cast of the old lock on the post-office door, and a key to it. They also found key to the new lock. When the postmaster decided to put on the new lock, he engaged the employer of Cate to do it, and he sent Cate himself to put on the lock, so that he had no difficulty in procuring the key. But more remarkable still, there was found in his room a small diary, and in it, in his handwriting, at the times of the several known larcenies from the post-office, were written the initials of the persons, to whom the letters were directed, with figures of amounts, pre- faced by the letters 70. P" The amounts in each instance were the exact amounts of money taken from the sev- eral letters. There were other similar at other times; and, by the aid of the initials, in short time other persons were found who had failed to receive money sent them through the mail, and in each instance the date and amount were correctly stated.
 The vindication was as thorough as was the apparent proof of guilt, and everybody was fully satisfied of the in- nocence of the accused. The new post. master resigned his office and the old one was reinstated. The estate of Gate was declared insoIvent, but property enough was found-some of it in United States bonds from which his assignees were enabled to pay all losses from Gates larcenies. Other SatUr- rIn1t