Omaha daily bee., 1888-10-06
TURTLE ON TRIAL.
Dismissed on the Her Mattcr-Held
For Robbing the Mails.

For Robbing the Mails.
Turtle, the man VINO it is alleged robbed
=. f.. and j. ID. Her, as also the United
States mail, was seen in his cell at the county
Jail aud seemed to be bowed with sorrow and
rcmorse.
In answer to a query as TO the truth OF his
confession Of having robbed the mails, he
replied, with flashing eyes, that it was un-
true
"The newspapers" he continued, "seem
determined TO convict me before | have had
a trial. They have lied about me and l sup
pose will continue to lie in order 10 make
news. | don't think this is the way to treat
a man in trouble"
"But did you rob the mails, Turtlei' inter
rupted the reporter.
"Idon't know how to answer that, but /
h; lily think did.
Then you are not certainn
"Yes, I'm certain didn't steal anything
from the nails
"How about the letters found in your
roomp'
81 won't say anything about those letters,
how they got there, or what l know about
them, until am put on trial.
you do know something about them,
then!'
"Yes-no-but told you wouldn't talk
about that and I won't"
"Dd you have an accomplice in this mat
terr
"You can't get anything more out of me-"
And you hardly know whether you robbed
the mails or nott'
81 didn't rob thcm-now, do you know it,
Postmaster Gallagher said that he en-
ployed Turtle as substitute carrier about
eight months since. That it was the infu-
ence of the Hers who secured the position
for him, and that Julius Her was on his
bond.
"What do you know about his having
robbed the mails!n
Nothing definite. On being informed OF
the case, I handed the matter over to At
torney Pritchett with the request that the
matter be thoroughly investigated and Turtle
prosecuted
A visit was made to Turtles store room
yesterday. Among the letters found was
one addressed to M. A. Dauphin, New Or
leans, which had been opened. II was dated
August and referred to an incosure of 81 for
the purchase of a September lottery ticket.
1t also contained stamped envelope for
reply. The stamps in both cases had been
removed, and the address Of the sender read
81. j. Allen, l4l7 Jackson street"
The letter received by Turtle from his
brother was just such an one as might be
written by relative, save for one clause,
which read: "Jim, let me know if you can
let me have another one of them boxes with
Hers stuff in it, as would like to have it
soon and can't get any good stuff here" 1t
was dated at Leadville, Colo, but one or two
tunply cHNcloptS lTOH INC same writer
living in Long Pine, Neb. A third
letter was written on the billhead
and was signed "Rop." 1t contained re-
quest for the use of the prisoners room on
the night of September 3. Another envelope
was found addressed to Mrs. Hegeman. 1t
had evidently been enclosed by that lady in
some other letter, that required an answer
and she had sent stamped envelope to
ensure reply, but as in other cases the
stamps were torn off.
81 see that the prisoner denies everything
said Detective Blaufuss, land / would like
you to correct that. Look at this,n and he
handed over written order signed by the
prisoner, authorizing the detective to deliver
to ller & Co. all the liquors found in his
room at S04 South Thirteenth street.
"And then about the letters" he added
"When he admitted his guilt to Mr.. Her,
that gentleman promised to be as lenient as
the law would allow, and advised him to tell
all he knew about them, but he only said, If
can get out of the one, guess can get
out of the other too"
At l o'clock yesterday Turtle was
brought before Justice O'Conncll on the
At the request of the complainants, the
charge was made for petit larceny only, and
Justice O'Connell dismissed the case. The
prisoner was Immediately re-arrested, how
eyer ever ,7s;1o, on the charge ~, Of robbery
sum of 81 contained in a letter addressed to
Nj. A. Dauphin, New Orleans, La. He
seemed completely broken down, and was at
once taken to the court of Justice Anderson.
Before his arrival, the United States mar
shal thoroughly examined his room, and
found nearly dozen Of letters directed to
persons in different parts of the country
Some OF them were not even opened, but the
majority had been tampered with.
On being taken before Justice Anderson
the case was continued until TODAY, and
Turtle committed to Jail in default Of $500
bond.
The account of Turtles doings published
| in THE BEE has led to number of inquiries
| for missing letters One was posted by +. M.
| Blair of Cunning street, and it has never
reached its destination in Iowa, and another
| expected by Mrs. Pete Rigby Of Eighteenth
| street, is numbered among the letters that
never came.