The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-04-24
HERES A NICE MESS. \"
The Case Against the
Kamas Postmaster.
HIS LETTERS TO A FRIEND,
Gould be Very quickly
Reduced.

George B. Leonard, postmaster a
Kamas, Summit County, was called
for trial in the Third District Cour
yesterday morning. There were four
indictments against him. covering 6
period of one year from October !, 1886
to October l, 1887, it being alleged thai
he had made four false quarterly re-
turns 10 the Pos.ofice Department at
Washington, d. G, The case opened by
the interposition of a demurrer to the
complaint by the defendants coun-
sel-Mr. Powers. This was promptly
overruled, and the first witness called
for the prosecution was
E. B. TRENTLEN,
postoffice inspector. He testified
that the defendant was postmaster at
KsmaS between the dates named in the
Indictment, that he made two inspec-
lions of the Kamas pOstotfice III 1851,
examining LeOnRrd's accounts each
lime; kRmas has population OF about
mall leaves Kamas it goes to Oakley,
small place, containing probably ten
families, and who would probably re-
ceive on an average about one letter
day; leaving Oakley, the next stop
is made at Peoa, where the
mail bag is again opened,
the Peoa matter taken out, and the
pouch again Mt on its travels; Leon
ard had oeen instructed by the depart
ment TO ke5p a liSt of the daily canceIia
tons made by him at Kamas, ard
Oscar +. Lyons, the postmaster at
Peoa, was soon afterwards instructed to
keep a similar list, Gnd check every
letter or other package that came from
kamas 20 the Peoa office; had had a
talk with Leonard before these inStruc-
tlons were given, and told him that [
was fully satisfied that his cancellations
were fraudulent, because the records
showed that, in order 10 reach tie
figure reported to the department,
every family in Kamas must have
posted five letters every day; he in
sisted thaJ Lis returns were correct,
but after some furth n talk be said he
would
MAKE A CONFESSION
that his returns had been sent
in on estimates, and not ALWAYS from
actual count; he also asked ms to write
a confession To that effect; l Eold him
did not care to do so, that l had
enough evidence to put him in the Pen
Itentlary, and did not care two straWS
about his ntessIon-but if ne did
make one, l. must be written. At his |
dlctaIon ! wrote this paper, and he
signed it; dii not tel the defendant
that If he would make confession, lie |
would be able to settle the matter with |
the department-that 1t would be much |
better for him to make q clean breast |
OF the entire case.
On his croSs-examination, Mr.. Powers |
elected the facts that the young man |
had been appointed TO the Office of post
office Inspector about three years ago,
and that he originally haied from
South Carolina. In making motion to
strike out portions of the testimony,
be made an allusion to South Carolina
This was the cue for Mr..
Clarke. In opposing the motion, to
strike out, the latter said Powers had
made political speech, rather than an
and had
DEFENDED SOUTH CAROLINA BULLDozERs.
PowERs-I did not defend them.
CLARKE-WelI, you did during the
asst campaign.
At the conclusion of the inspectors
estin: ony, the reports sent to the Post
'ffice Department by the defendant
wee put in evidence, and the
moving made that the can
,ellations had fallen, after the inspection
,egan, from about IS day TO as low as
= cents.
E. L. THRELKILL testified to the fact
hat he was a postofice inspector, and
lad sent out instructions to both Leon
md the Peoa postmaster to keep re-
ord Of the number of letters, etc, that
passed through their offices.
OSCAR f. LYONS was the next one
all d. He was postmaster at Peoa,
md had followed the instructions sent
,ut by the lastnamed witness, keeping
daily record of all the postal matter
coming from the Kamas postotfics. He
Identified the following letter
IS being in the Handwriting
# the defendant, and IS having been
eceived by him (Lyons) at the Peoa
'ostoffice from Kamas:
PLAYING A GREEN ONE.
Friend Oscar-What is the meaning OF
he blanks sent out from the P. 0. In
pector for record of matter mailed,
ec'd and passing through the Offices?
s it trap to catch some of US id
lormonsP Would like to see you on
he matter.
Respy, [,
GEORGE.
How are you going TO fix yours?
DON'T you think We should all work to-
ether for each others INTEREST," And
make our reports all correspond as to
natter you send to this off e and matter
send to you, also matter send beyond.
have written to William Reynolds.
you and him see Henry and tx the
natter up, and let me know the result.
think We could correspond daily as to
hat should be agreed upon at each of /
ce, let me hear from you tomorrow,
Ire,
GEORGE.
You should also see the P. M. at /
akley, as he is green one, and can
2 worked easy. II
The witness testified that Henry was I
lie postmaster at Rockport, and Rey-
ODDS the postmaster at Wanship.