The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1888-05-17
of safe lock at that

Cross-exam1ned. The doors fit
little tight and are hard to fasten;
did not fit well in damp weather;
remember shortage in money on
one or two occasions; never heard
any explanation of these shortages.
. Elmer Westall sworn: was mail
carrier; had pestofice key at that
time; quit work at office January
18TH. 1888; wasn't at the Office on
the night preceding the robbery;
got there next morning after Jim
Weaver and Justice did; didn't
know combination of safe; Mr..
Weaver, Mr.. Mckee and Mr. Cush-
man knew combination; not certain
about Mr.. Cushman; had seen Mes
Kee open safe.
j. H. Hampton and G.. j. Jenkins,
policemen, testified that they had
seen Mckee in front of Lang's jewel
ry store in Asheville, about 2 o'clock
on the morning of the 2Sy$ Of Decem-
Der. They watched him. Hampton
had sworn out. a warrant before COM
missioner Summey for Mckee, but
had turned it over to deputy marshal
Gudger; waited to see if he would
not go to A. d. Cooper's on Hay
wood street; Cooper is NIcKees
brother-in-law; Mckee kept straight
Oh down Patton avenue towards the
river; he was wrapped up and muffl-
ed; knew him by his peculiar walk;
it was very cold night; were wrap
ped up themselves.
John Childs sworn. Left Raleigh,
Tuesday Dec. 2Sth and arrived in
Salisbury at II o'clock, p. m., on the
28th. Saw Mckee on the platform of
the Pullman car on the same train;
saw porter approach him and tell him
something; Mckee turned and went
into q forward car and | did not see
him any more.
f. L. Saunders swOre. Am assis-
tant postmaster now; made SO Jan. l,
1888 was in the office on and before
the robbery took place; locked safe
myself the night before the robbery;
have been in office since July 18th,
1887; carry key to postoftice; Mckee
knew combination, was there at II
o'clock on night of December 2Sth;
went back about y o'clock to see if
everything was all right did not go in
left and didn't 90 back any more
that night my room is near the post
office; went to office next morning
about ten minutes to seven o'clock;
Weaver and Justice were already
there. (Here the key to the post
Office door was exhibited to the jury
The witness resumed; | went in to
get the registers out to send off
found the safe open; all l had to do
with the safe was getting out the reg
istered packages. Nobody could get
int the safe unless they knew the
combination; witness explained the
combination to the jury. Cross-ex-
amined, witness said it was dark that
morning; safe was open; Capt. Wea-
yer came to office about fifteen minS
utes to eight that morning; did not
relock the safe.
w. A. Blair sworn: Saw Mckee on
train between Asheville and Morris
town, on the 29th Of December; saw
him first standing on platform Of car;
then again at Hot Springs where he
went up to the hotel, PR badly to get
breakfast; he got back on train, laid
down on a seat nearly opposite me,
covered his head with newspaper
and apparently Vent to sleep; got
off the train at Morristown and did
not see him any more. w. f. Young,
the route agent, was called and fail
ing to answer, Judgment nisj was ren-
dered against him.
The Government here rested its
case, and the defendants counsel
gave notice that they had no testi-
mony to introduce. Argument in
the case was postponed until ten
o'clock this morning. Judge Dick
charged the jury, and at 4:50 p. M,
court adjourned.