The Washington critic., 1888-03-14
WASHINGTON CRITIC
JAMES ELLIAsoN,s CRIMs.
The Defense OGer Evidence as to Hi
Good Character.

The case for the defense in the trial Of
James G. Elliason, the Georgetown post
Office official, accused of tampering with
the mails, was opened yesterday, with tes.
timony as to Ellason's good character
from Rev. Albert II. Stuart rector of
Christ Church; William G. McIntire, J. II.
Gordon, George T. Dunlop, Granville s.
Hyde, Monroe G.. Chew, William Il. Dee
bic, Evan Lyon, and Morris ]. Asher
Further evidence on this point was given
today by Frederick w. Jones, lawyer,
who said: mo man could have n better
reputation" Commissioner Wheatley
said: ~ have known'hm since boyhood,
and know others who know him. His
reputation for honesty and integrity is
good-first class"
Mrs II. w. Blackford testified that Mr..
Elliason's duties were to receive the
mails, sell stamps and attend to the de-
livery window, Mr.. Appler received the
early morning mail, although Mr.. Eliza
son was responsible for it. Mr.. Elliason
was not expected to be in the Office at
that hour. The mail was stamped "S
o'clock" carriers were Obliged to do
some clerical work and assisted In the
distribution. The university mail was
put into separate box and called for by
q college messenger. She did not think
that Mr.. Elliason was in the Office when
table. Mr.. Appler placed the first mail
on the despatching table. The mail was
placed in the university box by any of
the employees who came across any letters.
Mr.. Elliason was allowed $35 to run the
stamp office. Other people besides her
self and MIR. Elliason could have gone to
the money drawer, but they were not
authorized to do so. She had never had
force sufficient to conduct the office
properly. Mr.. Elliason came to the Office
at about quarter to in the morn
ing. Mr.. Elliason might have OCCASION
ally made temporary use of the money in
the drawer. She did not care about that,
as he was responsible for $35.
On cross-examination she said that it
was Elliason's duty to put the mail in the
university box, but he was assisted by
others. He had entire charge of the Office
at o'clock and before the university
messenger came. There was not any un-
usual rush of business on the morning of
the 9th that she remembered.
Ibid you not make complaints because
he was short in the money-order drawer"
"Yes, sir"
This was objected to, but the objection
was overruled.
HE did not have control over the
money-order drawer, but he had access to
it in my absence"
Were you present when the stamp
drawer was searchedW
''Yes, sir.n
"Was there $35 in money and stamps in
the drawerP'
mo, sir. There was between 500 and
S23.n
"Then, on the morning of his arrest
there was deficit of the difference be-
tween $22 and $35?'
"Yes, SIR"
Mr.. Lipscomb then examined her with
reference to the delayed letter.
a. l,aNs t.I,. a l. a
11:45. 1t was Mr.. Elliason's duty to stamp.
the letter and put it into the Washington
bundle. When Inspector Smith came in
the Washington bundle had not been tied
up. On redirect examination she said
that Mr.. Elliason was simultaneously en-
gagged in asserting mail, selling stamps
and answering calls at the delivery
II. w. Brewer, civil engineer, testified
that diagram of the Georgetown Post
office submitted was as nearly correct as
it could be made without measuring each
piece. HE was Mr.. Forsyths assistant
and had made the plat under his direc-
ton. The size of the articles in the room
was not exactly given, but the size of
the room and their positions.
The plat was put in evidence.
Mr.. Elliason Takes the Stand.
Mr.. Elliason himself took the stand
and stated that he had lived in George
town all his life except year and half
He has wife and two children. He
went into the Office as carrier in 1878
and after about six months was promoted
to the position he occupied when arrested.
In the Office were Mrs. Blackford, him
self, four carriers and the janitor. Mr..
Appler received the early morning mail
and the three other carriers were due
at a quarter to Z. AS soon as they got
there they went to work on the mail,
which had by that time been placed on
the distributing table.
When he reached the Office on that
morning he found Mr.. Appler and Mr..
Wilson. He could not remember whether
there were any others or not The as
sorting was done by all who were pres
ent.
~ wish you would tell the jury just
what occurred on that morning" said Mr..
Miller.
Mr.. Eliiason Tells His Story.
The witness went on, and in calm and
dispassioned -nner told his story. II
got there l. awhile before the car
riers," said he. |-There had been some
complaints made concerning the college
mail, and / was asked if l would not
not to attract the attention of the car
riers. / took the college mail and carried
it over to Mrs Blackford's room. / tried
to examine each letter to see ifit had been
tampered with in any way. | didn I mo-
tice any that morning that thought had
been. / left them there for Mrs. Black
ford to examine. Then went about my
duties. was by myself then. At about
quarter-past ten | made up my mind to
go to Washington to get some small ar
tcles, and went TO the drawer and
took four dollars-the first / came
to and put them IN my pocket. went
down to Reynolds's grocery and got some
chicken feed. was gone less than fifteen
minutes. l had to hurry back, because
the 1880 mail came in then. went to
work at that. Then the Tenleytown
mail came in fixed up that and then
all the carriers came in. / would occa-
sionally have to answer calls from the de-
livery window. Mr. Smith and Mr.. Troy
came in then. / didn't see Mr.. Smith to
recognize him. l had been to the deliv-
cry window, l turned and met him reach.
ing toward me. He came up to me in q
very excited manner and almost ran over
me. / saw he was watching me. If l
moved he moved with me, He merely
said, Hard at it,? or something like it.
'How about your putting your hand to
your pocket and dropping i as If it had q
tfty-pound Weight in it," asked Mr..
Smith.
"There was nothing about that. I
might have been nervous. Mr.. Blackiord
came out and said that Mr.. Smith wished
to speak to me. Mr.. Smith said that that
morning he had mailed letter, addressed
to Master John ii. O'Neal, containing s..
He told me that he wanted 1t. told
him that | hadn't it. Troy said:
We'll, we'll have to search YOU Mr..
Smith, in q very gentemanly way, asked
TO, xtfha 4 In1