Morning journal and courier., 1888-03-05

The Case of Advertising Agent Ford.
The trial of Advertising Agent Charles G.
Ford, who is charged with using the mails
for illegal purposes, was commenced in the
United States court room before Commits
sioner Wright Saturday afternoon District
Attorney Stanton conducted the prosecution
and Mr.. Ford was represented by Lawyers
William G. Case, William K. Townsend and
E. P. Arvine. Postoffice Inspector Bario
told how Mr.. Ford became charged with the
offense. AS the West Haven Publishing
company he had been using the mails in car
rying on an alleged lottery scheme in sending
cards to various people on the receipt of thir-
ty cents, which also entitled the sender to a
chance for several prizes in giving the correct
answer as to which verse was the longest in
the Bible. Inspector Bario stated that he
took the first letter of detection to the West
Haven postofice so that he might know it
was not lost on the way. The advertisement
had stated that those who wanted chance
for one of the prizes offered for the correct
answer to the question: (Which is the long
swsrs in by the 18th of January. Postmaster
Thomas of West Haven testified that he had
been instructed by Mr.. Ford to deliver the
company's mail to Miss Franklin, an employe.
The mail steadily increased from that time,
when it suddenly fell off. At some times
the number of letters received ran as high as
600 day, and usually averaged from 30O
to 500, showing that the business done by
the firm was very large. Letters that now
come to the firm are forwarded to New Ha-
ven, care Mr.. Ford.
Miss Tinkham testified that she had seen
articles of jewelry, gold watches, rings, sent
out, but did not know to whom. She had
only seen few of these articles sent. 1t
was Mr.. Ford's business to see who was en-
titled to a prize. Most of these were sent off
about Christmas tine. Miss Tinkhan left
Mr.. Ford's company shortly after JANUARY
Is because there was not enough work for her
to do. She worked in all about three months.
She did not know whether there were any
correct answers to the question asked in the
advertisement or not, except that shs
saw a number Of prizes sent out.
She made no examination OF the letters
save to take out money and put the letters
away in packages. Mr.. Adams, a card prin-
ter was called. He had contract with Mr.
Ford to furnish packages of cards. The
agreement was made last fall.
This finished the governments evidence.
The defense put in 10 evidence whatever.
Attorney Townsend made strong argu-
Inent for the accused, in which he made a
motion for his clients discharge. He was
followed in the same strain by Lawyer Case.
District Attorney Stanton followed and
said that some SO, 200 had been taken out of
the community from persons who were led
to purchase the almost worthless cards by
the alluring mention of golden articles. Mr..
Stanton expressed himself as perfectly salts
fed that he could prove his case before
jury and asked that Captain Ford be bound
over to the next term of the District court
under a suitable bond.
Commissioner Wright will give his decis-
ion this afternoon.
The Z. S.Wheeler Hearing Continued.
The hearing before the commissioners on
the E. S. Wheeler estate, which was to take
place Saturday, was adjourned for two
weeks to accommodate the attorneys engage
ed. Drexel, Morgan & Co., Brown Brothers
and two more banking houses have on hand
about one-quarter of million in notes oh
tanned from E. s. Wheeler & Co. as collater
al security. These bankers want the collat-
cral paper accepted as obligations to be paid
ont of the insolvent estate as we'll as the
notes for which it was given as security. The
point for the commissioners to decide is
whether in settling up the estate they can
legally include the collateral security. If
the commissioners should decide to reject
$3.50, 900 worth of such debts against the es-
tate, the failure of E. S. Wheeler & Co., in
stead of being one million and half or there
abouts, would be scaled down to one million
and quarter.
Tried Before Judge Bradstreet.
The case of Charles L. Hamilton, trustee
of the estate of Alling & Warner of Mount
Carmel, was put on trial before Judge Brad
street of the Waterbury district court in the
Common Pleas court here Saturday. 1t is a
suit for the recovery of 5000. The case grew
out of the failure of the above named firm.
Assets Half the Liabilities.
Hobart L. Hotchkiss WAS on Saturday ap-
pointed trustee of the insolvent estate of
Francis D. Wiley. Charles G. Kimberly and