Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1889-07-13
A LETTER CARRIER ARRESTED.

Henry Cummings Under $500 Bonds
For Violating the Civil Service Act
Relating TO Campaign Contributions
THAT Meeting OF Letter CarrIcrs-A
Few Curious Condolences.
Henry w. Cummings, letter carrier, was
arrested yesterday afternoon by Deputy
United States Marshal Lovejoy for violation
of the civil service act and held by Commits
sioner Wright under $500 bonds for trial
next Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock. The
arrest is due to the Investigations of Inspec-
tor Edgarton, now making an investigation
of the postofice affairs. He says that more
arrests will likely follow.
Section 12,which Cummings violated Estates
that no person occupied in the discharge of
official duties of the United States shall
solicit or receive any contributions of money
or any other thing of value for political pur-
pose whatever.
The penalty affixed Is fine of not more
that 81, 900 or imprisonment for three years,
or both. Inspector Edgarton has written ad-
missions made by Cummings over his own
signature and Witnessed by Henry L. Clark,
superintendent of letter carriers, in which he
acknowledges collecting envelopes, supposed
fund, from Eve employees of the Office and
turned them over to Colonel John E. Earle.
Cummings lives at No. 35 Day street. He
is about 20 years old, married and has been
considered among the most efficient carriers.
His route is through Sylvan avenue. He was
appointed by Postmaster English on July 16,
1886. John Mullen, driver of steamer No.
/, became his bondsman.
1t will probably now begin to look to the
nz,, k.a y1N haryH hrl6
up both hands in horror at the thought that
there is good foundation to the charges that
have been made of assessments for political
| purposes in the New Haven postoffice, end
that these affidavits concerning which so
much has been said were not all smoke, but
had some fire underneath. Then as
to the meeting at which these assess
ments were made, there is no attempt made
| to claim that there was any sec1esy
employed. The facts OF the case as CLEANED
here and there show that on the contrary the
meeting was held In the postofice building,
in.the carriers room with no attempt at
closed or bolted doors or other attempts at
| secrssy. 1t was done in the day time. Word
was industriously circulated among the carr
riers 60 be on hand at the meeting, and be
ready to lido something" for the cause. All
| this was done with the knowledge evidently
| that assessments for political purposes were
| against the spirit and letter of the law.
These men gathered around Superintendent
Clark's table on the night of this meeting and
proceeded down stairs, not with hushed step
| and bated breath, but with the steady open
| tramp of sturdy men used to pedestrianism
| in the pursuit of their calling. Arriving at
the place of assembly they organized the
| meeting by the election of president and
secretary, and discussed the prescribed sub
| ject of assessment and how much to give in
| dividually, and the envelopes given to each
| in which to enclose his aid to the cause all
bore the address and stamp of Chief Earle.
These facts were current at the time about
| town and among the Democratic carriers
| themselves. And then great stress is laid
upon Colonel John E. Earle's letter, to Post
| master General Wannamaker, stating how he
| sought the postmaster's presence and request
ed list of the names of the employees that
he might gain from them contributions to
help Cleveland's election, the postmaster de-
clining and demonstrating, and both he and
his assistants declining in any way
| to secure contributions for campaign pnx
poses, etc. Colonel Earle was chairman of
the Democratic campaign committee here
during the last campaign. The curious part
of this is the fact of the Colonel's calling up
on the postmaster for the list of names,
| when the latter would have had to call for
| the list upon the colonel's son, chief clerk of
| the postofice, and residing at home with
his father. Another curious fact Is the al
legged claim that the campaign assessment
matter was so utterly secret until within
the last week or 80. Especially is it curious
when. as 10 well known, Frederick Miller, an
| ex-letter carrier of the New Haven Office,
published card in two New Haven newspa
| pers In the middle of last November just be-
fore lection, stating that his dismissal from
his position, was due to the fact that he had
| failed to pay assessment for campaign pur-
| poses, or all of his assessment, it is now for
gotten which. 1t was, as stated above, in
timated quite plainly by Mr.. Edgarton that
other arrests similar in nature to that of
Mr.. Cummins are likely to follow.