The Portland daily press., 1889-01-15
BEFORE COMMISSIONER RAND.
Hearing In the Loretta Case Begun
Yesterday.
Supposed Counterfeit Bills Examined
and Identified.

The hearing in the Andrea Loretta case
was begun before u. S. Commissioner Rand
yesterday afternoon. Col. A. w. Bradbury
appeared for the respondent and U. S. Dis
trict Attorney Bird for the government.
John G. Otis, clerk in Hollands apothecary
store testified as the first witness, that he
had seen the prisoner before. lie was on last
Thursday night between the hours of 9 and
10 o'clock when the prisoner called at Hol-
lands store and purchased some cigars, pay
ing for the same with five dollar bill. The
respondent was given S4.75 In silver for
change The witness examined and identi-
fed the bill that the respondent gave nim on
Thursday night. Later when Mr.. Holland
came into the store witness handed him the
bill. Mr.. Holland examined the bill and re-
turned it, then witness started with 1t for
the Union Station. He met Police Officer
Sylvester and described to him the man who
bought the cigars. The witness pointed to
the man at the Union depot who had bought
the cigars of him and Officer Sylvester arrest
ed the man. On cross examination the wit
ness stated that he took the bill between 9
and 10 o'clock Thursday night and that he
made no mark on 1t. He put the bill in the
drawer and nobody but himself had access to
the drawer.
Officer Frank l.. Sylvester testified that
he had seen Loretta, the man before him at
the Union Station when he arrested him, and
that he was with Mr.. Otis when he saw the
respondent After arresting the man he de-
lNered him to Officer Webster Of the patrol
wagon.
Miss Eliza Morton testified that she was a
sister of William Morton and kept books for
him. She identified the man Loretta as the
person who went into the store and bought
box of candy. He paid for the candy with
a five dollar bill. Witness gave him S42O in
change. Gave bill to Officers Sylvester and
Rowe, but that was not the counterfeit bill as
witness discovered in the morning. Witness
gave the counterfeit bill to Officer Langmaid
in the morning. On cross examination wit
ness testified that she had taken two other
five dollar bills that day.
Mr.. Cameron of Cameron & Leathe, testi-
fed that he believed he saw the defendent
last Thursday night in bis store 266 Middle
street. He bought dozen Of oranges
and paid for them with a five dollar sill
yer certificate. Did not discover that night
that the bill was counterfeit Witnesses part.
ner discovered that the bill appeared to be a
counterfeit the next morning. No other five
dollar bills were taken that night
Deputy Marshal Merrill testified that he
had seen the prisoner before; that he
searched his person and found oranges, can
day, etc., and $14655. Witness testified that
the respondent told him in his cell Thursday
night that he bought the candy of q woman
In store. and that he gave fifty cents silver
for it and received two ten cent pieces in
change. Also that he bought the candy ia a
box with Lords name on it for silver.
John w. Leathe Of Cameron & Leathe was
the next witness called by the government
and he testified that he had seen the witness
before at his store Thursday night of last
week. He took five dollar bill Of him in
payment for some oranges. He returned sill
yer for change. The next day witness wife
called his attention to an article in the news
paper about an arrest Of man charged with
passing counterfeit money. After reading
this article he thought he would examine the
five dollar bill which he took of the respond
ent the night before. He did this, and be-
lieving the bill to be counterfeit he took it to
the police station and gave it to man whom
he thought was Deputy Marshal Merrill
No other five dollar bill had been put in the
money drawer with the supposed counter
felt
AT this point the hearing was continued
until 10 o'clock a. m. today, when more wit
nesses will be brought forward by the gov
eminent.
The prisoners wife was present during the
hearing and listened to the hearing with
great interest. She is good looking woman
and was well dressed. Ass btsssD9 qaIsng ege