The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-05-02
HOOPER NOT FOUND GUILTY
CHARGE OF ROBBERY AGAINST A
MAIL CARRIER.

Counsel Raised the Point that the Prison
CIR Could not be Held to Account for
Failing to Deliver "a Decoy Let
ter.
Mr.. A. :. Hooper. the Richmond letter
carrier, who was arrested on the both of
August. 1889, charged with secreting and
ombezzing a decOy letter, prepared by
United states Postoilice Inspector G. Waddy
Wilde. addressed to Miss Sarah Lewis, NO.
o Marshall street, was acquitted in Judge
Hughes court Yesterday.
At 10 O'Clock the ease was called, and by
that time the room was filled with specta-
tors. who tame 10 hear the prosecution.
Shortly after ] O'Clock, Hon. George ID.
Wise, coInsel for the defense. accompanied
by the accused and his two brothers. Messrr.
4. J. and John Hooper. walked into the
courtroom, and were pretty soon joined Dy
Disirict-AtiorBoy Borland and Assistant
Brist0w Judge Hughes assembled me
b nch on time. and asked the counsel u
ey were ready to proceed with the trial.
I he counsel were ready, and the trial began
by the District Attorney announcing the
case 20 the Jury. and stated that the pris-
Oner pleaded not guilty.
INSPECTOR WILDE.
The first witness was Inspector G.. Waddy
Wilde. who said: -On the 18th Of August
last placed eight one dollar notes in let
fer. sealed il and addressed il 10 Miss Sarah
Lewis. 40. . west Marshall street, the resi-
dence OF Capt. j. II. O'Bannon. also
wrote a letter to the person 10 whom the
letter was addressed. signed the name
Il Phillip Morse. enclosed the notes IN IT.
and sealed 10 in this letter. ! placed The
necessary number OF stamps tO register the
letter aud turned il over 10 the register
clerk. Mir. LEROY =. Edwards. and instruct
ed him 10 give il 90 Mr.. Hooper for delivery.
rs the number WAS in hi, route. The letter
was nurp0rted tO have been mailed i'm Can
ton. Penn. Miss Lewis did not reside at
No. @ west Marshall street. IL was the resi-
Gcncc of Captain OBann0n. immediate
Is went % the residence where the letter
was addressed, and waited 10 see II Mr.
Hooper would deliver %. lie came but ana
not deliver the REGISTERED letter. and threw
a postal card in the door addressed 20 same
lady.
SIGNED FOR IT HIMSELF.
81 came back 10 the po,toflice. ana ina
company with Mr.. +. ID. 1ogbili, asked
Mir. Hooper il he delivered that registered
letter. and told him the address. lie replied
lIf 1T lt Nitl. ilIl NliAi iiAii hN ID ~ tt''
not delivered 10. for ! was there and waited
for IT, Mr. Hooper then said that he had
lost the letter. and when asked how 10 came
tobcsiencd for I'm hi- rcceipt-bOok. hcroplled
that he did it himself. ! went Mr.. Hoop
ef's house tine following day .4d found the
dccoy letter in the pocket of the coat that
Doe wore the previous day. When ! opened
tie letter in tine presence of Mr. 'o-nil
only seven of the notes that ] placed IN
there were found. and identified the remain
inc notes as the ones that placed IN there
"a, had marked them hy placing dot alter
tine word treasurer. 10 was then That !
arrested Mr.. Hooper
81 this iuncturr the letter containing ihe
note, was exhibited and after examining
them. the witness Identified the notes ana
the letter.
The defense here raised the point that the
letter was dec0y Due-not regular letter,
and lhat. therefore. the prisoner could not
Doe held 90 account for not delivering 10. and
further. r. the letter was regular one, the
witness had mo- right tO open 1t.
The other witnesses for the United states
were inspector T. ID. C0gbill Hr. Leroy :.
Edwards and Captain j. n. O'Bmnon. all
Of whom c0rrObOrated the testimony of Mr.
Wide.