The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-24
he WAS THE POSTMASTER
Henry Honsman on Trial For Em-
bezzling Government Funds.
at Missoula.
Postofflce Clerks Under Him Testi-
flying In Behalf of tho
Government.
United States Attorney Weed Thinks He
has y Very Strong Case
Against Him.

Henry e. Honsman. ex-postmaster Mt
MissoulA, was on trial yesterday III the
United States circuit court for embezzle-
ment Of government funds. William Wat
kins. Jr., n postofflce inspector from Wash
ington, testified that he and another in
spector named backett ma 10 an examina-
ton of the office last December and later
on. He said the investigation showed that
Honsman was short a little over $1,600, and
that Honsman admitted he was short. A
bag of gold coin containing about $500
cut quite a figure in the presentation of the
governments side Of the case. 1t appeared
from the testimony that on one occasion
when the inspector paid the office a visit
Honsman showed him the BAG of coin in
the safe when asked II he had
the money belonging to the Office. Paul G.
Wagnetz who was n general clerk in the
office told On the stand that the bag of coin
came from Higgins bank in Missoula, and
after the departure Of the inspector was re-
turned to the bank. Honsman, he said,
remarked to him that he had 'jobbed' the
inspector. Wagnetz also related that when
the inspector asked for the keys Of the
money order drawer Honsman sent him for
them. He went to a variety theater and
asked one of the actresses for the keys and
she sent him to her room where he found
them in the bureau. G. A. Hall, the gen.
eral delivery clerk, did not know much
about the case. When United States
Attorney Weed asked him if the
defendant ever told him anything when
Honsman made some remark to the effect
that he had been too quick for the in
spector. ii. b. Campbell, who carries the
mail between the office and the railway
station, testified that Honsman had ad-
mitted to him that he was short. Camp
bell on one occasion endorsed a note for
Honsman for a sum of money at the Hig-
gins bank. Honsman told him he wanted
the money for four or five days. jerry
Shinnick was also a clerk i'll the office under
Honsman. He knew of Honsman helping
himself to money out of the safe and said
there was no regular system of payment
but whenever he wanted money he asked
the money order clerk for it. Wagnetz also
testified that it was a usual occurrence for
the postmaster to come into the
office, while Wagnetz slept, early in tho
morning and take money from the safe.
On cross-examination Shinnick said Hons
man had turned over all his property to his
of the shortage. Frank Higgins, of the
Higgins bank, evidently knew considerable
about the case from what he had heard.
He is a lawyer and knows what h~earsay
evidence is, SO he was not permitted to tell
anything, although the prosecution pressed
him pretty hard until JrdRe Knowles threw
up his hands in protest and told Mr.. Weed
that Mr.. Higgins was q member of the bar.
The United States attorney thinks he has
q very strong case against Honsman. The
trial will probably be finished tomorrow.
No witnesses nave been called for .he de-
Tense yet. Honsman's attorneys are Hon,
r. b. Smith and Charles Poe. The jury
men are w. b. Edgar, Moses Morris, j. w.
Luttrel, Charles Jackson, A.. p. Loberg,
Augustus Mahrt, j. N. Glass, l.. b. Bunnell,
j. N. Heidi. Arthur p. Curtin, j. l..
Mlagru3, w. H. Orr.