The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-08-06
WROTE TO WANAMAKER.
A Helena Firm Wanted a Mail Car
rier Discharged From the
Postofice.
He Claims They Libelled Him and
Asks for 100000 DAM
ages.
N
Weinstein a. Go. Asked the POstInastei
General to Hold Out the Amount

Frank Adkins. II mail carrier, has COM
menced n suit in the district court against
William Weinstein IL Co., for 10000 dam
ages for libel. Adkins says the firm malic-
iously intending to break down and destroy
his good name, fame and reputation and to
bring him into public scandal and disgrace
among his neighbors, and to cause it to be
believed that he WAS n swindler and n de-
frauder wrote the following letter to Post
master General Wanamaker: dear Sir:
Kindly pardon us for writing to you about
this affair. One Frank Adkins is employed
ut the postoflice AZ letter carrier, he owes
us q bill amounting to 500 for the last two
or three years, and MS we arc not able to
collect the same after all possible effort.
He, Adkins, is able to pay
it at any time as the letter carriers
in this country are well paid, but ho posi-
lively will not pay his earnest debts. Now,
we AZ taxpayers and business men of Hell
ona. believe that such individuals who are
trying to swindle their creditors cannot
possibly do it any otherwise with govern
mont affairs, either by defrauding them or
some other way. We pray his e1cellency to
/ be kind enough and inform the postmaster,
| Mr.. Il. II. Clewell, to deduct the amount of
our bill out of his wages and will be
very much obliged for kindness
shown to your very obsdient ser
wants, VIM. Weinstein & Co." Adkins
wants $4,000 damages for this alleged
libel and as much more on account of a
second letter written by the firm to the
postmaster general on June %, 1891. In
this letter they write: Referring to our
rAA. - .-Ls-1
we have complained to your honor about
one +. Atkins being a letter carrier at the
Helena p. o. owing US a certain bill, your
honor seems to have taken the matter up
by writing to the p. NJ, Mr.. Clewell of this
place. He Mr.. Clewell himself expressed
openly of having reed your communication
but also stated to help Mr.. Atkins out OF
paying the bill to us by makingn statement
to your honor that he Mr.. Atkins cannot
afford to pay the bill because he is getting
only 800 per year salary. Now if the z. M,
himself interests himself by helping the
bilks and dead beats of letter carriers te
beat the grocery mon we see no way, but
protest against both parties, the beat and
his helpers helper. We cannot rest
in Justice to the people of Helene
as we'll as in Justice to the
government itself until the said Atkins
must pay bill which he dishonesty COLI
tracted for, or no admission to government
affairs should be granted to such geoplt
and his advisers. We sincerely trust YOU
honor, as a business man as we'll as the
head of the postof1ice, may consider thii
matter, and order that he F. Atkins pa,
the bill of ours (even 800 per monthly, O.
else be discharged from such Il ef1icien
Office as he now occupies. Awaiting the re
ply of your exellency. we are yours obedien
servants. VIM. WEINsTEIN d Co."
Atkins says the defendants composed
wrote and published the letter, maliciousl'
charging therein that he was a "bilk,
meaning thereby that he was a deceiver ant
defrauder, and also charging in the lette
falsely and maliciously that he was ''den,
beat" meaning thereby that he was
worthless idler and sponger on his friend
and neighbors.