The Helena independent., 1892-05-10
SECOND TINE ON TRIAL.
Mrs. Barnum's Case Comes Up
Again in the United States
Court.
The Jury Were Unable to Agree
on the Former
Hsaring.
Tho Defense Claim That There Was Con-
splracy Formed to Ruin the
Defendant.

Mrs. Amelia %. Barnum, formerly post.
mistress at Mann, Cascade county, was
placed on trial yesterday for the second
time In the United States circuit court on
the charge Of robbing the mails passing
through her Office. She il little over 40
years Of age bat does mot look IL. Peter N.
Baum. Of Great Falls, aud g. @. Newman
and J. A. Walsh, Of Helena, are her attor-
noys. Assistant United States Attorney
John Mcdonald conducted the case for tho
government. The indictment charges Mrs.
Barnum with opening registered package
addressed to W. W. Davis al Monarch, and
signed Henry Gum, and taking from il d
two dollar bill. The prosecution are trying
to show that prior to Aug. 26, 1891. thsre
were frequent complaints Of loss Of mail
matter in Cascade county on the line Of the
Mann post Office. Postal Inspector @, E.
6ackett went TO Armlngton whore he mailed
adsooy letter registered for Monarch. Mann
and Kibbsy wsrs the only two Offices be-
tween ArminRton and Monarch. The let
tor was carried by the coach, but tho
money, il is claimed, never reached Kibbey.
After the pouch paaasd through the Mann
Office it contained the letter, it is alleged,
but not the money. Inspector Sackett says
he and deputy marshal went to Mann,
where they found the So bill under the
mattrass Of Mrs. Barnum's bsd.
The defense claim that conspiracy was
formed, having for its purposs the ruin Of
Mrs. Barnum. and that tho conspiracy re-
suited in the indictments. The defense
also expect to prove that ever since there
was postonlce at Mann the mails have
ho0y1 rohhA1 hat u.
came postmistress. Because Of these prior
robberies, Mrs Barnum was selected out Of
all in the locality to take charge Of the
mails at Mann. The robberies continued
and the people became exercised and oom-
plants were frequent. Sackett was sent to
find out whore the trouble was. Hestopped
at Mrs. Barnum's house and consulted her
about the Irregularities and invited her to
assist in locating the trouble. The defence
claim that the 81 bill was not found under
the mattress. They say that when Mrs.
Barnum WAS confronted by the officers she
brought them box in which she kept the
postotilce funds, her own money, and that
p.nes. D' ;ffss Tbs dsfsno. dss s1pfess vii, 'o spy
the boz. II 10 claimed BY the defense that
Oh the night Of the robbery man came to
the Barnum ranch and slept in room
tWolVo lGet from Uno lOO66 mali, and con-
venient to the back door of the house.
The man had never been seen in the neigh
borhood before. About II o'clock that
night Mrs. Barnum and her husband heard
wagon pass up the road and stop. After
awhile it came back. They expect to prove
that in the wagon was the former postmas-
ter at Mann and that when the stranger
got up next morning and paid his bill he
did so with the So bill offered in evidence.
Ex-Inspeotor Saokett was on the stand all
day and testified as ON the former trial and
as outlined by tho prosecution. The box
used by Mrs. Bnrnum was put in evidence
It is small square box about the size used
for putting base balls in. sackstt was
closely CROSS questioned by Attorney Baum.
Mrs. Barnum had seat near her attorneys
and listened closely to the testimony. Her
husband and tive young daughters are with
her. One of her sons was tried last Decem-
Ter in the same court for mail robbery and
acquitted. On her former trial the jury
disagreed. There is a second indictment
found by the late grand jury. She is on
trial before the following jury: r. s.
Hale, ]. 3. Norris. E. c. Babeock. q. j.
Holmes, w. H. Frank Fl. H. Ashby, o. A.
Sonthmayd, w. DeLaoy, j. M. Dutton, +.
Il. Fieet, Q. Allen, III. Adami.