The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-04-29
A Helena Firm Wanted a Mail Car
rier Discharged From the
Postof1ce.
Flo Claims They Libeled Him and
Asks for 100000 DAM
ages.
Weinstein d Go. Asked tile posfmn ste,
General tn Hold Out tho Amount
of = Blll.

IA6 CAb6 OF FRANK hukluet u Icttef cHTfl6F,
against William Weinstein d Co, for H2O,-
600 damages for libel, is on trial in Judge
Bucks court. The plaintiff was on the
stand for some time yesterday afternoon
telling the jury his side OF the case. Adkins
says the firm m%aliciously 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 oause it to be believed
that he was a swindler and a defrauder
wrote the following latter to Postmaster
General Wanamaker: Dear Sir: Kindly
pardon us for writing to you about this
affair. One Frank Adkins is employed at
the postofice as letter carrier, he owes us a
bill amounting to $40 for the last two or
three years, and - we Are not able TO col
lect the same after all possible effort. He,
Adkins. is able to pay it at any time as the
letter carriers in this country are we'll paid,
but he positively will not pay his ea1nest
debts. Now. we as Taxpayers and
business men of Helena, believe
that such individuals who are try
ing to swindle their creditors cannot
possibly do it any otherwise with govern
meat affairs. either by defraudinR them OF
some other way. We pray his excellency to
be kind enough and inform tho postmaster,
Mr. i. Il. Clewell. to deduct the amount Of
our bill out Of his wages and will be very
much obliged for Kindness shown to your
very obedient servants, Vim. Weinatein a.
Co" Adkins wants 10000 damages for
this alleged libel and as much more On ac-
count Of a ascond letter written BY the
firm to the postmaster general on June %,
1881. In this letter they write: "Referring
to our letter of former date in which we
have complained to your honor about one
=. Atkins being a letter carrier at the Hell
ena Z. 0. owing US a certain bill, your
honor seems to nave taken the matter up
BY writing to the 2. NJ, MI. 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 making a state
ment to your honor that he Mr.. Atkins can
not afford to pay the bill because he is
getting only 900 per year salary. Now il
the 7. NJ. himself interests himself by help.
ing the bilks and dead beats of letter oar
riers to beat the grocery men we see no way
but protest against both parties, the beat
his helpers helper. We cannot rest in
Justice to the people Of Helena as well as
in Justice to the government itself until
the said Atkins must pay bill which he dis
honestly contracted for, Or no admission to
government affairs should be granted to
such people and his advisers. We sincerely
trust your honor, az q business man as we'll
AZ the head Of the postoffice. may consider
this matter, and order that he F. Atkins
pay the bill Of ours (even $50 per month";,
or else be discharged f ON such a efficient
office as he now occupies. Awaiting the re-
ply of our excellency, we are yours obe-
dent servants, VIM. WEINsTE1N q co..
Atkins says the defendants composed,
wrote and published the letter, malioiousl,
charging therein that he was a blk"
meaning thereby that he was a deceiver and
d%efrauder, and also charging in the letter
and maliciously that he was a dead
meaning thereby that he was a
idler and spouger on his friends
and %neighbots.
The defendants deny that they intended
libel Adkins. Their testimony has not
been given yet to the jury. which is com.
posed of F. J. Nve, Ben Benson. w. Y.
Slmonton, George Fl. Piatt, Jacob Adami,
O'Connell, .. w. M1ddlemas. David
Ruth. John. c. Remington, Q. b. Totten,
William DinRee, Henry Flshey. Leslie d
Craven represent the %plnintitf n Col.
Nolan and j. A. Carter for the defendants.