The Portland daily press., 1892-02-27

COHlIulSSlOuS were uuo uilOiI1 oh W. '''AN-
sales where screens had been furnished
and we would find we had received no
order from them. Investigation would
develope the fact that the house had
been furnished with the Burrowes
screen. AS Mr.. Pease has stated, when
ever he would go away his wife would
receive letters alleging improprieties on
the part of her husband. The first one
she burned and said nothing about, but
they became so numerous that she finally
put them in the hands of her husband
who said: "Some enemy has done this
thing. I don't know but one enemy
have in the world and that man is Z. L.
Burrowes.' Mr.. Pease put the letters at
once into the hands of the Post Office De-
partment through Postmaster Briggs
and the department made every effort
to locate the sender of them but without
avail. Hardly any two of the letters
were mailed in the same place. After
the department had given up the hunt
the letters were returned to Mr.. Pease.
''When Mr.. Cummings, one of the clerks,
received the letter signed W. P. Wash
burn, asking him to furnish him with
names of parties whom the Portland
Screen Company was to furnish with
screens he, to use a homely expression,
at once 'ssmelled a rat' and declared
that Mr.. Burrowes was at the bot
b.. e
he should answer the letters and finally
assent to the proposal that the thing
could be sifted to the bottom. Finally,
in response to an appointment, Cum
mings went to Boston to meet Washburn
but no Washburn appeared, and inquiry
at the hotel developed the fact that he
had not been there at all. Inquiry at the
post Office brought out the fact that the
postmaster had received orders to return
all mail directed to W. P. Washburn to
box 1917, Portland, Maine. Cummings
returned to Portland, and found by in
quiry at the post office that this box was
leased by Burrowes 81 Co., and that Mr.
Burrowes was in the habit of getting the
mail in person. He also found letter
from Washburn which said that he had
been called to Philadelphia on matters OF
importance, and was unable to keep his
appointment. Mr.. Cummings at once
sent another letter to Washburn, mark
ing it so he could identify it, and await
ed developments. In day or so he
went into the post Office and, looking in
to bCx 1917, saw the letter lying there.
He at once telephoned me and went up
Cummings, who was watching, saw Mr..
Burrowes come to the post office. He
kept out of sight carefully, and finally
saw Burrowes go to the box, open it and
put the letter in his pocket. His identi
fication of both Burrowes and the letter
was complete. The matter had by this
time been taken up by the postal author
tiles, and further proofs obtained,
eliminating as you know in
the arrest" Mr.. Goudy emphasized the
fact that the Portland Screen Company
had tried in every way to carry on a
friendly business competition with Mr..
Burrowes, and had constantly taken steps
to assure him of their intentions to use
only the most honorable methods to boom
their business. Mr.. Burrowes had al
ways seemed to have most vindictive feel
ings toward the company. Given now"
said Mr.. Goudy, 81 do not think any
criminal proceedings would have been
instituted against him had not the gov
eminent taken the case out of our hands,"
Mr.. Cloudy has in his possession long
statement from man named Barnfield,
who,, it is alleged, was lured to Connecti-
cut by agents of Burrowes, under the i'm
preston that he was to get work from a
New York company, which in reality
never existed. He also has numerous
letters and evidence bearing on the efforts
that have been constantly made to inter-
fere with the Portland Screen Company's
agents and their orders.
Following are the letters from Wash
burn to Cummings referred to in Mr..
OOuQy SJdUoUueul. IL is CldllIlou Gley dro
in Mr.. Burrowes's handwriting:
Boston, Dec. Is.
Mr.. Cummings Dear Sir: 1 have learned
from a friend OF mine that you are connected
with large window screen concern who make
a business of fitting new houses. I also make
a business of fitting them up with weather strips
like enclosed If screens go outside / put
weather strips inside and if the screens go in
side put weather strips outside. I should
think could easily sell to people to whom you
have sold screens, as a man who will buy
one would probably buy the other 1 like to
sell to new houses just built. and if you will
send me names and address OF parties you have
sold in the last few weeks and new names as
fast as you get them, l will pay you generous
amount for each name, provided the names be
people you have actually sold and provided you
give me the date sold and the amount of goods,
that is, the amount in money or number, so
can calculate on how much had better try to
sell same party and so / can tell how generous
he is. shall pay well for the information and
will send you the cash promptly by return mail
every time. | suppose you have not many
names noW it is early for screens, but will have
plenty of names later. L am ready to pay you
well and you will find it so. I am going to Hav-
erhll for short time, so send your answer
there. am out of town good deal so there
may be delay OF a day or two in answering.
Yours,
VIM. P. WAsHBURN.
This letter was sent from Boston.
o1a De-