Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-09
FELL BY THE WAYSIDE.
Assistant Postmaster Myler on Trial
for Embezzlement.
ALL THE SHORTAGE WAS MADE UP.
An Unpaid Tailors Bill Causes Con-
siderable Trouble.
HIS TALK WITH INSPECTOR McALMANT

The embezzlement charges against Theo-
dore Myler. Allegheny's Assistant Post
master, had their first airing Yesterday af-
ternoon at hearing before United States
Commissioner McCandless, but unless
important testimony was held back there
does not seem to be much prospect OF con-
viction. Yesterdays hearing was only
partial, however, and the Government In
spectors may produce more damaging evil
dence before the hearing closes
The hearing was held in the new Office of
the Commissioner in the postofice building,
and was attended by but few not directly
interested. Attorney Lewis McMullen ap-
peared as MYERS counsel and offered sew
eral objections to the testimony, only one
Of which was given any consideration. Dis
trict Attorney Lyon conducted the prosecu-
tion. Postofice Inspector Dickson, who
entered tie suits against Myler and who
worked up the evidence against him was
the first witness called.
Holding Back a Taiior's Bill.
The charge of appropriating s2s6 col
lected from the letter carriers fos new uni
forms sin 1891 was the first taken up. In
spector Dickson said the suit had been
entered on information received. The car
riers had received their uniforms, after
considerable delay, but they were not paid
for until there was talk of prosecution.
Though collected in June, the money had
not been paid in October to the Baltimore
firm which furnished the uniforms. Mr..
Dickson said, in answer to Mr. McMullen,
that his information was gained from others.
He bad no personal knowledge of the cir
cumstances except those taken from the
records, showing when the money was COL
lected and when it was paid. The attorney
objected to such testimony, and his objec-
tion was sustained.
The charge of holding out $100 from
years salary of Miss Mary Steele, clerk
in the Office, was next taken up. Miss
Steele's annual salary was $780, paid quar-
terly, the inspector said, but she only re-
ceived vouchers for S175 for the postal year
of 1SeO-91, though she signed vouchers for
5000 each time.
She Got Her Money Later On.
When Miss Steele was called to the stand
she corroborated this evidence, but said the
vouchers were in blank when she signed
them and were filled out later. When it
became known that the inspectors were in
vestigating the postoffice she said that Mr..
Myler had one day come to her and said:
''Tell them you received the amount you
signed for.'' This concluded her testi-
mony, Miss Steele saying she had since been
paid the money due her.
John Hobson, superintendent of the let
ter carriers, testified that he had been con-
nected with the Office for II wears. He was
shown draft on the Second National Bank
of Allegheny, dated October 26, 1891, for
1886 and, asked what he knew about it,
said: ut was given to me bv Mr.. MYERS
father who told me to give It to Mr.. Myler"
Mr.. Hobson stated further that Mr.. Myler
had instructed him to collect money from
the carriers to purchase uniforms, and as it
was collected he turned it over to Myler,
making final payment on June 80. 1891, the
total sum being S2S6.
testimony was not admissible because Mr..
Myler had not received this money in his
|. official capacity as Assistant Postmaster.
An Assistant Postms al ter's Duties. 4.
A long discussion followed, Mr.. Nc
Mullen claiming that the Assistant Post
masters duties do not include the clothing
Of the carriers, and that therefore he is not
officially responsible for such trust and
would not violate the statutes governing
the Postofice Department if he should be.
tray it. By the testimony of several in
spectsrs it was shown that the Government
only required of the carriers that they be
uniformed; no one else was responsible.
The Commissioner took note of the point
and promised to consider it.
Inspector II. r. McCalmont testified to
inspecting the money order and postal
funds on January 20 and 21, finding a short
age of S26 II in the postal fund which Mr.
Myler had in charge. Inspector W. C.
Moore testified to conversation with
Myler about the missing $2S6 on February
10 last, when Moore said to him: "You
have fallen by the wayside?" ''Yes,'' re-
piled Myler, ~ have fallen by the way
side" Moore testified further that the part
of the 500 deducted from Miss Steele had
been used in making up the money order
cash, though he was unable to learn what
became of the balance. The Government
had lost nothing, all the money having been
made good.
The hearing will be continued next Fri
day afternoon