The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-01-18
SARVIS In A BAD WAY.
TEE JEsUP PosToFFIcs RoBBER
ON TRIAL.

The Story of his Alleged Burglary Of
the Postofice Building-His Dealings
In Savannah and Offers of Payment
in Large Quantities of stamps-An
Effort TO Impeach Postmaster Stan
sells Character.
The session Of the United States court
was occupied yesterday with the trial of
Peter B. Sarvis. charged with robbing the
postoffice at Jesup of quantity Of stamps
on the night of Dec. Z.
Sarvis, it will b 9 remembered. was ar
rested at the Savannah, Florida and Vest
srn depot In Savannah, on the night of
Dec. IS, by Officer Strobhar of the railroad
police force. at the instance of postmaster
Stansell OF Jesup, who came to Savannah
in search OF Sarvis with a warrant for his
arrest.
The court was in session from to o'clock
yesterday and from 1880 to 1920 o'clock last
night. The evidence is largely circumstan-
tisl and there are number OF witnesses to
be examined. Witnesses were examined
yesterday by District Attorney Erwin to
show Sarvis' connection with the robbery
and bringing out the details Of his disposal
of the stamps to various parties in large
quantities.
STORY OF THE ROBBERY.
The story as brought out by the evidence
makes out pretty bad case for Sarvis
The prisoner is a young man between
% and 30 years OF age. He is quite good
looking young fellow and does not have
the appearance of a man who would be
guilty OF q crime of this kind. He is a ma
tive Of Jesup and was SORT of tinker in
the locksmith and tinsmith business He
AENRA hr@a
Florida and Western express between Sa-
vannah and Waycross as an agent of the
Union News Company some time ago but
was discharged for what cause is not known
The door of the postoffice at Iesup, it was
shown in the evidence. was fitted With a
Norwood lock, having a peculiar kind Of
key dithcult 10 duplicate. While doing
the postmaster it is charged
thar Sarvls saw this key and made such a
correct estimate of it that he was able by
securing keys Of similar pattern and filing
them down to obtain a key with which be
was able to open the postoffice. On the
night OF Dec. the Jesup postofflce was
opened in just such a manner About $3.50
worth OF stamps and some stationery we're
taken, and also a Smith q Wesson pistol
belonging to tue postmaster.
FLUSH IN STAMPS.
1t was not long before circumstances be-
gan to point to Sarvis. IL was found that
be had made q number of purchases.
paying for them In stnmps, in
larger amounts than 10 is customary
for any one TO carry about on his person.
He deposited $40 worth of stamps with
the Union News Company at Weycrose in
payment for articles which was due the
company. He bought some jewelry with
stamps and placed a considerable quantity
OF stamps on sale with certain parties. He
made sale Of several dollars worth Of
stamps to MIR. William EStill on Bull street.
At all of these places he gave different
reasons for having such a quantity of
stamps in his possession. One of his state
ments was that the stamps were given to
him by bis father who conducted
small business at Jesup, who he
said hes received them through the mails in
course OF business and had given them to
him in lieu of money.
Two pawn tickets were found on Earvis
when arrested, for two pistols he had "put
up." One of the pistols answered the de-
scription OF the weapon stolen from the
Jssup postofice.
AFTER THE POSTMASTER
At the night session the defense attempted
10 break down the character OF Postmaster
Stansell Several witnesses were intro
duced who testified to reports of Postmaster
Stansell attempting TO burn the st. Paul's
hotel at Jesup, of which he was proprietor,
In 1891, and some of whom swore that his
general reputation for truth and veracity
was not good. and that they would not
believe him on oath. In each in
stance, however, 1t was brought
out by the district attorney that the
witness had some connection with or inter
est in the prisoner, Sarvis, or bore animosity
toward Postmaster Stansell.
The attempt 20 break down the evidence
Of the prosecution was unsuccessful. Jacob
Gazan, Esq. is Sarvis' counsel and Is max
ing strong fight for his client. The case
will be taken up again this morning by the
court.