The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-06-13
UNITED STATES COURT.


Isaiah Ponzo ON Trial for Mailing Tn-
decent Postal cards-A Weak Case.
The June term OF the United States
District Court convened at lI.30
o'cloek this morning with Judge Leon.
ard II. Wales on the Bench. After all
the Jurors answered to their names,
the empanelllng OF jury. Isaiah Pom
20 was placed on trial for mailing two
POSTAL cards bearing indecent lam
guage through the ma lis. District At
torney Beniah Watson conducted the
prosecution and John Blggs the do.
Tense.
Assistant Postmaster Pyle wns the
iirst witness; he testified to The find.
ing OF the cards.
Post Office Inspector William ]. Max.
well testified to having been given the
cards by Mr.. Pyle. They were address
ed to Harriet Grllfen, South Chester,
Pa" 10 the Inspector Ponzo acknowl-
edged on February 90 that he had writ
ten the cards and mailed them mt
Ninth and West streets. The cards
were mailed on February 4. MIR. Blggs
objected to any questions concerning
the writing OH tho cards and that OF
Ponzo on the ground that the charge
OF having written tho cards was not
preferred. The court sustained the
objection.
Ex-United States Deputy Marsha |
Watson testified to arresting the de-
PENDANT and OF being informed OF him
where he mailed the cards. Tho prose
crtion then rested,
In presenting his case to the jury
MIR. Biggs said the law reads that
shall any one knowingly mail unmail-
able matter" lie contended that there
must DO some evidence to show that
he knew the card was classed as UNI
mailable matter and mailed 1t know.
ing at the time that II was unlawful.
There had not been any evidence to
that effect and therefore he was not
guilty. Mole than this he would pro.
duce witnesses who would show that
his client never mailed the cards. In
tie governments anxiety to punish
somebody for the crime they had mis-
construed Ponzos statement to the
inspector. Ponzo had acknowledged
that he had mailed matter from tho
box at Ninth and West streets, but
never the cards. The anxiety to pro.
sccuto was not q bad motive. but the
natural drift of mans mind.
Ponzo was then placed on the stand.
He Is employed by DR.. j. q. Crum
baugh. but at the time OF his arrest
| wac cihpio1tu W hlSs TtlIlS DTIl2-
hurst. After inquiring as to his past
responsibility In lille positions Mr..
Biggs asked concerning the talk he
had with Inspector Maxwell lie do.
MED having told him that he mailed
the card from Ninth and Wost streets.
He did tell him that he did do his
mailing from the box.
He knew Harriet Grlffen and had
correspondent With her. the last time
being on December 81, 1892. At the
time OF the Investigation made by the
inspector the defendant replied that
Mr.. Maxwell! said they had much
trouble over the matter, and II lie
would acknowledge the crime and
not mall another card the case would
be dropped. lie denied that lie comics.
sed.
In cross.exomination he said that
Harriet Grilfen (ponzo) was his wife.
lie mover addressed her ms Grlllen. He
wrote to her last in December, and
then addressed the letter to Mrs.
Harriet Ponzo, Vulcan Work, Chester,
Pa.
Chas. NJ. uerdman was called to
prove the character OF the defendant.
The witness knew him about four
years. and during that time he had an
| excellent character. Dir. Crumbuugh,
| Edw. Rrlnghurst, Jr., u. Tatnall War :
nor and Francis Burke also testified
to his good character. Tho defense
then rested.
Court then adjourned until 9 o'clock
When the case Will go to the jury.