The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-12-21
TWO WENT INTO PRESS.
ONE ONLP WAS PRINTED ON WHIL Il
BOTH RECEIYED IMPREssIOS.
Curious Biunder of a Government Printer
Ma, No End of Trouble.

The old maxim that something new is
learned every day was illustrated in the
Office of one OF the leading lights
OF the Rhode Island bar on
Saturday when prominent local
business man appeared to engage the
lawyer to bring suit against the United
States government. The story that was
relat. d by the merchant was so unique
chat the lawyer would have been inclined
to doubt the truth OF the narrative il the
actual proof had not been placed before
his eyes.
The business man claims that his credit
has been badly shaken through a mistake
that was made by Uncle Sa u, and he is
xious TO test the case in court, being
positive that he can recover damage in
large amount for the injury that he has
received.
According to the story that he tells, he
bought large number OF stamped envel-
opes at the post office last week, paying
the usual price for them. On Monday lac
was compelled to send a check to Boston
in order to meet note that would
become due on Tuesday mUrn=
ing. He placed the valuable
slip of paper in one of the envelopes and
mailed it, imagining that he had met the
business engagement on time What was
his astonishment, therefore, to receive a
notice from his creditor that the note had
gone to protest. He Immediately sent
another check, but on Friday the mystery
was explained in some degree when he
received a notification from Boston that
the letter had been held in that city
for postage. He could not understand
how this could have been possible, how
ever, but when the envelope was returned
to him he found that il was in a most pc
culiar condition. While the stamp in the
upper right hand corner was clearly out
lined, and had evidently gone through
the printing press, it had escaped the ink
so that the impression was as white as the
envelope itself.
Ion't Think lies Rotponsible.
While the business man can not
imagine how this peculiarity escaped him
he does not think that he was responsible
for the mistake. He purchased the en-
veIopes with the intention OF send
ing them through the mail.
He paid the regulation price for
them, believing them to be
perfect. II one OF these pieces OF paper
had not been printed properly it was the
fault OF the postoffice that passed them as
perfect; the Office that refused TO pass the
letter had no authority for such an action.
The fact of the impression being clearly
distinguishable should have assured
them that the department and not the
sender was at fault anu he hopes TO
be able to ascertain II the court can give
him any redress for his lost credit. OF
course IL he had noticed the absence OF
the green ink on the envelope he would
not have run any risks by sending IL upon
such an important errand, but as the let
ter was sent he holds that the UnitedStstes
government is responsible for the fact that
il was not delivered in time for him
to meet his financial obligations. No ex-
cuse that he can offer will erase the fact
that his note went TO protest, and that he
was rated as in financial difficulties. The
story OF his failure TO redeem his paper
travelled quickly and since that time he
has had so many demands made upon him
that he would have been compelled to
make an assignment IL bis financial con-
dition had not been excellent.
A LAWYER Pondering over 10.
The envelope that has caused all this
trouble is now in the hands OF the lawyer
and he is holding the strange case under
advisement. During his legal career he
has never met with any case that presents
so many peculiarities, and he is not yet
- a. IL. ii