The herald., 1894-09-15
BAD POSTAL CARDS.
ORGANIST MICHAEL MERRTGEN OF
SAN DIEGO ACQUITTED.
Accused of Sending Threatening Mis-
sives to Mrs. Richards, His Sue
cessor-The Trial Rushed
Through.

Attorney J. L. Copeland of San Diego
objected in the United States court yes
terday afternoon to what he called the
airy manner in which District Attorney
Denis tried the case OF Michael Merri-
gen, formerly orgenist in the Catholic
church at San Diego.
Either the district attorneys manner
had been airy or Mr.. Copelsnd's defense
struck the jury as reasonable, for. after
being out an hour, they acquitted his
client.
Michael MerriRen was accused of send.
ing Mrs. Richards of San Diego postal
cards through the maile OF q scurrious
and threatening character. He had
been the organist for a long time, and
for some reason resigned. Mrs. Rich
ards was appointed in his place. The
postal cards were deposited in the post
Office about this time. Two OF them,
upon which the last federal grand jury
indicted Merrigen, were as follows:
Address: Nov. Z, 1898.
Mrs. Richards,
Organ grinder music teacher
Adelphy house
near court house San Diego
You old protestant thing get out of
our church or we put you and your
squeezing gang out resign and save
yourself being showed up next sunday
father Ubach cant nor shant keep you
get Chicago mayor did not head warn
ing perhaps you will Many Catholics
Feb'y Z 1894
Mrs. Richards, AdelShi
near de court houee San Diego
De father is on to your little drink
game at back door Exchange saloon and
is going to bounce you you old protes-
tant reslgn or get kicked out Some
Catholics will do it
Soon know sure
The trial did not last long. The gov
eminent called Father A. d. Ubach OF
San Diego to the stand. After a few
preliminary questions, in which he said
Mr.. Merrigen was q paper hanger, and
had been orgsnist OF the church, he
was handed three letters. which he
identified. They were from Merfigen.
and in them, in an iucoherent fashion,
he expressed contriteness for something
be had done. and wehed to be rein
stated. He referred to a woman being
the organist, and that they were always
a bother. and detailed at length all he
would do for the church if he was rein
stated. II he was not reinstated five
aous would be lost to the church. He
called the organists father an A. P. A..
and was bitter in his remarks about
her.
Assistant Postmaster Stone of San
Diego testified that the postal cards had
been seen by him in the mailing depart
ment.
This closed the governments case,
evidently to the surprise of the defense.
Mr.. Merrigen was cslled to the stand
and said, when shown the cards, that it
was the first time he had ever seen
them. He denied point blank that he
wrote them.
The arguments were brief. Mr.. Denis
took the position that the prosecution
had shown plain case. This was COM
bated by Mr.. Copeland. who contended
that the defendant had not been con-
nected with the postal cards; that the
evidence was insufficient, and that it
would not be justice for the jlry to find
him guilty.
The jury came to the conclusion. after
an heurs deliberation, that Mr.. Merri-
gen WAS not guilty, and he left the court
room in q much more cheerful frame Of
mind than he entered it.