The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-12-13
JOSEPH JAcKYL's SITUATION.
He is Alleged to Have Confessed to Break
ing Into an Augusta Letter BOx-But NOW
He Says He. Did Not, aud the Whole Case
is Much Mixed by Confusion of Tongues.

In the United States Court WednesT
day afternoon, the fortunes of Joseph
Jackyl were at stake. 1t is claimed tna6
last autumn Mademoiselle Fortier, the
pretty amanuensis of Monsieur Dustin OF
Augusta, wrote letter to Monsieur Lee
feyre of Westbrook, enclosing four dollars
in bills. This letter, it is alleged, was car
ried to the letter box by garcon of Au-
gusta.
Now comes ths connection of Joseph
Jackyl.
Jackyl, young Frenchman from Au-
gusta, was put upon trial before jury to
answer to the charge of having broken
into street letter box at Augusta, and
toned.
Jackyl is young manic years of age,
and neither speaks nor understands Eng
lish. District Attorney Bradbury had
presented the government case, which
consisted of broken iron mail box. and
the testimony of the City Marshal of Au-
gusta, of Inspector Snow, of the pretty
Mademoiselle Fortier, who wrote the let
ter, and others. The main testimony was
in relation to confession which the au-
thorities claim that Jackyl made.
When Jackyl was put onto the stand,
the examination began through an in
terpreter. Jackyl told how, after hav-
ing been paid off on the fateful Satur-
day last autumn, when the box was
broken, he went out to enjoy frankforts
and drinkables with some young men OF
his acquaintance. The effect of the COM
bined frankforts and fluids was such
that poor Jackyl started for home
not knowing what he was about or what
he did. Monday night he was in the pos
session of the police, and it is alleged
that there. through an interpreter, he
confessed to breaking into the letter
box and acknowledged that he had taken
the letter and the two dollar bills. The
interpreter, bright young boy OF IL,
Walter Cuddy, of Augusta, testified yes
terday that his Interpretation at the
time of the arrest of Jackyl was truth
full, but he could not remember i'll full
VI LuOSu VI w udb OoShyA oe6los @uoAod@A
Snow and other witnesses testified that
the result of that Interpretation was
confession by Jackyl. This Jac.syl de-
MED Wednesday afternoon. Thomas Il.
Talbot, Esq, of this city, appeared for
Jackyl, and after the examination of
ment for the defence. He said that the
government had not traced the two bills
from the letter to Jackyls possession. 1t
had not been proven even that Mademol-
selIe Fortier had mailed that letter.
Therefore the reliance of the anthori-
ties was upon the alleged confession of
Jackyl. Both Jackyl and friend
named GARNER were arrested, drunk,
and it is alleged that while uuder arrest
Jackyl confessed. But before this court
Jackyl testifies that GARNER tried to get
him to confess, but that he did not do
so. Later, the local post office authori-
ties, with the inspector, Mr.. Snow, and
young Walter Cuddy. went to the jail
and without making any charge or
telling Jackyl of the chargs against him
1t was alleged that to these Jackyl
made confession; but Walter Cud1y
could no remember that confession.
Jackyl denies that he made any such
confession.
After Mr.. Tall bot had concluded, Judge
Webb charged the jury to beware of i'm
proper influences, and then adjourned
the court to this forenoon, when Mr..
Bradbury will argue Tor the government.