Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-10-09
WHO IS TO BLAND
FOR THE OPENING OF A LETTER SENT TO
MRS. HOBENSACK.
The Story Of Snccss ion Of Blunde7a as
Brought On. in the Evidence a! the
Hearing Yesterday.

On September goth, DR.. L. D. Wilson,
os this city, addressed letter contain
ing medical advice to Mrs. j. D. Hooen'
sack, of Martins Ferry. He dropped
it into the box, corner Twelfth and
Chapline streets. Tho letter came into
Mrs. aobensack's hands ten days later.
It had been read by several persons
and had travelled to Atlantic City and
return.
Who was to blame for opening the
letter?
This is the question which is Duzzllng
United States Commissioner b. j.
Campbell. Upon afhdavits made 6y
Mrs. Hobensack, her brother-ln-law' IL
D. Ho5eusack, Of this city, was arrest
ed. and was given a preliminary hear
ing Yesterday. The evidence eXoner-
ated him, aud he was formally dis
charged.
The evidence brought out at the hear
ing yesterday, showed succession OF
bIgnders in handling the letter. The
story is interesting. Itsppears that the
letter reached the Martins Ferry post
office, the day it was mailed. Nellie
Hobensack, an adopted child OF the pros
ecuting witness, Il years OF age TOOK
it from the postoifice. She remembered
Yesterday that the name ~. HoDen-
sack" and DR.. Wilson's card were on
the envelope. There was no person
home at the time, and she was not living
with Mrs. Hobensack, owing TO a legal
disuute between that lady and relatives.
! The first bluuder was made by the post
Office officials in giving her the letter.
Nellie inquired for the address OF
Jason Hobensack, and found that he
WAS at Atlantic City. She then erased
| MARTINS Ferry" from the letter, ana
| substituted Atlantic City" Biunder
number two. The letter was sent to
! Atlantic City, received and opened by
! Mr.. HobenSaCk. Instead OF sendlng d
to its rightful owner, be enclosed ad-
an envelope with another letHobeD-
dressed TO his brother, FnroceedInos
sack, the defendant in tnnbeu. Rim.
before Commissioner
der number three delivered by the car
The letter "mail matter at the Office
rler win othriver, on Water street,
OF D. LoeuSack had been employed.
where number four MIR. Shriver
| bened it with other letters, without
Reading the address. Bluuder number
FIVE. Mr.. Hobensack was then work
ing for James MCKINLEY, who happened
to drop into Shriyer'S office, and was
handed the letter. He delivered it to
E. d. HobeRsack. Hobensack read
both letters enclosed in the envelope,
and then took Mrs. HObensaCk's letter
20 Shriver's Office, stated that IL did
not belong TO him, and left it lying on
the desk. Blunder number six.
j. G. Morris, bookkeeper for Mr..
Shrver, placed the letter in the hands
of the latter gentleman, telling him all
the circumstances in connection with
il. Mr.. Shriyer at once went to Mar
tins Ferry, and delivered the letter
into the hands OF Mrs. HoDensack.
Mrs. II. came over to Wheeling, secured
Or. Wilson's statement accompanied by
his affidavit, and consulted Commits
sioner Campbell. Tde result Of this
conference was warrant for the arrest
OLE. d. Hobensack. The Commissioner
and Mrs. Hobensac6 knew nothing OF
the details OF the case until yesterday.
A large number of witnesses were eX-
amined, the testimony being, in sub
stance, as given above.
Commissioner Campbell dismissed the
case against the defendant. The fact
remains that wrong has been done the
postal service. But who is the guilty
DartY2