St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-07-24
GREEN GOODS HEARING.
JACOBS AND DAVIS BEFORE c0MMiS-
SI0EER 7IcHE.
GOVERNMENT CASE WEAK.

So Com missioner Tighe Intimateu,
and Took Time to Consider a
Motion for Observation-Disclosures
Him That He Was in Crooked
Business.
Charles Jacobs and E. j. Davis were
given a partial hearing before United
| States Commissioner Tlghe last evening
on complaint made by PostOffice In
spector j. d. Wood that they had re-
ceived or deposited in the postoffice
letters TO be sent through the malls for
the fraudulent purpose OF furthering
Ithe handling of green goods" or mat
ter pertaining to currency.
the men have cigar store at SIS East
Fifth street, and have on exhibition
curios, peculiar coins and old Confeder-
ale money.
Attorneys Davis, McHugh s. Davis
appeared for the defendants, and Dis
trict Attorney Stringer, and Mr.Stryker,
his assistant. appeared for the govern
ment.
Benn Davis moved that the case be
dismissed and the defendants dis
charged at the opening. on the ground
that the information charged that the
warrant was based On belief and not
upon fact.
Commissioner Tighe declined to hear
argument on the point. saying that it
was we'll settled. MIR. Davis excepted
to the ruling and also to the refusal to
hear argument
Postmaster Castle was called as the
first witness and testified that mail had
been received at the postoffice addressed
to John Ross at 50 East Fifth street. A
letter had been received from the first
assistant postmaster general on June 80
stating that a circular had been received
issued by John Ross, relating to the
''green goods" business or how 10 pro-
cure it, and directing the postmaster to
withhold the mail OF John Ross until he
had been properly identified. Another
letter was received from the department
inci0sing circular relating to
s'green goods" Ross was then
notified that no more mail would be
delysred to him until he came to the
office and was properly identified. An
order had been sent to the posto flee in
March last, directing the mail Of
John Ross to be delivered to Charles
Jacobs or E. j. Davis. This order was
signed by Ross and Davis. A package
of over forty letters, addressed to John
! Ross, was also exhibited by Postmaster
Castle. which had not been delivered
| nor opened. and had not been called
for by Ross. There were also two
copies of the Police Gazette. one of
which contained an advertisement:
sMoney-Send two-cenr stamp for par
ticulars to John Ross. 90 East Fifth
street. St. Paul, Mimi"
Mail Carrier Exley testified that he
had delivered registered aud other mail
to Davis and Jacobs at 50 East Fifth
street addressed to Ross.
w. S. Tuttle testified to converse.
ton with E. j. Davis in which the lat
ter wanted him to induce the post
master to release the Ross mail, and
promised when it was.released to pay
$50 OH note held by George L. Davis
for Si00 out of the money in the letters,
and to pay $40 per week on the note.
!. futile also testified that he had accused
, Davis of being in crooked business,
and Davis had admitted the charge.
On croSsexamination futile admitted
that Davis spoke of expecting money
/ from England. lie also admitted that
he had told Davis that the prosecution
against him and Jacobs would be given
up. as far as he was concerned. in case
! the note should be paid. Tuttle also
said he had told Davis that he knew of
f! his going to an express Office and being
Identified as Ross.
George T. Dawes testified to about
! the same conversation related by Tuttle.
| Philip Lawrence, of the regular army,
| appeared in uniform. He testified that
| he had been III the habit of sitting in
the room back of the store for month
reading. He had noticed six letters de-
liyered at the place one day. and as
many as two letters several days, but
did not know to whom they were ad-
dressed.
Postoffice Inspector Wood stated that
he knew Of the place several. months
ago. Two weeks ago be with other
| officials went to the cigar store and told
the men that no more Of John Ross
| mail would be delivered until the man
| came out and was identified. He had
| received a circular from Washington
purporting to give information as to tile
prices for green goods" A few days
ago he had information to the effect
that Davis and Jacobs were about to
leave town, and so he swore out war
rant for their arrest. He stated on
eross-eyamination that the Information
was given by w. S. futile.
4 i
to dismiss the men after the govern.
ment had rested. After discussing the
evidence at some length, Commissioner
TIghe expressed doubt as TO the evil
edence justifying him holding the men
under the charge made. He thought
there had not been sufficient testimony
to show that the men had received or
sent improper. matter through the
mails. The case was continued until
Wednesday evening, at which time the
motion to dismissed will be decided.