The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-04-10
Eloquent ignorance.

Deputy United States Marshal Hold
man arrested Cornelius Miller last
night at his home, near Adrian, Bates
county, Mo. Miller is charged with
using a postage stamp after it had been
Cancelled. He was arraigned before
Commissioner Peabody this morning,
and on the advice of Post Office In
speotor Hill and Assistant United
States Dittrict Attorney Draffen was
held for trial at the April term of the
Federal Court. He was released on
his own recognizance.
Miller is the queerest character that
has vet fallen into the hands of the
government officials who work for fees.
He was brought into the Commission
er's office this morning covered with
mud from his boots TO his fur cap. He
is a typical "wayback" and lives ON a
little piece of ground down in Bates
county.
"Iou are charged with having used
a Cancelled stamp, Miller" said Com
missioner Peabody. "What plea do
you enter"
"Tm 81 years old, gentlemen, an a
little bit deef," answered the hardened
criminal, for such he is declared TO be
by Inspector Hill, "an' youse must
speak out right peart if youse want
me to ketch what youse say"
"You are charged with mailing this
letter, knowing that the stamp on it
had been used before. What have you
10 say?i
"Well, / don't know whether /
mailed the letter or no, as my sights
weak. I've spent most of my 81 years
on the plains amongst the sand, an
more er less of hits got inter 'em.
kain't read a wink, no how, an
kain't write neither, but l git Missus
Wiclls to do my writin' fur me. Mis-
sus Wicks lives alongside er me an
she mought er wrote the letter"
The Commissioner asked him again
if he wanted to enter any plea, and the
old man scratched his head awhile and
replied;
~ grub for livin', neighbors, an
amt much up on law, but if youse
mean ter ask me did / know that
stamp We're not good | wanter tell yo'
/ didn't. No. | didn't have no con-
science ability OF hit a bein' bad" and
he shook his head slowly and looked
at the faces around him.
81 never done no wrong, neighbors,
an / didn't mean ter cheat the guv-
'ment out er no two cents. I'm 81
years old, an grub fur my livin' and
fur the livin' of my wife and babies. +"
The Post Office Inspector looked
across the table at the Deputy Marshal,
and the Deputy Marshal looked at the
Post Office Inspector, teles raphing by
their glances; ''he's slick one"
Miller talked on. He said his wife
kept old letters and new stamps to-
gether in ''ridicule," which hung
against the log wall Of the cabin. He
did not know how the old stamp be-
came attached to the letter he mailed,
unless one Of the old stamps had fallen
from a letter and was taken out by
mistake.
The Deputy Marshall held that the
man was undoubtedly in the habit OF
using old stamps and showed one that
/ looked like it had been used as a door
mat, saying it had been given to him
by Mrs. Wicks, who took it from the
'ridicule - of Mrs. Miller.
Telegraph service was here restored
between the Post Office Inspector and
Deputy Marshal, and the message
seemed to be: That's evidence"
Commissioner Peabody did not think
the man guilty, as there was no evil
dence to prove that he put the stamp
or the letter and the Commissioner did
not think il "A crime to collect old
stamps. But the Post Office Inspector
desired the man held, so he was held.
He turned away when he was told TO
90, but was called back by the Deputy
Marshal, who asked him how much
money he had. Miller pulled out a
greasy wallet and emptied it on the
table. Two watch-keys and a copper
cent. The Deputy gave him quarter
and Commissioner Peabody another,
and with fifty cents the old man start
ed out to travel fifty-three miles.
The Deputy Marshal brought him
here by rail on a charge which was
merely a charge, and received his fees
for so doing. The Post Office Inspect
or Is satisfied, feeling he has done his
duty. Neither of them tried to secure
transportation back home for the poor
old man.-N. Louis GjoJe.