The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-03-19
IN UNCLE SANS COURT
A Man on Trial Who Sold Postage
Stamps. Cheap.
LIMA POSTOFFICE ROBBERY
Mr.. Griffin Said He Did Not Do 1T
Butte Witnesses Who Know
Another Man Who Sold
Postage Stamps.

BUTTE, March 1S.-D. f. Griffin was
on trial before jury in the United States
court to-day on the charge of robbing the
postoftice AT Lima on the night of Dec.
20, 1888, OF SlS5 worth of stamps of the
denc nominations of 1, 2. 5 and 10 cents. The
jury In the case is composed of j. Graz
nam, w. Ii. Eddy, 5. Hauswirth, G.. w.
Newkirk, j. j. Haggerty, w. Noyes, o. X.
Lewis, w. Barrett, NJ. b. Brownlee. ID. NJ.
Billingsly. e. f. Altholf and Louis Kauf-
man.
The prosecution was conducted by
Assistant United States District Attorney
Shelton, and the defendant was repre-
sented by John w. Cotter and Dan
Yancey. The testimony of the prosecu-
ton was TO the effect that Griffin had
been in the habit of loafing
around the Lima postoiiice and
after the night on which the
office was robbed he went to Salt Lake
where he sold = large quantity of stamps
for about 60 per cent OF their face value.
To persons in Salt Lake who asked him
how he came by the stamps, he said he
took them IN payment of a debt some
man owed him. He sold about SS7 worth
in Salt Lake. When he returned to Lima,
after the robbery had been made public,
he went TO Postmaster Starr and told him
that he mad purchased the stamps from a
stranger and said he recognized that he
might nave done wrong and gave the
postmaster 1913. He asked Mr.. Starr to
save him from a public prosecution.
AT the conclusion of the testimony for
the prosecution the defense moved that
the government be compelled to select
one of two charges contained in the in
dlctment upon which it would rely. One
count charged that Griffin committed
the robbery on Dec. % and another count
alleges that he received the stolen stamps
on Dec. 20, knowing that they had been
stolen. Judge Knowles said a verdict
could not be found on both charges, but
he took the motion under consideration
saying he would instruct the jury on the
point before the close of the trial.
The testimony of the defense was that
the postoiiice was robbed by another man
and that Griffin purchased the stamps
without any intention of wrong doing
though he might have been indscreet.
Testimony was introduced 10 show that a
man answering the description given by
Griffin had also sold lot of stamps in
Butte and Anaconda. Two witnesses,
named Fisher and Wiley, commission
men in South Butte, testified that in
August, 1893, a man came to their place
of business and offered to sell them large
quantities of stamps at less than half
price. They finally did buy S23 worth
of one cent stamps for $40, and
later took Sl4 worth of two
cent stamps for IS. The man was
asked how he came by the stamps, and
he said a man had sent them to him from
the state of Washington. The witnesses
saw the man in Butte some weeks after
wards and he said ne was going to Salt |
Lake from here. Witness Wiley said his |
suspicious that the stamps might have |
been stolen were not aroused until some |
time after he had purchased them, and |
then he concluded to keep his mouth shut |
and did not report the matter to the postal |
authorities.
The trial was not concluded when the |
court adjourned and will be resumed to-
morrow morning.
The damage case of Hattie Frost |
against the Oregon Short Line aud Utah
Northern is also set for trial Tomorrow.
In the case of w. j. Hutchings against
j. A. Coram, a suit on contract, the plain
tiff was to-day granted until March 10 to
file n replication.
Thirteen trial jurors were secured on
the regular venIre this morning and the
panel not beir : completed another venre
for 20 names was ordered issued and made
t,,orpinr