The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-11-19
THE HUMBLE CASE.
The defendant Pleads guilty
and is fined one dallar.

Edward Steven Humble, postmaster
of Dundee Mimi, was arraigned on
an indictment charging him with de-
tanning and opening letter passing
through his postoitice. He entered q
plea OF guilty to the first count in the
Indictment. District Attorney Strin.
ger moved for sentence.
FL. James, of Pipestone, attorney
for Mr. Humble, made plea for the
leniency of the court, and related the
following: The defendant, who is
thirty three years old. has been post
master Of Dundee Of many years,
station agent for the Omaha road for
seven years, and agent for Hubbard
& Palmer for several years. He was
married ten years ago and has one
child, daughter of seven years.
Some years ago the defendants SUI
spicions were aroused as to the chasti y
Of his wife. She went to St. Paul anu
he commenced divorce proceedings
on the ground OF alledged adultery,
naming at Dundee man as core
spondent. No answer was made to
this proceeding, but before a decis-
sion was filed a reconciliation took
place, the wife promising to give no
cause for suspicion in the future.
Seyen or eight months ago the de.
PENDANTS suspicion was again aroused
and he learned that his wife had been
corresponding with other men and
visiting them at their rooms. On
Aug. lst. a lady friend from Ia. came
to visit Mrs. Humble. The later was
infatuated with this young lady's
brother. Mr.. Humble satisfied that
they were in correspondence. He
intercepted letter which was proof
convincing of the writer's infatuation
of the man. He charged his wife
with writing the letter,and submitted
to his wife's mother and to several
friends. His wife left him the next
day, and her guest also left. Divorce
proceedings have been started and
are now pending in the Mobiles county
district court. Mrs. Humble had sent
the daughter to St. Paul, bnt Mr..
Humble had managed to get her back.
Mr.. Humble had procured attidavits
from nearly every business man in
Dundee testifying that the woman's
unchaste reputation, which was so
bad that the ladies there refused to
associate with her. +
Mr.. james produced statement
signed by residents Of Dundee as to
MIR. Humble's industry, his good
habits and their perfect confidence
in him. Many letters to this affect
were also presented, one being from
Supt. Spencer and another from
Hubbard & Palmer. The defendant
had yesterday received a cablegram
announcing the death of his mother
while on her way to England.
District Attorney Stringer said that
he concurred in the. request for the
extreme clemency OF the law. He had
never seen the letter until recently
and it did not go before the grand
jury. He did not then have the full.
ness of the facts in the case. If he
had had these facts, and the defen
dant had not been postmaster at the
time, he thought that he would have
declined to present the matter to the
grand jury. But in view of Mr.. Hum
ble's official position it would have
been necessary. He was thoroughly
satisfied from other than the state
ments of MIR. James that the general
condition as stated is true.
Judge Lochren, said, after reading
the letter which Mr.. Humble inter
copied, that he was somewhat in
doubt whether even a technical Of
Tense has been committed. A man
has right to take letter of his own
direction out of the mail, and it is
question whether he has not the
right to take his wife's out, also. He
might be wrong in this, but his view
was founded on the Law relating to
the power of husband over wife.
The outside of the letter was
sufficient evidence of it's COMETS and
would go far to justify an examina-
ton of it's contents by any husband.
If an offense bad been committed it
was entirely technical, and the low
est punishment would be sufficient.
Judge Lochren then fined ,[r.
Humble one dollar.
On motion Of the district attorney
the second count in tina Indictment
was nolled.-- Mankato Free Press.
Roi1inm 1t is sure enough. It Isl
L LAM