The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-04-02
IN THE DISTRICT COURT.
Case Against James Hill Given to the
Jury.

The case against James Hill, of
Wilkes-B Barre, charged with fraudulent
use OF the mails, went to the jury in
United States court just before ad-
juurnment yesterday afternoon.
Abra ham Beales, of Clearfield county,
was called by the prosecution at the
opening of court and gave testimony
similar to that given by the others who
We're duped by Hill. Evidence was
also brought forward to show that the
prices quoted by Hill in his circulars
were higher than the current prices in
the districts in which he caused the
circulars to be distributed.
Postmaster +. NJ. Nandling was call
ed by the government to testify that
Hill & Connell, shippers to Wilkes
Barre and Scranton" were not known
here and that the real Hin & Connell
of Scranton, is firm with wide busi-
ness reputation and unimpeachable
credit. After a period of lively SPAR
ring between counsel Judge Burlington
declared the testimony irrelevant.
Attorney John Shea made the OPEN
ing for the defense. In eloquent and
forcble language he claimed Hills Of
fense was nothing more or less than
that of being unfortunate in business
lie stated that Hill had been i'm busi-
ness in LuZerne and Lackawanna coun-
ties for thirty years and had always
borne a good reputation. A year or so
ago he went into partnership with ~.
F. Connell, Of Duryea, who afterwards
left the nrm. Then Hill began to eX-
'perience reVerSes. His boy was
drowned In the Susquehanna river and
he spent $3.50 searching for the body.
lie ran for office shortly afterwards in
Luzerne county and this cost him a
large sum.
HIS LETTERS WITHHELD.
lie was rallying from his troubles and
was making a strenuous effort to
straighten out his difficulties when Post
Office Inspector German came down
upon him and tied up his mail in the
postoffice, making it impossible for him
TO receive the collections he was trying
to make. The fact that the govern
ment had found only 1856 worth of bills
outstanding against a man who has
been in business thirty years was in
itself, Mr. Shea COntended, evidence
highly favorable TO Hill.
The defendant went on the stand
ana went over the history of his busi-
ness career and recent troubles. In
April. 1892, he and Thomas F.. Connell
of Pittston, went into the produce busi-
ness but in June, 1896, Connell left the
firm. Then he commenced to expert
.ence reYerses and found himself insol-
vent 1t was his intention to pay foI
the goods he ordered and was making
arrangements to do so as far as he
was able when his arrest occurred. on
cross examination he admitted that al
various times he had had money sufh.
cient to pay some of the bills but did
NOT pay any of them.
Alderman Morrisey and Valentine
Wick corroborated Hilrs TESTIMONY
that he made efforts to secure loan.
from them. Station Agents McDerYele
OF the Lehigh Valley; Strauss, of IN,
PennsYlvania, and Masters, of the Jer
'soy Central, testified that Hill had re
ceived many conslgnments during tn,
last seven or eight years and TO all ap
pearances was doing large business.
Louis Tisch, an influential merchant
Harry LIEN, hotel proprietor; Edi
ter Dlppre, OF the Luzerne Coun