The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-25
MRS. KELLER OWNS UP.
oEs WEBER AND SAYS SHE
BURNED MANY LETTERS.
Tne Postofhcc Robbery Case Caused
Something OF a Sensation in
Galveston.

Il
Galveston. Texas. September N.-Tb
people Of Galveston who wanted to get IN
details about the postctfce robbery cas-,
mad to buy The Post today. Everybod,
wanted to read every line that was printef
a'iau' the affair and there was such a rur
on the newsdealers for copies OF The Pos
that every one Of them were sold out II
short order.
The arrests have caused a sensation
Tonight there was such a run on the
Tribune that 700 extra copies Of that pape,
had to be printed TO meet the demand.
August j. Weber, the accused superin-
tendent Of carriers. was arraigned before
United States Commissioner Fred w.
Pickett In the Federal building this morn
Ing for examination. After his lawyer
read confession made by Mrs. Keller
he talked with Mr.. Weber and then in
formed Mr. Pickett that 1t would be nee
essary for him to withdraw from the case.
This is without any prejudice at all to
Mr.. Webers case" he explained. 1T Is
simply occasioned by the close persona
relations that exist between my partner
gnu q uCdi iVthtlHe OF glTs. htiltT. me-
counsel for Weber would. perhaps, have
to attack Ms. Keller and this, owing to
the relations / refer to. could not con-
sistently do. / therefore ask that the case
be continued In order that Mr.. Weber
have an opportunity to get ,ther COUNSEL
The case was postponed until next Mon
day. Mr.. Weber pleaded TO have his bail
reduced ana Mr.. Pickett at last consented
to make the bail $4,000. There ere, SO far,
fnt,r ,1ofx Had ox.A
one against Mrs. Keller.
Postmaster Shannon was asked how
long Mr.. Weber had been in the postal
service.
''since April 1. 1894" said he. Previous
ly he served three or four years under
Postmaster Gary. Tho arrest Of Weber
ard Mrs. Keller was a surprise to me.
They made more reports to me Of losses
OF mail matter than any other employees
Quoted herself well and attended to her
business"
The confession referred to is q full cor
roboration Of the details as given In The
Post today. Here 1t Is:
II have been In the employ Of the United
Ststes postal department at Galveston
since Juno 16, 1893, as general delivery
clerk"
Mrs. Keller was shown one pair Of kid
gloves and one silk handkerchief by
United States Postoffice Inspector +. M.
Hamilton. She said: II recognize these
articles. They came into my possession
yesterday, September 20, 1897, between 3 p.
m. and D. M, at the postofdce In Gal
weston, Texas. I did not take them myself.
They were given to me. know now that
1 ought not to have taken them. This Is
not the first time that presents were made
to me in the same manner. On such occa-
sions I would ask where the said presents
came from and would be told that 1t was
none Of my business or that ] should not
ask questions, or similar expressions. All
these packages that are received into this
Office are first handled by Mr.. Weber, who
distributes them. This package never
came into my hands as mail matter to be
delivered. II was given to me for my own
the gloves ard the handkerchief in the
postoffre at Galveston. Texas. on Septem-
Der 22, 1897. between the hours OF and
4 D. m. He is my superior officer. He is
OF carriers.
HE gave mo belt last winter and
shortly afterwards l saw a tracer on his
desk esking for a belt / called his at
tention to 1t and asked him II It was the
belt he had given me. He said no. /
told him would not wear it, because l
did not want to be arrested for wearing
articles that had been stolen. Articles
Of merchandise were continually disap-
pearing from the office"
Two letters were here shown 10 Mrs.
Keller by the commissioner. One was
mailed from Dallas on September 10, 1897,
at p. m. and addressed to Joe p. Israel.
Texas, and one addressed to
MIR. w. M. King. care Gulf. Colorado and
Santa Fe railway, Galveston. Texas. Said
lettar was mailed at New Orleans, La.
Captambar 1907 . N
Eyes, these two letters were given TO
me by Mr.. A. j. Weber. He told me to
take them home and burn them. He mas
given hundreds OF letters to me to burn.
These letters were addressed to parties
in Galveston. They were always opened
when Mr.. Weber gave them to me to burn.
/ usually took them home without asking
questions and did as he directed. He was
my superior officer and II was necessary
for me to be In his good graces. My posi-
ton depended upon that.
designed. Pauline /. Keller"
Sworn to and subscribed before me this
2sd day OF September. 1897.
United States Commissioner Eastern
District OF Texas"
Weber is married and has five children.
His first wife died and he married her
sister, Mrs Keller is separated from her
husband. She is we'll connected and Is
quite handsome.
Cut on Pool and Cigarettes.
Luling, Texas, September 24.-The en-
,orcement OF the new occupation tax law
IN pool tables and cigarettes has caused
all tables to be taken down and reduced
the cigarette dealers here 10 two.
Francisco Harrera was run over by .
cotton wagon at Straitor's gin and his arm
and shoulder crushed in a terrible manner
Highway Robbery Near Denison.
Sherman. Texas, September 2s.-charies
Carter, farmer. living near Denison, was
held up and robbed OF s57, the
money realized from some cotton. near that