The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-12-05
Two Reminiscent Stories Of Post Office In
spectOr Waterbury.
NO NAIL WAS DELIVERED FOa YEARS
Postnasters Kept In Ignorance of
Appointmcnts-Ma Many Persons rlnd
Died Heioro Receiving lmpor,an.
M"Il-An EiIicis DlstiIIcry Run by
tho Postmaster.
DENVER Republican.)

iniscent of one which Inspector Water
bury unearthed in 1884, the full details
or which, however, have never been pub
a1shed His last trip, which he took in
Yuma, Arizona. drought him face to face
with the particular character with which
this particular story deals, who is now
awaiting execution for wife murder
Early In 1894 inspector Waterbury re-
ceiVed instructions from the general
postoftice at Washington to go to Eth
reHburg, $50 miles from Yuma, and in
vcstlgate the condition OF the postoffice
Hhere. For eleven years not a word had
been heard from it, although the official
had forwarded stamps occasionally.
The postoflice issued orders which brook
ed Of no delay, but no heed had been taxi
en- of them. and the officials wanted the
whole mater sTted. Inspector Water
bury set out and finally reached his
destination. He did not ride in Il Pull
man all the way. There were stage
coaches for much longer distance than
there are now, and sometimes they were
not allowed to proceed until another
class OF inspectors had first decided
whether the contents were worth talk
ing or not
Arrived at Ehrenburg the postoffice
was not Very difficult to locate. 1T was
one Of the poorest of the struggling
adobe 'huts which constituted the town
at that time. But the postmaster was
nowhere to he found y
compadre of his was met after a
while, who spoke English. .Hayzoos'
would be back in few days, Inspector
waterbury was told, which information
it took a long while to ELICIT The dis
lance was too long and the way too
difficult TO traverse ito leave his mission
unaccomplished. SO Inspector Water
bury sat down and awaited the pleasure
of Jesus Daniel
In the three days the postoflice inspec-
tor busted himself, whenever he found
any one to whom he was intelligiblc in
making inquiries. The assortment of in
formation thus collected cast no light
on the situation. The few white settlers
whom he endeavored 90 hard to find told
him that they received no more mail
through the Dostoffice at Ehrensburr
The postmaster spent most or his time
away IN the mountains cutting wood or
herding sheep
After lapse OF five days Jesus arrived
AZ Ehre:lburg in his birch -bark canoe
me inspector was not long in forming
ms acquaintance. He told Jesus Daniel
the purpose of his mission. The Mexican
gave n savage grunt of understanding
and Eruilly acQuicsced to showing In
speetor Waterbury through the post
Office The examination was at once
begun. Shutters We're thrown back.
doors unbolted, and the two sat down in
the nusiy. atmosphere. The safe was
first opened. In II were found 1S regis
tered letters, most of which were of an
urgent and important nature. and which
mad lain there from two to eleven wears
lie found some of the people to whom
the letters were addressed and delivered
Them There were hundreds of letters
lying about, many of them directed IN
people who had long been dead. Emf
inspector Waterbury's great find was
TWO commissions from subsequent nd-
illustrations fox men appointed to sue.
coed Jesus Daniel. One of these me,
died in ignorance of his appointment
ana the other was kept in Ignorance Of
1t by the astute Jesus.
When confronted with the nile or doc
umcntary evidence agains: his ability or
Shhrlcicr or ignorance, or all thrnS
Jesus Daniel Just grunted: which caid
PAIN MS English could make it: .N'H,,
now, Il you have discovered flo, In
snector Waterbury saw there WA no
use IN argument. The postmaster was
Oh thc prute type, too ignorant. or too
cunning TO volunteer or give under pros
sure any explanation. Inspector Water
bury took charge OF the contents of tho
30. toiiice. delivered all the accumulated
80 I'll that he could find owners for ana
started off with the rest.
tNitcr tie TWO men had left the post
~iiicc Jesus Daniel was met by some NO.
qhaihtances, who greeted him after their
fashion. From the look of horror which
crept over the faces OF all of them ira
ihHPec!or Nehtufed Il remark as TO what
caused il.
''lie took his wife IN the river ana
drowned her, he says" said one Of tho
hystandcrs.
You took your wife up the river and
drowned her, did you?" asked tho ne
bounded Inspector, as he looked an the
qnlmohilc features OF the man besjd,
him.
Yes drowned her." dosgedlv re-
Pf'ea me McNican. she was no good
ANY, more. She got old and sicl, and
ugly, and She bothered me. | asked ha,
10 step out Of the boat and get a flower
Tor NE that was i'll the water. When she
got out pushed her in the riSer and go.
away quick when I see she can Get nm
no more" f
inspector Daniel loft Ehrenburg that
AFTERNOON. Subsequently he heard that
Jesus Daniel was arrested tried ana
sentenced to be hung for the murder of
his wife. The sentence hns NOT val
been CARRIED into execution. altboumh
the accused man has never had n re-
prlcVe. inspector Waterbury SAW him
few days ago and says he seems in
different and sullen as ever.
me second story which Inspectnr
waterbury brought home from his trim
mad mise Ell scene nearer home inside
of Colorado. No names will bn mon
Toned, h'lii there Is n small postofiice
near Telluride which called for some in.
FestlSation. The authorities were M
Tiled that the postmaster served stamns
at one end OF the counter and good. If
Illicit whisky ri the other Not alone
this, but he was accused of extracting
SIG from registered letter.
Inspector Waterbury, upon his arrival
nj The little place Wllkp1 ,lirnctl,. ;,,,.