Evening star., 1897-06-05
RAILWAY MAIL CLERKSTUART
Report on the Causes That Led to His Dis
missal.
Alteration With Postmaster in
Which He Drew a PistOl-He
Charges Persecution.

William A. Stuart a colored man, who
previously served as a railway mail clerk,
has been called to the attention of the
Post Office Department by statements he is
making of alleged gross injustice which led
TO his removal from the government serv-
ice. He has claimed that he was per-
sistently prosecuted on account of his COL
or. his life made miserable, and now he
seeks reinstatement In his old place.
The following statement of the causes
that led to Mr.. Stuarts removal from the
service was furnished Star reporter to-
day at the Office Of the superintendent Of
the railway mail service:
William A. Stuart was removed from
the railway mail service On March 2, 1896
He held a position as railway postal clerk
in the East Radford and Kenova railway
post office. On December 10 1885. while on
duty in his car. he had an alteration with
A. J. Godfrey, the postmaster at Bran
well. w. Va, during which he not only
thets to Postmaster Godfrey, but drew his
pistol and threatened to use it. Mr. Stuart
In letter to his superintendent, acknowl-
edged having displayed his pistol, but
states that he did not do so until Post
master Godfrey had picked up a brickbat
to throw at him. An officer of the service
was sent to Bramwell to investigate the
case. ana upon his report to the depart
ment Mr.. Stuart was removed.
The statement of Postmaster Godfrey
was substantially as follows: AS a mat
ter OF accommodation to the railway postal
clerks, he had been giving them the regis
tered mall for the east on their westbound
trips, SO as to give them more time to dis
tribute it. On the day of the difficulty he
oid not have, this mail made up in time to
oehver 1t on the westbound trip, and when
he handed 1t to Clerk Stuart on the east
bound trip. Stuart said: why didn't YOU
give me this mail as 1 went DOWN. To
~nlch ne replied that he did not have 1t
ready and that he only gave it to him
westoound as matter of accommodation
To this Stuart replied in a very rude man
Ter that hereafter he wanted this mail as
ne went down. Mr.. Godfrey then said
.hat when he had 1t ready he would give it
to MIN or the westbound trip; otherwise he
Would give it to him on the return trim.
Furthermore. that he must stop dicating to
MIN; that he was getting tired of it, and
INA. n ne lailed to discharge his duty as
postmaster the remedy was to report him
TO the department. Stuart replied in an
angry manner that he had a right to dictate
to him, and. with an oath. said he would
40 e. SO whenever he pleased, at the same
time shaking his fist in Postmaster God
frey's face. At this Postmaster Godfrey
stepped back and picked I'D q brickbat
whereupon Clerk Stuart went back into
the car, got a pistol, and, holding it in his
hand, applied very opprobrious term to
the postmaster, threatening to kill him IL
he did not drop the brick. At this time the
train moved of. thus ending the affair
Mr. George n. Lewis, treasurer of the
Buckeye Coal and Coke Company. who
came up during the alteration. made a
statement which was substantially the
same as Mr.. Godfrey's. Mr.. w. o. Tayler,
an employe of the railroad company, who
was referred to by Stuart as a witness.
testified to having seen Stuart threatening
MI Godfrey with the pistol in his hand
The department considered that the Of
tense committed by Clerk Stuart made his
removal necessary"