Birmingham state herald., 1897-06-04
ALBERTA'S POSTMASTER
Arrested In Birmingham-A Mountain Out of Mole Hill, and All Par
 ties Sorry They Spoke.

c. B. Orton, postmaster at Alberta, Will cox county, Alabama, was arrested by Cap; Weir yesterday on telegram re- ceived at police headquarters from s. M. Cathcart of Alberta. He was detained in a room in city hotel until the arrival of the Wilcox county sheriff and was yes- terday morning rearrested by Deputy United States Marshal Perkins and brought before United States Commis- sioner R. A. Moseley on warrant charg- ing him with a violation of sections 4046 and 4O53 of the revised S atutes or the United States, alleging that as pos'smas- ter at Alberta, Wilcox eourIty, AIa., the defendant embedded about l700 of post office and money order funUs DelohSihS to the United States
 The affidavit was sworn to by B. M. Cathcalt, who is said to be one Of Ortons bondsmen.
 tAssis tam. District Attorney Lee Cowart asked for a corj iuaElce of the case to all low the government time to make an in- vestigation, and the case was continued until the 25 h inst, the government alt torney consenting to $500 bond
 Mr. Oraon's side of the story is as fol- lows: He was given check in business transaction by P Ofm for $1,67O, which he used in making h.s regular settlement with ihe government. The check was on the banking house of Steiner Bros, or this cllX. ln course OI DuSlH6SS IL was sent to the postmaster at Selma win whom Mir Oliton made his pos. office set- dement's The Selma official duly re- ceipted for 1t. When the check was for- Warisd here for collection 1t was proteSt- ed, because of the lack of funds to meet 1t.
 MT. Ortcm was in Birmingham on busi- ness when he learned of the protest of the check, when he retained Attorneys Mouri. joy and Tomlinson, who proceeded &xM ~1,.vF nhn 1n6 been paid and to protect Orton as ln- dorser of same. The next day the in- formation that the check had gone to prd.es7: was seEt by some party in Bir1 mingham in such way as to frighten MT. Ollton's bondSman and caused him to tel egraph here instruoting his detention, and came on here himself. On arriving here he said that he had only become frightened about the check. Or,on promptly made bond and returned to his home alt Alberta. Several of his friends at Alberta, hearing he was In trouble. came immediately to Birmingham and wen: on his bond. MT. Orton stands high at his home as business man, and has many friends, who stoutly claim he has done no criminal adt.
 Mir Orton says that he had due bill from MT. Olim for moro than the amount of the check and that the transac ion was business one between him and MT. ODim. He simply utilized the check in the settlement of his accounts as post- master, wi h the government. He and his friends feel that he has been unjustly dealt with in being arrested, and they say that the matter will be arranged without any trouble. MT Orton was annoyed at the postponement of his hearing, and says he is anxious for speedy investigation, feeling sure he will clear his skirts of all suspicion of wrong.
 Mir Olim is engaged in business as a shoe dealer, both here and in Alberta, having branch store in the last named place in charge of his brother. He wan seen by State Herald reporter yester- day ard asked to give his side of the case He said that he preferred not to talk for publtcasion.