The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-10-09
MAIL CLERK BILL

Set Down for Hearing Next Sat-
 urday.
 Charles E. Bill, son of George R. Bill, registrar of the Third ward who was arrested Thursday by United States Postoffice Inspector James Bullman of Boston on the charge of stealing from the mails, was taken before United States Commissioner Wright yesterday and was released under bonds of $75O. His case is set down for next Saturday at p. m. MT. Spalding, the druggist, gave bonds for him.
 | He Is charged with embedding from the mails $15 in bills and a check sent to a pensioner, William Currie. Cur rie formerly lived in Plainville, in this state, but now works in Virginia, and sends remittances to his family in Plainville and also his monthly pen sion check. Failing to receive the reg ular letter Mrs. Currie complained to the postofflce officials.
 Inspector Pullman Investigated the case and found the check having the Endorsements of William Currie, Charles F. Bill and c. J. Monson, jr., the Chap el street jeweler. MT. Monson had cashed the check for Bill and required him to put his name on the back as tendorser.
 Bill claims that he cashed the check for man who gave him the name of Currier. not noting that the name en- dorsed on the check was Currie. He said that Currier claimed to be com mercial traveller; that he had met him Iseveral times and supposed he was all right, and he therefore cashed the check for him. In regard to the charge that he had embedded the three $5 bills he denied that he had ever seen or knew anything about the money
 Minott A. Butricks, chief clerk of Ethe railway mail service who has an office in the postof1lce building on Church street, says that he has known Bill for several years and has always Hound him reliable and efficient. He had been on duty as a postal clerk since March g, 1889, and had been on duty on the Northampton division since November, 1891.
 c. J. Monson, ir., the jeweler, whose name appears on the check in question, says that Bill brought the check to his store in May last and paid small bill, which he was owing them. He re- quested Bill to endorse the check, which he readily did.
 Others speak highly of the character of the accused.
 Mrs. Bill did not wish 10 talk of the matter further than to say that MT. Bill had cashed the check for a man who gave the name of Currier, and that he probably would never see the man again. He could not afford to 1eopardize his position for so small a sum as S36
 Hon. N. D. Sperry, speaking of Bill last evening, said that he had known Bill for twenty-five or thirty years, and a good part of that time Bill was em- lployed by him in the New Haven post office, and he had always found him a very reliable and upright man, ono of the last. he would think of suspectine of doing an act like that in question Mr. Sperry aided Bill to get position in the railway mail service. MT. Sper. ", knowing MT Bill as he did, added that it looked extremely improbable that he would steal a letter containing a check and then endorse it and presen . it for payment. Such an act would stamp a man as either a fool or al v idiot, unless he wanted to incriminat' n himself and furnish the proof MT # Sperry added that unless the inspeeto 8 had other proof than that which ha, Il been given to the public, the case woul' r hardly stand. Mir. Sperry warmly en s dorsed Mir. Bills reputation and recort l. as wholly inconsistent with the charge d made against him.
 y Charles E. Bill is about forty-fou '. '. years of age, and is the only son of ou l, well known and esteemed townsmar V George R. Bill, who has been wei te known in temperance circles for man
 years past. He has wife and on . child, son of fifteen years, who
 now studying, trying to prepare him
 self for college. He has been a posti , clerk ever since the year 1889. He wa
 also a postal clerk before MT. Cleve
 lands first term for short time, an
 when MT. Cleveland was elected, wa
 out of the service for four years. Whe c Mir. Harrison was elected he again re
 ceived an appointment. He is rout
 agent and is known as a railway relic
 clerk. He receives a salary of $1,000 lyear, and he goes from here to Shel
 bourne Falls and back every day
 From week to week his route would b o changed and he might start from Shel
 bourne Falls and come here in the da ! time and go back to that place a
 night