Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-28

key, successor to Chief Hazen in the Sc
cret service Office, was present, and among
others in attendance was Representative
w. b. Shattuck of Ohio, who furnished, a
bond for $1,000 for the defendant at the
time of his arrest. Jones was private sec
rotary to Representative Shattuck; and
also held a position in the office OF the au-
ditor for the Post Office Department.
Considerable time was consumed by the
attorneys in the case with the prelim-
inaries. Counsel for the defense moved to
quash the complaint, which was overruled
by the commissioner
The first witness called was Abraham L.
Iawshe. deputy auditor for the Post Office
Department, who was asked by the govern
ment to explain the manner In which blank
money orders are issued to postmasters,
and the course followed with reference to
the transmission of money through the
money order system. The witness -ex-
planned that blanks were furnished to post
masters. and when an order was purchased
another form. known as the letter of adj
vice. was forwarded to the post office upon
which the order might be drawn.
Objections by Counsel.
Counsel for the defense objected to the
witness referring to a money order blank
handed to him, unless the entire form, in
Guiding the stubs and advice, be produced
In court, but the objection was overruled,
and the witness proceeded to explain how
the orders finally reach the auditors office
The particular blank handed to the wit
ness was from the office Of the post office
at Bristol. R. I. The witness said the blank
was sent over to his Office by the checking
and sorting division Of the Post Office De-
partment, coming through the regular
channels, and became a part of the record
of the auditors Office. 1t was also ex-
planned by the witness that 1t first came
from the postmaster at Bristol, r. l., as a
spoiled blank, and then came from the post
office at Havre de Grace. Md, where 800
had been paid upon 1t by the postmaster at
the latter Office ..-..
when 1t was brought to nv notice as an
irregular and fraudulent order, 1 became
acquainted with the case in the investiga-
ton that was made" said the witness.
Inc government then presented the order
IN evidence, preliminary to fun nishing evil
oelice as to how and by whom 1t was is
sued. The defendants attorney objected
to its Introduction unless tie coupon ac-
c"rnpanied it,, but Mr.. I.awshe said the
coupon had been destroyed. 1t has been
the pra ttce, said the " illness, stor destroy
the cospons when a postmaster's accounts
have been checked up.
What postmaster's name appears on the
blank?"
''R. T. White of Bristol, r. IT,
What is the date?" AIR.,
December IL. 1897"
Was Mr. White postmaster them
NO, and l Canrot say who was" :
An explanation followed as to the
method of checking up money orders as
they came into the. Post Office Department,
then into the auditors office.
This order was discovered by its drop
ping in out OF its regular order" said the
witness. .:s.E't5
Must Have Been Abxtrncted.
In answer 10 question by Mr.. Taggart
as to how it could have got out of the office
after it had been first returned as spoiled
blank. Mr. Lawshe said 1t could only have
stracted.
The witness was then asked with refer
epce to the defendants connection with
the auditors office. He said Mr.. Jones
was in the auditors Office as a clerk in
charge OF the division of mails and files
when he (the witncss) entered the office.
September Is, but Jones was transferred
to the bookkeeping department some time
In October.
The witness could not say when the
n oney order in question was abstracted.
and upon cross examination said there
we're q number who might have abstraceed
1t. The papers are kept upon shelves In
rooms that are accessible to great many
employees during the day time.
''As we receive 28.0O0.0OO a year you can
see that 1t would be impossible to keep
them in a safe" said Mr.. Lawshe.
Others Had Access.
The deputy auditor said there were 800
the blank In question from the files. AT
the date the order 10 purported to have
been drawn Jones was employed In the
bookkeeping department.
Mrs. Sophia w. Hall. assistant post
master at Havre de Grace, was the next
witness. She identified the form Of advice
received at her Office, which advised that
office that an order was drawn In favor
of Anderson w. Adams, jr. The witness
said man representing himself to be An
derson W. Adams, jr., called at the Havre
de Grace Office December p and received
letter. out Of which he took money
order corresponding to the advice. He
said he was a stranger there and out OF
n oney, having been sick in Baltimore.
He received the money on the order, -
she said. land he has not been in Havre
de Grace since"
Would you know him If you saw him?'
asked Mr.. Laskey. Yes"
rs he In this room?
Yes; there he sits over there said Miss
Hall. pointing to the defendant. 1t was also
stated that she had previously identified the
nan who received the money upon the or
| der, and when asked II she had any trouble
| in identifying him, said:
Not much"
In concluding her direct testimony, she
said there was no doubt in her mind thai
JOKES was the man who presented the order
and received the money.
Mr.. Taylor questioned the witness very
closely with reference to the Identification
but she adhered to her original statements
and still insisted that 1t was the defendant
to whom she paid the money order. Mis-
Hall said II wes Jones' very pale face and
| his beard that Impressed her. and made hel
positive. HIS beard was q little fuller ther
1 than now. she said.
Witness Cross-Examined.
Mr.. Taylor brought out upon cross-ex-
| animation that when she was taken
through the Treasury Department, tha'
she might pick out the man who had re,
| ceived money on the order at the Havre d.
grace once. the witness was introduc ID
| to Jones os Miss Benson Of Johnson City
Tenn. In order that she might see more
| Of Jones' and see him with a hat and over.
l coat on, Jones was asked to escort her te
/ a typewriter agency. ~ she desired to pur.
chase a machine. She did not see Jones
| attach a signature to the order upon which
| the money was drawn. ..FS.
| John M. Bishop chief clerk Of the sixth
| auditors ONCE. followed Miss Hall on the
stand. He said he had been requested Il
| take Miss Hall through the once and In
troduce her to different employees. includ
/ ing Jones. When Mr.. Jones was reached
| she was introduced az an expert typewriter
1 and he WAS asked to show her how he cOuIf