The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-09-28

oessible 20 al persons employed-son tne
/ Inside OF tho building. He said the draw
ers In Mr. Lacys desk were left un-
locked and clerks went there 20 borrow
material from him. Mr. Thompson d'd not
know Of any reason why Mr. Lacy should
80 10 the mail boxes al 7.l0 In the morn
| ing lie said IL was an every day oc-
currence for letters. by accident. to get
| into wrong boxes. ard II was often the
| case that a person who appeared at the
l windows was misunderstood as 10 the
I number of the box he called out or as 10
tho denomination Of stamps asked FOR.
Father Donovan corrobarted the ftate-
ment of Inspector Owings that the let
| ters had been opened and resealed. He
| told OF missing letters OF his complaints
ana the examination Of his mail BY him
1 self and Inspector Owings. Three or four
| letters found IN Mr.. Lacvs desk were
| opened by the Rev. Father IN the pres-
I, ence OF the commissioner. One OF them
| contained a money order for Sc
WHAT Mr.. TROY SAW
Inspector Troy. who has been in the
service twenty-five years. corrobroaied
| Owines as TO what both cav from the
lookout early in the morning After
breakfast be went back into the 'l0Ook-
OUT alone as q "docov" letter was eN-
pectec TO arrive on the $40 train. Soon
=
Donovan box and taKe out more letters
and place others IN there. lie was not
present at the arrest. but saw Lacy In tho
Assistant Postmaster Office Lacy beg
eod him 10 80 over 10 Manchester with
him and search MS residence He could
not DO so as he intended leaving on the
MONDAY train for Washington
Mr. Ala failed 10 make the Inspector
admit that there might have been some
doubt about his ability 10 positively
Identify the Donovan box from the
lookout" Mr.. Troy insisted that this
was as easily done as reading plea type
in print
MIR. LACY'S DEFENSE
Mr.. Lacy testified in his own behalf.
He said he accepted a position IN the
postoffie three years ago last July He
always reached the Office a few minutes
before O'Clock. Last Saturday he at
tended TO his usual duties and about
twenty minutes past went 10 the distri-
butng desk and got some newspapers.
Returning. he picked up the satchcl sent
down the night before by the Singer Sew
inc Machine Company with It's mail, 70
deliver TO the messenger who should call
for IT, on his way 10 his desk, he saw
postal card caught in the box OF the
Southern Manufacturing Company Whlch
Is located next to Father DOn0van's. lie
NtHllN SLOppfl anu piih'N liln w anu
aimed 10 throw It I'm Its right place. Be
fore reaching the window. which was just
being opened he realized that he had
placed the card in Father DOnOvan's box.
He returned. placed his hand in the box
and got out all Of the Fathers mail. car
Tied IL with him 10 the window 20 pick
ont the postal. This he did, put the card
I'm its right place and the letters back In
Father Donovan's box.
- IA 4 IL
Soon after 9 O'Clock Mr.. J. y. Ellyson
called for his mail and Mr.. Lacy under
stood him TO say box SCI and he got out
Father Donovan's letters. When he re-
turned 90 the window Mr.. Ellyson was not
in sight and the clerk laid the mail down
on his desk az he had some pressing
duties al the window Later. he found
he had made a mistake, for Mr.. Ellyson
wanted the mail for Mr.. Dickinson, the
keeper Of Oakwood, and he gave num-
Der different from that OF Father Dono-
vans box.
Mr.. Lacy having TO hurry up some le-
ports for washington. sat down az ms
desk, and in order that Father Donovan 8
mail might not get mixed with 9th ar let-
ters on his desk, he put 10 in drawer
intending 90 replace II in the box an MS
first opportunity. When the inspector
called for IL he made no secret OF having
IT I'm his desk and readily gave IL up.
MIR. Lacy denied that he told the inspec-
tor that some one had called for Father
Donovans mail. He told the officer that
tho reason he had il was that hc under
stood the call to be for SOL when was
mistake.
The clerk declared that he opened none
Of the letters. did not get a cent of money
out Of them and that they had been IN
his possession without any evil intentions
on his part He was quite positive that
Owings had urged him 20 confess, prom
Using that the punishment should be
lighter
Mr. J. b. Euyson corroborated what
the clerk said about his calling for mail
from box 81.
OF GOOD CHARACTER.
Former Assistant Postmaster CrenshaW
said he knew Lacy well and regarded him
as strictly honest Complaints were made
bv Father Donovan last spring. ana MT.
Crenshaw said he had reason to suspect
some other clerks more than Lacy OF the
theft.
Assistant Postmaster Grubbs said Lacy
was one Of the most c0mue nt young
men he knew OF and Doc Nd have
trusted him with amy amount ., money.
air Allan in IBIS arluwrnf fDnirnd'd
chat the Government had made 0ut uo
case. as the letters had not been 'sccret-
cd Il" according Go the NOel tuiili .il.
They We're not locked un. had not necn
opened and the accused DID nnt deny lhat
they were in hiH pos Jon.
ID will be recalled that the letters FOUND
I'm Lacys des1. and noi those taken OUT
of the box by Father Donovan. Wefe me
ones mentioned JOB the warrant.
Mr.. Wexford replied hrir.N riIcl.ing
tie position t1kcu hy ST. Allan.
The commits .onof Sold 30 HH. case
jury should decide. and hn would nave I'd