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

IU.NlNr ~ Lazy Ah~ rN+trt+'
clerk at the postofice, arrested Saturday
on the charge Of secreting and embez-
zllng letters belonging to.-Rev. Father
Thomas y. Donovan. OF 81. Joseph
Catholic mission for colored people, was
yesterday evening sent on TO the grand
jury
United States Commissioner Henry fle-
genhomor gave three hours to the hear
ing of the evidence ana argument. Mr..
Lacy was allowed bail, the bond being
reduced from 81. 900 10 $500 Messrs. G. :.
Wells. $. 4. Dowdy and J. c. Donley are
the sureues.
The case was called before the Com
missioner In the United States Court of
Appeals room at 4.3O o'clock in the az
tcrm0on. There was quite a crowd OF
spectators on hand, mostly friends and
former employees OF the pOslOflco. Former
Postmaster Cullingworth and former As
sistant Postmaster Crenshaw were there,
as were their successors, Messrs. Knight
and Grubbn
Assistant District Attorney B Rama
Wexford appeared for the government
and Mr.. Edgar Allan. Jr. for the ac-
cused Mr. Lacy, who IS a nice-looking
young man Of pleasing countenace, sat
hy his lawyer and followed the proceed
ings closely.
MIR OWING's EVIDENCE.
postomce Inspector Owings. who was
detailed 10 Investigate tather DOnOvan's
complaint. and who, with the assistance
or Inspector Troy worked up the case,
WAS the first witness He stated that
th-r Donovan began TO complain OF the
i0fs Of mail away back in January. Last
Saturday morning al an early hour the
two inspectors went into the lockout
"a place provided for detectives In the
building where they can look down upon
-the clerks and carriers az their desks
without being observed. 10 was about
-,f0 o'clock Mr. owinrs said. when he
and his fellow watchman saw Lacy 30
To- Father DonOvans box. SCI take out
the letters. wrap them mp I'm news
paper. pick up satchcl and go 10 one OF
the front windows which had not been
opened.
Having made this discovery. the inspec-
tors left the lookout" and Mr.. Owings
stated that thcv went 90 Father Dono-
vans box and found no mail in f.. and
then they went TO the Lexington for
breakfast.
Mr.. Troy. in his statement, said they
went direct from the lookout" TO the
hotel. This discrepancy in the testimony
of the officers was commented upon later
on By MT Allan.
LETTERS HAD BEEN OPENED.
Mr.. Owings went on 20 say that after
breakfast Mr. Troy returned 10 the
lookout" while he sent FOR Father Dono-
van. who came and opened his mail box,
getting out oil 20 several letters, which
were carried Co the inspectors room az
the Lexington These missions bore evil
dcncc of having been opened and re-
sealed On buneIing manner
AS The warrant had reference to the
letters found I'm Mr.. Lacy's desk Mr. Al
Ian objected 10 any testimony being given
concerning those taken out of the box
until 80 could be shown that the accused
had handled these particular ones. The
commissioner sustained the counsel for
the defence. but the Witnesses We're not
held down 10 strict observance Of the
ruling.
AR. Owinrs related IN detail his visit
90 Lacy after The interview with Father
Donovan had taken place at the hotel
lie found the clerk az his desk. and asked
him where Father DOnoyan's letters We're
Mr. lacy said they were In his desk. and
80 ohce opened drawer and produced
them-aoout dozen in number, an bound
together with a rubber band. lie asked
Lacy what De was doing with them. and
the clerk said he had understood a man
at the window 90 call for Father Dono-
vans man and after producing it he
found out he had made a mistake and
placed the letters IN his desk
Some of these letters bore the stamp
mark OF having been received I'm Rch-
mond at p. ~ of the evening before
and others az A. NJ OF that day. IN The
batch was a "docoy" letter sent from
Maryland and containing three dollars
"a flanrfrti fnH of the
money it contained. which he gave 20 the
commissioner. The seal was broken and
the notes were those described
THE CROSS EXAMINATION.
Mr.. Allan subjected the inspector to
rigid cross examination. lie tried 90
make him admit that Mr.. Lacys desk
was a public one. Mr.. Owiugs said the
piece OF furniture belonged 20 the gov
eminent. but there was certainly one or
more drawers in 81 10 which Mr. Lacy
carried the keys He admitted. however.
that the drawer was not locked when Mr..
Lacy went 20 open IL 20 get the letters
eut.
Mr Owines admitted that Mr.. Lacy
freely gave the letters up. that he urged
that he be searched for money and that
his residence I'm Manchester be searched.
The Inspector would not do any OF these
things as he was satisfied with the eYl-
ocnco hg had against the young man. lie
denied that he suspected some other per-
, son of the stealing and spotted him and
was very positive that be had never adj
yiscd Lacy t0 make a clean breast OF the
whole business. promising that he would
make To easier for him He claimed that
Lacy had asked him a. Sc would be wen
for him TO make a confession and that he
told the clerk that whatever he might say
wonld he used IN court as evidence
against him.
Mr. Allan wanted 20 know why 81 was
Lacy would claim 10 be innocent and ask
that his person and his residence be
searched and then tank OF a confession of
guilt. This Was something OF "stuuner'
and Mr. Owngs found Il a little dificult
70 make answer lie had 20 admi, that
re did not know why Lacy would be 50
inconsistent
POSTOFFICE CUSTOMS.
Mr cabeli Thompson. the assistant SUI
psrintendent of letter carriers, told about