El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-06-26
HE DENIES
THE CHARGE
Gilbert HasseII, Now In The
County Jail, Says He
FOUND THE CHECKS

FOUND THE CHECKS
And Cashed Que of Them in Juare z
| Weeks Later-Was Sick And In
Desperate Financial Straits And
Did It to Raise Money-The Prjs-
Oner Now In Poor Health And
Spirits.
Gilbert L. Hassell, formerly of this
city, was brought here yesterday morn
ing from Denver in custody of Deputy
United States Marshals Will Croker
and c. F. Jefferds and lodged in the
county jail, wnere he is at present.
Hassell was arrested at Colorado
Springs q short time ago on a warrant
from this city issued by the federal
court charging hin, with extracting q
letter from the postoffice here which
was addressed to the First National
bank and contained two pension
checks, draft for $500 and mutilat-
ed s5 bill.
The letter was mailed by the Hills
boro, N. NJ, bank and it was not known
cashier wrote letter to q. S. Stewart
inquiring why the remittance had not
been acknowledged. A little later
Stewart received one of the pension
checks for $50 from a Juarez merchant
and then knew the check had fallen
into the hands of one for whom it was
not intended. The check was euGors-
ed by Gilbert L. Hassell and and amin
vestigation followed.
Postma ster Campbell learned that
Hassel had left town week before
and had before going notified the post
Office to forward his mail to Colorado
Springs. A warrant was sworn out
for Eassell's arrest and forwarded to
Colorado Springs. A notice was mail
ed to him there to call at the registry
department and get registered letter,
and when he called he was taken into
custody. The prisoner consented to
return to Ell Psso without requisition
papers and he arrived yesterday morn
ing.
HASSELL'S STATEMENT.
Gilber Hassell was seen at the Jail |
this morning by HERALD reporter.
He says he is innocent of the crime as
charged, but admits that he cashed |
the $50 pension check In Juarez
The young man feels the humiliation
Of his arrest deeply and is in very poor
health and spirits. His appearance
indicates that he is more
SuOJect IOr d aOSp1G6l UQ8n q jail cell.
He is suffering from Bright's disease
and other complications. The prison
fare is not suitable for his constitution
and Tailor Jenkins sent out this morn
ing and purchased milk and other del
lcacies for him.
II Am as innocent as babe uu-
born!" said Hsssell, 81 found those two
checks, one for $50, the other for $50,
IN San Antonio street where it in
;ersects Oregon.
81 was crossing the street diago-
aally and saw piece of paper lying
near the middle of the street beside I
,he car track. When picked it up 1
saw that 1t was two checks, very dirty
and stuck together. 1 kept them fully
jwo weeks. showed them to q number OF
people and watched the papers expect
ing some one to advertise the loss
81 was without moaey and Ill, star
7atiOn stared me in the face so that in {
ny desperation 1 cashed one of the {
checks at JuareZ. I left town openly
md told number of people where 1
vas going.
81 never stole cent in my life, al
hough 1 have had many opportu mites
o do so. AS far as robbing the post {
'fice, am as guiltless of that as you {
hecks were intended, as they were
lot in any envelope and there was no
way to tell to whom they belonged.
"This is terrible disgrace to be put
n man. My parents are broken
learted. They saw dispatch in one
f the papers telling of my arrest" E
The prisoner took out a touching let
err which he bad just received from
is mother and read it. While doing
o tears coursed down his cheeks. She
ssured him of their mistaken con-
dence in his innocence and told him c
hat the minister had just called and 7
smily prayers had been held for his I
-elfare. c
THE newspapers always try to kick v
man when he is down. A Denver r
aper contained a number of misstate- t
tents concerning me. One of them e
as that L was to be married in two c
-eeks. /
81 want a hearing just as soon as [
an get it, but 1 IN told that will have
} wait until after the 4th of July to {
ct one. Judge Sexton advised me to 6
ct good lawyer, but how can I get q
ne when 1 haven't got cent of r
loney?'