The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1900-04-27
1HE GOVERNMENTS FLIMsY CASE
Against Ray Randolph on the Charge
OF Tampering With Mail.

The jury in the case of the United
States VS.. Ray Randolph, Of Salem
upon an Indictment for tamperine
with United States mail failed to
agree last Friday afternoon, after
having the case almost a day, and
were discharged. The case was con-
timed until the October term here.
Mr.. Randolph was represented by
Davis s. Davis!and j. E. Law. The
first two named counsel helpeddef
Mr.. Randolph with their usual pre-
eminent ability, and Mr.. Law proved
himself equal to the occasion and
worthy of association with them. Wiz
tually, his first appearance before the
bar OF that court, Mr.. Laws course
was matter Of congratulations his
friends. His astuteness in consulta-
tions and sagaclty in suggestions IN
the examination of witnesses were
conspicuous throughout and met IA
yorable comment. His address to the
Jury was an able effort, logical, elo-
quent and brilliant, and received close
attention and gratifying comment
from many older and leading members
Of the bar. The many sincere and
hearty congratulations Mr.. Law re-
ceiyed from his colleagues and profess
slonal brethren are pleasing, indeed,
to his friends and must be gratifying
and encouraging to him.
The case was long drawn out, many
Witnesses were examined and the trial
consumed two days, but for lack OF
space a brief history must suffice. 1t
is alleged by the postal authorities
that from time to time during the
summer of 1899, mail matter was miss
Ing along the VIVA. s. Pitts. railroad,
over which MIR. Randolph ran as a
postal clerk. Mr.. Randolph was sus-
pected, and early in September last
Post office Inspectors Hooten and AL
len at Grafton fixed up decoy letter
containing IS and addressed to a
Chicago business firm. Mr.. Allen
brought the letter here next morning
and had It missent to Randolph's car.
Later that morning after the inspec-
tors had ascertained that Randolph
had not dispatched the letter on d. s.
O. No. 3, towards It's proper destina-
tlon, they entered his car, Inquired for
the letter, were directed by Randolph
to box for misent matter where
they found the letter, opened itby
clipping one end of, found the IS In
tact and undisturbed but claimed that
there were lead pencil marks on the
inside of the flap Of the envelop, as IL
some one had attempted to unseal it
with lead pencil. Randolph was al
lowed to take the run out and return,
but next morning he was given a pre-
liminary hearing and held for the
grand jury. At the October term an
Indictment was found.
1t was shown that Postal clerks
Wetzel aud Van Horn were in the car
that same morning and the defense
strongly intlmated that Mr.. Wetzel
might have done the tampering, II
there really was anything Of the kind.
Mr.. Randolph protested his innocence
and claimed that hehad no opportuni-
ty to dispatch the missent package
that morning, and 1t was shown by
other postal clerks that the custom
was not to rush across the platform and
deliver mail to another train, but to
carry missent packages to Buckhannon
and return them by the proper ex-
change.
Many substantial citizens testified
to the good character and high stand.
Ing Of Mr.. Randolph, while the gov.
eminent rushed in a lot of its salarled
officers to swear Mr.. Randolph's repu.
tation away.
Concensus of opinion is that the
governments case is rather flimsy, and
that Mr.. Randolph is not guilty.