The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-04
HIS SHORTAGE WAS S848
HE CLAIMS HIS ASSISTANT
STOLE IT.
HE WAS R.LEAsED ON A BOND OF $1,000
After Fighting the Case Awhile Hargett Sub
mitted to Verdcto of Guilty, Then in
troduced Evidence lmplicat-
ing His Assistant.


faulting negro postmaster, was tried in
the Federal court yesterday, and found
guilty of elnbezzling $94S of funds be-
longing to tine United States.
But he was not sentenced. Prayer for
Judgment was continued until the next
term of court and Iargett was released
until that time under a $1,000 bond.
This was done by consent of the district
attorney.
The trial of the case began at 1880
O'Clock, with a plea of not guilty by the
defendant, who was represented by Elk
Congressman b. H. Bum and Mr.. Arm
istead Jones.
The prosecution then put Postoffice In
Spector Connolly on the stand, and HIS
evidence made out a case so strong that
at its conclusion the government rested
its case. The defense then put the de-
PENDANT on the stand III his own behalf.
His testimony was such that on it alone
the jury would have been compelled to
bring in a verdict of guilty. He ac-
kncwledged the shortage but denied that
he had taken the money or appropriated
a.
that some one else in the office had
stolen the money, and he intimated very
plainly that he thought it was his assist
ant Watson, though he declined to charge
it directly,
When Hargett got off the stand his
attorneys agreed to submit to verdict
of guilty on condition that the evidence
be proceeded with. for the purpose, if
possible, of finding out if Watson really
did get the money, and on condition thar;
pending an examination into that phase
of the case the sentence against Hargett
be held UP till the next term of court.
This was agreed 10.
Hargett therefore goes home today IL
convicted mall--conyicted of embeZzling
poStoffice funds-but he is out on bond
till the next term of court He is Il young
negro, very black, and was school
teacher before he became postmaster.
He was given his appointment by Geore.
II. White, the negro Congressman frI13;
the Third North Carolina district.
Postoffce Inspector Connolly, the only
witness for the prosecution, said in
his testimony that pursuant to
Geographic instructions received from
the Postoftice Department on March
j, 1889, he went next day to Rocky
Mount to make an inspection of the OF
fee and turn it over to Hargett's success
sor i'll the presence of Hargett or his
sureties.
I'VE found total shortage of SS4SOT. |
OF this $465.22 was in the money order
fund and $3S2S5 in postal funds. Tie
auditor of the Postofice Department
found total shortage of 1913. II. This |
was divided ns follows: Money order
funds, $436.47; postal funds. S411.65.
The witness said he found the post
master Hargett gone. He had been abb
sent since February 10Th. He made an
effort to find him. but failed.
On croSS-eXamination Mr.. Connolly |
said w. II. Watson was assistant posi-
master but he was not in charge when
the inspection was made by the witness.
The office was in charge of Frank Ba,-
tie. He had possession of the moneys
had the combination TO the safe and
had general control of the office.
On the conclusion Of Mr.. Connelly's
testimony, District Attorney Bernard put
III evidence the formal demand on Har
gett for the amount of his shortage, his
refusal to pay it and the judgment in
the Federal court for its recovery from
him and his bondsmen.
With this testimony the government
rested its case.
Eight witnesses were put on for the
defense. the first being the defendant.
Israel ID. Hargett He said he was APP
pointed postmaster at Rocky Mount In
July, 1897. He took charge on August
2Tth, 1897 w. W. Watson was his
assistant and Frank Battle was his clerk
He denied that he had ever taken i
cent of the postOffice funds
After I'd been in the office five mon. lis
there was a small shortage / traced ii
TO n boy and had him arrested and SEN
fenced for it. Next month there was
a shortage of $50, though i had MOI
used cent of my salary. having Dor
rowed 500 that month. In July, 1898.
/ found a shortage of 1910, l went to
Newborn and borrowed money and paid
it up. This was paid ON Friday when
] got back. On the Monday following
Inspector Owens came and he found a
shortage of $3.50 in 5000 worth of stamps
that had arrived while | was in New
BERN | told the Inspector I'd try to
make the shortage good. We walked o1rt
of the office to talk the matter over. We
were gone half an hour. When we came
back Watson said there was no shortage:
that he had found the stamps
never got my full salary, having
to leave part of it in the office every
month to make up a shortage. Then |
went to my bondsmen and to Congress-
man White and | told them / COULDN'T
manage the man in my office, and To
have to resign.
We'll. | resigned. and when | re-
signed there was no shortage. Frcm
Rocky Mount | went to Wilson. then
TO Salisbury. thence to Charlotte. to
Raleigh and Washington. This was to
see my bondSmen. i then heard that
there was a shortage of SS4S i'll the Of
flee. Immediately | went TO the Post
office Department in Washington to talk
the matter over. There | was arrested
and sent to Raleigh TO jail"
On cross-examination Hargett said
the Rocky Mount office paid $1,000