The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1901-05-15
ALLEGED POSTAL
VIOLATIONS

Before Magistrate George Hollis
this morning William W. Pullen and
John w. c. Pullen, of Milford, were
charged with violating chapter $3.50
of the revised statutes. District At.
torney William Michael Byrne cited
the law and the defendants were rep
resented by Anthony Higgins. In
order to establish prima facia case
it was necessary to show that there
was scheme set on foot. That
scheme appealed to decorators in tie
country. Correspondence was enter
ed into with distant customers In the
regular way. After they RENTED
the money these decorators never re-
ceiycd berry or leaf. The money
still remains in the pocket of the de.
fendant. The first witness called
was William }. Maxwell, Post Office
Inspector. He was detailed in this
city during the month of January.
After getting the papers he cores
pended with the compliments. They
were in Pennsylvania, New York,
Ohio, Massachusetts and other states
lie investigated at Milford and found
that no shipments Of holly or wreaths
were made in 1900 or 1901 and the
same information from the express
agent He identified envelopes that
had gone through the mail as we'll as
the weekly Florists Guide, with the
advertisement ''where to buy Holly
William II. Postles, of Lincoln,
Delaware, testified he worked in the
nurserys' of the Messrs. Pullen for
about twelve years. He purchased
and shipped holly for the defendants
for two years. He started out about
November Is to buy holly through
the country. lie was to buy at least
10, 600 wreaths and large quantities of
holly to he shipped in boxes. The
supply did not come up to the orders.
Some of the farmers sold to Pullens
competitors. In other cases he had
to condemn the holly.
The Puilens sent the bill OF lad
ing and the cards. He shipped the
holly from Glendale and not from
Milford. He was paid wages by
the Pullens. Some wreaths were
packed in the boxes. In his opin-
ion he made from y to Is shipments
varying from 2to9 cases. He could
not remember ever having shipped
holly to tie persons mentioned in
the charge. He reported from time
to time that the supply was short
Mr.. Higgins said there was no
gold brick in this case, because the
farmers were paid.
: Howard Marvel has worked Tor
II years for Alexander Pullen and
his boys. He shipped holly last
winter for the defendants. He
shipped from Milford and, Oakley.
He had nothing to do with the pur-
chase OF the wreaths. There was
some holly not shipped because 1t
was condemned.
VIM. w. Pullen testified his father
had a Judgment against Pullen
Bros. When his father failed, they
went under also. On December ",
a note fell due tor $500. He had
been to Dover as bond for $4,000
in favor OF his mother was eXecut-
ed.
His father had nervous prostra-
ton at the time. His note went to
protest and the nurseries were
seized on for rent. A sale followed
and he had no money to pay back
the money. He had about IS, 900
worth OF trees. At the time the
holly was ordered 10 answer to his
letters he promised to send the
holly he never had any intention OF
delrauding his customers. He ex-
pectcd 10 return them dollar for
dollar. The amount Of rent due
on the DAVIS property was 1920,
aud the value of plums was $1,000;
the rent OF the Smell prop erty was
$40l and value Of peaches, $4,000.
lean fix that leak so 1t will trouble %
more Gus Fl. Groves, 3l0 Orange street.