New-York tribune., 1903-09-26
DE4L WITH POSTOFFICE.
San Francisco Inspector Tells of
Sale Of Letter BOr DeTice.

san Francisco. sept 25.-James r. Erwin. the
indicted postal inspector Of this city rad a
hearing before United States COMMISSIONS Hea-
cock to-day. Erwin desired TO show why he
could not be held for trial in Washington. and
made complete statement Of his connection
with the alleged postoffice frauds. re denied
the charges against him specifically. and told Of
his knowledge Of and connection with the af-
fairs covering four years. He had notebooks
and menorandums 10 verify what he said
Erwin did not deny a knowledge OF the sale OF
the letter box devices and compliance with
the schemes Of the local Office whereby they
developed the service and sold il to the govern
snent He said that he never had anything Of
iicially % do with the acceptance and install
ment Of the devices which are now being used
in several cities and asserted that ne never
knowingly defrauded the government and that
the sum total of his earnings from the Postal
Device and Improvement Company was S96.
Erwin's testimony in part follows
on November q, 1898 secured twenty days
leave a. absence and went with ID : IlctaTosoa. 3s
fec. to Washington. 20 secure contracts Tor tae
company was known Al that time. but has since
become the Postal Device and improvement S.rn-
srdson's Ny advice was solicited because Of my
length q service. and suggested several improve
on the certificates ot stock given 70 ne by Mr
co-npsry 7 now hold six hundred out Of forty
thousand shares IN the Postal Device company
Toy these paid nothing took no part IN the
formation % either company. ana Ea-d no money
told and supposed. the service ] rendered
a. uerfect-nE the device. -
The object of our trip 10 Washington in NoveTn-
her WAS n interest the department IN lLie
W-aSrirCton 7 personally introduced Nj. ftcIlaIo-
son 10 many officers and employees in the oelaIl-
mert and asked them 10 offer any susgeSloLs
-Ia could improvements. was Vel dc-
o-lairted there through my duties. which had COW
ered a period Of ten years. introduced dt I-S-4
s~Ge0u TO forry fifty men in the dtptfl lIIe.-.
and s7eut two OF three days IN introducing MIN A.
that tine there naIoral "a ii-NN
class rost-r7asters who iusDecteC the devices
never had possession q any STOCK otL,tl 80
hat issued 70 me. did place any STOCK Witt-
among the employees of I6e F.'tn.Ss,- :,
rs~-r0eut Neither did 7 advise Mr.. flchafoS,o =
- rlace stock ! did not know that any StoCh :.
- lie 50 rlaceE And I had no cf1cial consennts 70
Give as was director o. eliLeI ~ Nlo'i
lrrov 4 was never planned to place any @ @sIoCa
among The officials OF the department. AeNei
80, TOOK mart IN the making q contracts -.
The cost Of manufacture was not known ~
.f-,e 7 was STAYING at the same hotel VIII ~, aLL.
r5s.hs-aso- We were together Tor ten oaNs lGil
NSoyernfer 3 10 December 2. lss9 alrecls.u -
-+ertio7 OF nv chief the head POSTAL inspector 70
device WI set un iOr
o,e,,-e - .to Free Delivery Division August W.
ST.rtc- vras Al that time head o. the dlNlsloi
- -l-aaa,~e the device quite lulE
rerhaps by dozen men II ~ On g tba
I never called upon 70 aTiaS ga 49,
ilseflIloess or desirability OF the device
Erwin specifically denied that at any time ne
oonspired with Machen. Beavers or any one
else for the sale 81 the device. further than ne
had already testified.
The case was continued until tomorrow