Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-09-16
THE WADE TRIAL.
Charged With UnIawfu|y TAX
ing Letters from the Mail.
Government Witnesses Tell Of Pre-
pairing and Results Of Test Letters.
They AIIege That Three Were Found
in Wade's Pockets.


tiser says:
The September term of the Unite
States circuit court for the district o
Maine, convened, Tuesday morning
With Judge Hale presiding. Only tn
petit judges are in attendance at thi
term.
The first case for trial is that of tn
United Etates VS.. James +. Wade o
Augusta, under indictment for unlaw
fully taking from the mail While OF
duty as railway postal clerk, certain
letters on July Q, 1908.
The jury for the trial in this case was
made up as follows: Chas. D. Page
Bangor, foreman: Henry H. Luce, Dix.
field; Chas. w. Page, Chester o. Nick
erson, Hampden: Herbert w. Ryder
Daniel M. Jennings, Leeds; Willard H
Pendleton, Lincolnville; Geo. A. Hop
kins, Newcastle; James H. Bradley
Portland; Luther NJ. Hearn, Saco.
VIM. H. Reid, Augusta, challenged
by the respondent and Everett e. Low
ell, Augusta, challenged by the gov
eminent, We're excused for the first day
The other jurors drawn for attendance
at this term are: Frank Q. Youngs
Bangor; Nathaniel B. Waters, New
castle; Alfred Smith, North Portland;
Fredk t. Wakefield, Saco.
District Attorney Isaac w. Dyer OF
Portland, opened the case for the gov
eminent. The respondent is repre-
scented by Geo. C. Sheldon. Esq, and 3.
f. Maher, Esq, of Augusta.
The first witness for the prosecution
was Postotffce Inspector Mcmillan OF
Boston. Inspector \ Mcmillan stated
that II test letters addressed to DR.. f.
G. KiDsman of Augusta, had been pre-
pared by himself and Inspector Jen-
nings and placed in a package con-
tanning Augusta letters during the
transfer between the north and south
union stations in Boston. The inspec-
tors went to Augusta on the same train
with the letters, and Inspector Owings,
who had been informed concerning the
test letters, got on at Yarmouth juno
ton and worked the Augusta local
mail in the capacity of substitute pos
tai clerk.
When the train arrived at Augusta,
Inspector Owings handed the witness
eight of the test letters which he had
taken from the Augusta mail during
the trip from Yarmouth Junction. AT
the postoffice witness saw Wade, told
him he was an inspector, and asked to
see him in the private office of the
postmaster.
Wade said "Wait a minute; 7 have a
package of letters here that have picked
UP on the floor of the car and l want to
turn them over"
Witress took charge of the letters which
Wade took from his trousers pocket. and
in the package found three of the fou1.
missing test letters Each of the test
letters contained 81 bill. The three let
tors taken from Wade had not been
opened
Witness asked Wade if he had stopped
on the way from the station
to the postofIice and he answered, YES.
at McGuire's drug store
Witness practically charged Wade with
having taken letters from the mail and
Wade replied that he had never taken
ANYTHING from tho mails in his life.
The dollar bills enclosed in the test let
ters were all marked and those taken
from the letters turned over by Wade
We're identified by the witness
On cross animation. respondents
counsel asked what he, the inspector. in
stitutcd the search for. Witness replied
that he was early convinced of Clerk
Wades guilt. Mr.. McMllin was on the
stand about one hour
~
Charles E. Jennings. also an inspector
who worked with McMillln on the case
He told Of the perforation of test letters
found in Wade's possession after his ar
rest at the Augusta post office.
Post Office Inspector Owens testified as
to the way Wade did his work in the car
Owens entered tho car disguised as pos
tai clerk to work the mail with Wade and
watched during the time he was III the
car with Wade. lie was informed by the
other two inspectors that a certain num-
Der of test letters and packages were in
the pouch coming from west of Boston.
He told Of the way Wade handled the
pouch and what Wade did with the let
ters
Assistant Postmaster Hall of Augusta,
vine of Augusta. a new 81 bill
Mr. Shaw, clerk in Devina's drug store,
told how he had taken the new 81 bill
from Wade in payment for goods. There
We're several marks on the bill and it was
in one of the test letters sent through
Wade's hands by the post office inspec-
tors.
Mr.. Devine testified to giving the bill to
Assistant Postmaster Hall
The cashier of the DR.. Kinsman Medical
Co. and the treasurer of the Gannett Pub
hshlns Co, Miss Lynn, testified to sever
al letters containing small sums of money
found in Wade's pocket at the time of
his arrest
Inc government testimony disclosed no
new evidence on the case beyond what
was found at the time of Wade's arrest.
Inc government rested it's case here and
me attorneys for defence asked for ad-
!o'irhhient until 10 A. NJ Wednesday.