The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-06-12
TROUBLE IN
POSTOFFICE
Madison is Now Listening to a
Revival Of a Story About
One Year Old
GOSSIP IS RUNNING RAMPANT
Postmaster Larson Charges Miss
Kettenring With Inefictency and
Lack of Attention to Business. Miss
Kettenring Submits Gracefully to
the Tortures of Interviews by Met
ropolitan Papers and Hints at Things

The trouble which became public
property in Madison abont one year
ago has broken out again. 1t re-
lates to postal matters and has
furnished great deal of unpleasant
notoriety to several estimable people.
The story of the affair as the Chronicle
learns it dates back nearly a year.
AT that time Postmaster William
II. Larson preferred charges against
Miss S. Elizabeth Kettenring, one OF
the employees of the Office. He had
previously written the postoffice de-
partment at Washington as to condi-
tions as he found them and was ad-
vised to prefer the charges. These
charges alleged that Miss Ketten-
rings conduct was such as to make it
desirable to have a change. The
postal authorities sent Inspector
Cortelyou to Madison to make an
investigation. When he arrived and
informed Miss Kettenring of the
charges against her, she made counter
charges against the postmaster, al
leging that he had sold postage
stamps to New York business men,
which is claimed to be violation of
the postal regulations. She also
charged Mr.. Larson with making
presents of cologne to employees of
her own sex.
Before Mr. Cortelyou arrived to
make the investigation a messenger
from Mr.. Fred B. Bardon, an officer
Of the National Bank in Madison, de-
livered to Mr. Larison note, un-
signed, but alleged to be in Mr.. Bar
don's handwriting, which demanded
that Miss Kettenring be put back in
her former position, and the charges
withdrawn before noon of that date,
else Mr.. Larson must take the con-
sequences. This Mr.. Larson refused
to do, and it was after this that the
charges against him were filed. Mr.
Cortelyou's Investigation followed, but
Mr.. Larisen's friends claim that it was
not an impartial one. Miss Kettenrine
was on duty during the investigation
and has remained in the employ o1
the postmaster since.
On the first of June Mr.. Larson
notified Miss Kettenring of her sus.
pension, subject to the approval OF
the PoStotfice Department, on charges
which he had filed against her. The
postmaster charged her with inef.
ticiency, improper attention to the
duties of the Office and with having
too frequent calls from an employee
of the First National Bank. Miss
Kettenring at once left the postoffice
and began, it is believed, to bring tC
bear influences to retain her position
She was notified by the postmaster
to return to the office to perform hel
duties, as the suspension was not eff
fective nor permanent until it haC
been approved by the Washington
authorities. Miss Kettenring re
turned to her duties Monday, and III
to the present time nothing has beer
heard from any inspector or othel
official as to the sustaining or re
fusing to sustain the charges.
Incidental to the charges, severa
stories of improper conduct have beer
circulated, one of which affects {
young lady whose character is above
reproach, which the residents of Madi
son and all who know her brand al
ISLANDERS. She is also an employee O
the Madison postotfice and has beer
there since January l. Mr.. LarisoI
is keeping quiet on the subject, while
Miss Kettenring has been quoted b,
New York and Newark newspapers al
considerable length. She makes M
direct charges in the newspapers
against Mr.. Larson, but hintsat vague
things which the public do not feel to-
strongly inclined to regard as soliC
truth.