The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1903-06-13
A BALTIMORE COUNTY MAN IN 1T.
G. Ellsworth Upton is Arrested in Wash
ington Charged With Pos
tai Frauds.

dispatch from Washington dated June 9Th
says: Thomas w. McGregor and G. Ellsworth
Upton were arrested this afternoon upon war
rants sworn out in Baltimore by Inspectors J
ID. Sullivan and R. d. Simmons, charged with
conspiracy with Charles e. Smith and others
to defraud the United States Government in
the purchase of pouches from G. e. Smith, OF
Baltimore. The complaint sets forth that Nc
Gregor and Upton agreed with Smith to obtain
for him orders for many thousands of leather
pouches such as are used by rural letter.car-
riers. The price agreed upon was 80 cents per
pouch; the actual value was less than so cents.
Smith was to pay to them the difference be-
tween 80 cents and so cents per pouch. 1t is
stated at the department that the actual num-
Der OF pouches which were purchased exceeded
10000, for which the Government paid 90cents
each, or $4,000 in all. Smith received and
retained of this for his own use $4,000 The
remaining $4,000 was paid to McGregor and
Upton. The Government could have bought
the entire number of pouches from the manu-
eacturers for $1,000. McGregor was the clerk
in charge of the rural free delivery supplies.
and Upton was one of his assistants"
THE SPECIFIC CHARGES AGAINST THEM.
The warrant under which the men were ar
rested alleges that on June 18th, 1902, Nc
Gregor, Upton and Smith Ibid conspire, COM
bine, confederate and agree together to commit
a fraud upon the United States, which said
conspiracy, combination, confederation and
agreement was in substance as follows:
THAT he, the said Charles f. Smith, should
propose to the said Postoffice Department to
furnish such leather pouches to the said de-
partment for the use of the said free-delivery
service at and for the price and rate of 90 cents
each. whereas in truth and in fact the said
pouches were not worth more than so each and
THAT upon the said proposal being made
they, the said Upton and the said McGregor,
in the performance of their official duty afore-
said, should fraudulently advise their superiors
n hn ri ont OF fho IS
the said leather pouches and at the rate of 80
cents each, was necessary for the said service
and to recommend to the said superior officers
in authority the purchase of the same at the
rate of 80 cents each; and
THAT thereafter, and upon any such pur-
chase of such leather pouches upon the pro-
posal aforesaid and such advice and recon-
mendation of them, the said Upton and the
said McGregor, and the payment to the said
Smith therefor by the said United States at the
rate of 80 cents each:
"That he, the said Smith, should pay to
them, the said Upton and the said McGregor,
the sum of 40 cents upon each of said pouches
included in such purchase; and
THAT thereafter, and in pursuance of the
said conspiracy, combination, confederation
and agreement, and to effect the object thereof,
the seid Charles Smith did VA I TIE 1&th e Afs
nit by mail to the Postofice Department at
the city of Washington, ID. o., proposal to
furnish the said department for the use of the
rural free-delivery service such leather pouches
at and for the price and rate of 80 cents EACH"
The warrant concludes with the allegation
that on September 18th, 1902, Charles E. Smith
sent to the Postoffice Department a bill for
5000 of the pouches at 80 cents each, aggrega.
ting 81, 500; that on October I'd, 1902, Smith
received Treasury warrant No. 4054 for that
sum, and that on the same day Upton and Nc
Gregor received from him in the city of Balti-
more the sum of 81, 900 as their share of the
proceeds.
UPTON A BALTIMORE COUNTY MAN.
G. Ellsworth Upton, who is a native of Bal
timore county, lives with his family near Pow
hatan, I'd district. He had held position in
having secured it through the efforts of infiu-
entail Maryland Republicans. When con-
fronted with the charge of fraud in Washing
ton he protested his innocence and denied al
together any knowledge of the crime. He
was brought to Baltimore and held at one of
the station houses until Saturday, when he Sc
cured bail in the sum of $1,000 and was re-
leased for a hearing on Thursday, June 18th.
Upton is a member of the Republican State
Central Committee for Baltimore county and
was the nominee of the Republican party for
County Treasurer in 1897. The Postmaster
General dismissed both McGregor and Upton
from the service as soon as the charges were
made public The latter was receiving sala-
ry of 81, 400 year.
BOTH HELD FOR GRAND JURY.
The hearing of Upton and McGregor before
the u S. Commissioner on Thursday resulted
for the action of the federal grand jury. Mr..
B. Frank Upton, of Powhatan became surety
for Upton.