The San Francisco call., 1904-02-13
LOCKETS PROVE
HIS UNDOlNC
George I. Mcdonnell Is Found
Guilty of Using the Mails
to Further Cunning Scheme
SEEKING FOR A LOOPHoLE
Ingenious Defense That the
Accused Was Engaged in a
Perfectly Legitimate Trade

notwithstanding that United States
District Judge de Haven made a very
favorable charge, the jury returned a
verdict of guilty yesterday against
George I. Mcdonnell, who had been
indicted for using the mails for the
purpose of furthering a scheme to de-
fraud. Bert Schlesinger, counsel for
the prisoner, will move to have the
verdict set aside on the ground that
Mcdonnell gave full value for the
money.
1t was shown that Mcdonnell repre-
sented himself to be Rev j. B. Tay-
Tor, pastor Of the Church of the Re
deemed, at the Emeryville racetrack
and as II. Epstein, pawnbroker at 33l
kearny street in this city. and offered
TO sell very valuable gold lockets set
with diamonds for S12 so each. Two of
the decoy letters that were read in
court were as follows:
EMERYVILLE. Cal. July 20, 1908.
Mr.. William Stark. Gardnerville, Nev.-Dear
Sir: The inclosed pawn ticket is sent to you
point of death as the result OF an accident
de wishes me to say that he stole some
fund, but that the difference between the
value OF the locket and the amount it is
pleQgeQ Tor Is considerably more than the
sum stolen. He hopes that you will be able
in this way TO reimburse yourself Yours
very truly. J. B. TAYLOR,
Pastor Church of the Redeemed.
II. Epstein, Mortgages and Loans, 331 Kearny
street. san Francisco. Cal, Aug. Is. 1908
Mr.. Clay A Straley. Cottonwood. Shasta
10th is here. I have never heard OF the min
lister you inquire about nor Of his church.
The locket was left with me July s. l never eve,
order Of a court To do so would be breach
OF confidence. besides l have no acquaintance
II doubts concerning its possession make
you hesitate TO send for the locket you may
Personally I would prefer TO keep it. but
the matter is too trihing for much corre-
spOndence.
These letters were sent through the
mails by Mcdonnell, and complaint be-
ing made to the postal authorities Post
office Inspector James O'Connell was
detailed on the case.
Mr.. Schlesinger proved by two jew
elers that the lockets offered by Nc
Donnell were worth the $12 so each that
had been asked for them. The wit
nesses testified that the lockets were
worth from ten to sixteen dollars each
and that 33 per cent over and above
the wholesale price was a fair profit
on jewelry. To back up the testimony,
the counsel cited a recent decision by
Judge Grosscup of Illinois in the case
Of the United States against O'Neill,
who had been charged with similar
offense. O'NeilI used diamond rings as
his bait and represented through the
mails that they had been pawned with
him by a lady in distress. It was
shown that O'Neill had asked only a
fair price for the rings. and Judge
Grosscup instructed the jury to acquit
if they believed such to be the fact,
Notwithstanding the misrepresentation
that had been made by the accused.
Judge de Haven instructed the jury
that they should acquit the defendant
unless they believed that the lockets
were "of far less value" than the
amount asked for them. The jury was
out only half an hour.