The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-05-26
Wall F
oY postmistres
Discloses Fatal Degree
of Curiosity.
FACTS ARE AT LAST TOLD
rue lnwardncss of Mrs. Ford's Con
v'cs'on at Deadwood Is Ascer-
tanned at Hill city-Was
Very Spicy Affair.
DiscIoses Fatal Desree
OF Curiosity.

t:'ii city. 5. D., May 25.-Mrs. Sadie
Nori has returned To her nome in this
shy from !)eadwood thankful woman
She might have gone for term of
yeHrs 10 place where other criminals
go Ml,o do crimes of the same nature
AZ hers She has the judse of the Unit
ed states court to thank for her good
fortune, also Congressman +. w. Mar
tin. of Deadwood. who made a warm
plea for this lady before the Judge.
our little mining camp has jolly
set u people, church members and all
Just like one big family. Not many
things happen that are not known from
'ote snd OF the town To the other be
fore right and sometimes before
thN9 happen when 1T takes lne nature
nf society scandal.
Mrs. Sadie Ford, for T. ur yeas past,
has o.en AN assistant To !ler husband,
u. y. Ford. who was faithfully serving
tile itlil city people as postmaster Mrs.
Npti did her part we'll and no COM
p''iii VAS made by anybody until seN-
%rd weeks ago, wnen two men in the
'own noticed that their mail had been
t,iHpsged with. +. &. Cro .ker is "A min
lEs man of considerabl prominence
Gete aud &. L. McF'" 'hron has a de
pt.ltEent store a. shes supplies
u all thr miner bout. George
w coats is ano, aess man here.
IL naNmS Il 81 hardware and
MIS-. oats is tive lady Who
has host os ere Recently
ste vent to on visit and here
Is where the tt ii all the trout
bls began. f' mining man
nud the depa ore man have
lttlot"n Mrs. c. ately as a Wonl-
ou " reineu e families were
rs Intimate : can get in a
:si'fa, town where tine society people
are e's'y counted.
o!te day letters came to the post
'ofH,e addressed to Mr.. McI.achron and
Air. e'rockcr, and the writing was that
Ut feminine hand. Mrs Ford, being
d",pur christian won =. a worka in
the Baptist church, instantly SAN, or
Thought she saw. a chance for future
tam.i5' troubles among her neighbors.
A Wonlan's curiosity. moment of hes
ita'ion. a sudden resolve, and the two
eptsIies were carefully opened and a
gentle nod of the head no doubt meant
Il ,oli you so" The letters Mere care
fully sealed and delivered. They We're
answered and again the curiosity and
TIE secret opening. This sort of mail
Inspection WAS carried on several
to- tram at lIill City and asked the
y ~ t" the postofiice. Mrs. Ford had
be,g found out and she was soon wait
ca upon by a government official, who
wanted to know what right she had TO
open private mail. She broke down
ard confessed everything. but told the
0firer that She had no evil motive i'm
committing lin" otfcnse. She wanted
t. prevent family troubles.
there was a sorrowful time in the
i'ni;ie of Postmaster Ford. The three
tit;.n children couldn't understand the
-, ter. and Ii began tc look as though
I -''.'le sam meant business.
Mrs. Ford was told To appear before
the judge OF the United States court
~ ,)eadwo"' 10 lefend herself. There
"'hS. of course, no real defense to make
II. she had confessed 10 the opening of
the stters Rut Kind friends took up
IT, eas" and thc motive of the deed was
txplainel in court. The three people
"ou 'erned, MI. Coats. Mr.. McEachron
ard Mir. Crocker. had no idea OF hav-
ifs Mrs. Ford sent over the road" Ali
toy Mal.ed was free use OF the mail
80 they one and all used their influence
tp get \ liSh, sentence for Mrs. Ford.
II was certainly a sorrowful time
when the assistant postmistress sat on
thc witness stand at Deadwood and
,'" her story Thoughts of home and
TER crime and its consequences came
1gtning To her mind like a torrent
When the judge had heard the plead
ins; of her counsel and Congressman
Martin he did what was considered the
Right thing suspended sentence and
imposed tho small fine of $40 Mrs
F'or'i has NOW returned to her family
sand nobody here Will hold anything
against her. She is considered IA con-
-eientlous Christian woman. overly
ZanlouS and active In church work No
body here thinks for minute that the
letters that were opened by Mrs Ford
contained anything al all improper for
su"h people TO write. The whole affair
h,s merely given Hill CITY people
~ ,ht N tai ,pl,