The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1905-03-25
CONFESSED HIS GUILT.
Silas A. Barnes, former Clerk in The West
minister Postoffice Pleads Guilty, and
is Sentence to the Penitentiary for
Three Years.

The ApyooATE last week noted the arrest of
Silas A. Barnes, clerk in the Westminster
postmaster. on March 16, charged with rifiing
mails. Last Tuesday Barnes had hearing
before United States Commissioner Rogers,
the testimony showing that he opened and
distracted the contents of two letters, one con-
tanning 65 cents in postage stamps and the
other cents. He was held for the grand jury.
The United States grand Jury on Wednes-
day, the first day OF the term, indicted Barnes
on these charges, and the same day he con-
fessed his crime before Judge Morris, and was
sentenced to three years at hard labor in the
Maryland Penitentiary.
Barnes wife and little boy were in court
when he was sentenced. he asked the Court
to be leEient for the sake of his wife and child
and promised to lead an honorable life here.
after.
In imposing sentence Judge Morris said in
such cases it seemed to be unfortunately true
that the punishment falls most heavily upon
the family of the accused. The Judge also
said that he had hoped, as he had expressed
before, that the sentences heretofore imposed
would serve as warning to others. 1t was
the Courts duty to iutlict heavy sentence, as
the people would lose faith in the ability OF
the Government to put an end to such crimes
If they did not cease.
The arrest, confession aud sentence of
Barnes to the Penitentiary has brought much
relief to business men in Westminster and In
all parts of the county where the mails have
come 10 the postoffce here. One company in
Westminster has had fifty or sixty letters lost
or rihed, and some two or three hundred dol
lars sent to IT were never received. Nearly
all of the business houses in Westminster have
not received sums of money sent to them. A
country merchant is said tc have lost $4,000.
Many letters containing money intended for
the students of Western Maryland College
never reached them. Postmaster Baughman
has been much worried and annoyed for more
than a year by complaints OF the loss OF letters
and money, and has done his utmost to ap-
prehend the guilty party. The clerks in the
postoffiee and some rural carriers from whose
routes letters and money have been missed
have been watched. The situation became
desperate. Somebody was doing the stealing,
but no one could be detected. The clerks and
carriers were all men of good reputation, aud
il would have been q serious MISTER to accuse
any without proof Barnes, it now appears,
was doing all the stealing, and his incarcera.
ton brings relief to business men and the
postofice officials. Crime always comes TO
light sooner or later, and Barnes detection,
it is hoped, will have its beneficial effect in
Carroll and elsewhere.
The sentence Of Barnes TO the Penitentiary
for three years, and the stern words OF Judge
Morris regarding heavier sentences. had no
effect on James G. Furguson, letter carrier
connected with Station C, Baltimore. Let.
tiers for that station had been rihed for some
months. The day after Barnes wss sent to
the PeniientiarT deeoy letter, containing
$50 in money was put in box on Furgu-
sons route. Later be was arrested and the
money found upon him.