The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1906-11-16

" You have cut and used turpentine
on United States government home
stead land and have positive proof
that you cut and used the timber.
Now, you know the penalty if it
is reported. Now, could use at least
$500, and say no more, if you think
best for you. If not, it must take it's
course.
Yours for better or worse.
g -. -"
The above was the text Of letter
addressed to L. l.. Meggs, of this
city, which has resulted in the arrest
of ]. NJ Hillman, of Anthony, Fla,
and the holding of Mr., Hillman for
appearance at the term of the United
States court, which meets in this city
on the first Monday in December.
The charge against the defendant
is for an alleged violation of section
$3.50, of the revised statutes of the
United States. This statute is in re-
lation to using the mails for fraudu-
lent purposes or conspiracy to de-
fraud or blackmail, etc. 1t is the
same statute under which Mrs. Hell
en- Wilmans Post was convicted of
an alleged conspiracy to defraud and
using the mails in furtheranace of
such conspiracy. 1t is statute that |
is exceedingly broad in its scope and
the officials of the United Staes |
court hold that it fully covers the |
charge made against Mr.. Hillmaan. |
The affidavit upon which a warrant
was issued for the arrest of Mr.. Hill
man was made by Mr.. Meggs, and
yesterday the defendant was ar
ranged before Unite5 Staes Com
missioner. w. H. Archibald. He ad-
mitted writing the letter and virtual
ly pleaded guilty to the charge. |
Thereupon, the commissioner held
him for the action of the federal
court grand jury, and in default of
bail in the sum of $1,000 he was COM
mitted to the county jail He ex-
poets to be able to give bond in a !
day or two and secure his release
The letter quoted above bears the
date of Anthony, Fla, August Is,
1906. 1t was received at the Office |
of Mr.. Meggs in due course of time |
but did not come into his personal
possession until recently as he was
away from the city at the time
When he did finally receive it he
laid the matter before Assistant Uni
ted States Attorney Richard p |
Marks, who advised him how to pro-
coed in the matter.
From statements made yesterday
in connection with the. case it APP
pears that Mr.. Meggs, pretending to
comply with the request of the man
writing the letter, forwarded to him
a draft in favor of ]. M. Hillmaan for
$50.
In very short time letter was
received from Hillman in which he !
returned the draft and wrote as fol- |
lows: II have said what / have to
say" In this letter Hillman is said |
to have made an appointment to
meet Mr.. Meggs yesterday in Spring
field.
AT the time specified, Mr.. Meggs,
accompanied by Deputy United Staes
Marsha Cater, appeared on the scene
Mr.. Hillman was there and at once
began discussing the return of the
draft. He is said to have remarked
that Mr.. Meggs should have known
that he did not want any drafts or
checks. He said he wanted the cash. |
He continued to discuss the matter
and even accompanied Mr. Meggs and
the deputy marshal to the office of
Assistant United States Attorney
Marks, where he talked of the mat
ter. While in Mr.. Marks office he
stated that while he only wanted
$500 from Mr.. Meggs he would ask
some others, who had been doing the
same as Mr.. MeggS, for 500.
Held for Grand Jury.
The warrant was then served and
he was taken before Commissioner
Archibald for preliminary hearing.
Much to the surprise of the court of
ficials he admitted writing the letter
and he was at once ordered held for
the action of the grand jury.
The defendant did not appear to
think that he was doing anything
wrong in asking to be paid for not
reporting what he claimed was vio-
lation of the United States laws. He
held that the party to whom the letter
was addressed had cut timber and
made turpentine from trees on gov
eminent land.
The case is such an unusual ore
that its outcome will be watched
with interest-Times-Un Union.
Mr.. c. G. cantreIl Dead.
The report has been current in