The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-08
GEORGE LAMAR IS BOUND OVER Charged With Sending
 LeWd Letters. YOUNG WOMAN TolD PRIEST Trap Was Laid Which Caused
 Lamar's Arrest. a.etters Received by Miss Graham, an Attractive Young Woman,
 Used in Evidence Against
 Lamar.

Constable George Lamar was yester- day given his preliminary hearing be- fore United States Commissioner El- more on the charge of having violated Section 3893 of the United States he- yised Statutes The statute refers 70 the "sending of obscene lewd. or licen- cious matter through the Government mails" After taking testimony ana hearing the arguments of the lawyers, Commissioner Elmore bound Lamar oyer to await action by the Federal grand jury in the sum of $500. Lamar furnished bond.
 The preliminary hearing was con iducted in the Federal Court room Tn the Postoffice building. and was at tended only by the lawyers and Wit' nesses in the case.
 Constable Lamar was arrested on last Monday night on an affidavit sworn out by Postal Insector Fred Ashton before Commissioner Fillmore. in whicn it was charged that Lamar had sent obscene. lewd or licentious matter through the United States mail to MISS Frances Duncan Graham. who, nVes at Chisholm, and who Is employed m the office of a laundry in the city
 The story as developed by the testi- mouy yesterday is one Of the most re- markabie that the postoffice authori- ties have eyer been called on to handle in this city. It had to do with handsome young woman, working here for an independent livelihood. who was persecuted by some unknown corre- spondent signing his name as l.. M Gregory.
 While it was not brought out in evidence yesterday, it is asserted that when Miss Graham received one of these letters she tainted. She was at first dismayed that anyone should write to her in such pointed manner. and after carefully considering the matter. decided that the best way to secure protection. and find if possible, who this unknown correspondent was was to carry the letters she received to Father Costello, indicating her ire proachable character, and refating even the vague insinuations, contained in some of these letters.
 There were five letters written to Miss Graham. To further the confusion of ascertaining the identity of an anony- nous writer it was requested that answers to these letters should be directed to Tuskegee, Ala. and this necessitated a bit of detective work on the mart of Inspector Ashton that was highly creditable.
 when the case was reported to the post office inspectors, Inspector Ashton advised the writing of decoy .etters, by which the originator of the anany- mons missives might be detected. Two letters, one of which was sent to Box 32 At Tuskegee, were written. Inspec- tor Ashton followed this letter, found that the box belonged to B. C. Gibson of that place. Gibson subsequently, re- mailed the letter to George Lamar at Montgomery. Inspector Ashton made 1t point to be at Justice Youngs court room when Lamar received his mail. He testified that he saw Lamar receive the letter that had been writ ten by Miss Graham, at the dictation of Father Costello. With this evidence in hand Inspector Ashton swore out an affidavit charging Lamar with violating the postal regulations.
 Miss Graham TestifieB.
 Miss Graham was the first witness to be placed upon the stand. She testi- fled that she had received several let ters from an unknown man, the first letter was signed Unknown and asked that Miss Graham meet the writer at designated corner down town. and threatening to expose cer- tain actions which he claimed he saw by accident from the street while pass isg the laundry building. All of the other letters were signed 'L. M. Gregory"
 Miss Graham was shown package of letters which she identified as the ones she had received from the up- known man. She then told the Com missioner that she did not have the faintest idea as to the Identity of the