Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-05-12
Defendant Is Represented by a
Strong Array Of Legal
Talent.
CHARGED ON SEVEN COUNTS
Former Postmaster az Fillmore Ac-
cuscd Of Bobbing the Mail and
Burning the Postonlcc.

NiN' Hf..N NNI'.'N
burning the postofca at Fillmore ON
the night of Sept o. 1908. and with ex-
tracing from the building certain let
tcrs which had been deposited IN the
postomcc and also postage stamps to
the value off $500. the trial of Frank
Hansen. former postmaster no Fillmore,
was commenced before Judge John a.
Marshall .n the United states district
court this morning
Tho Indictments charging Hansen
with theft and arson were found by the
grand jury during the sitting In
November. 1909 since which time the
prosecution and defense have been pre-
pairing the case for trial When the
case was called this morning the de-
PENDANT prank Hansen, appeared In
court with Powers q MariOncaux. NJ
NJ. Warner and Willard Hanson, broth
or Of the accused man. as his counsel
The government was represented by
United States Dist Atty. II. =. Booth
and Asst United states Dist Atty
William MCCrea.
Most Of the morning hour was taken
up In securing. jury, but the testl-
mony of John q. Kellogg. postmaster
az Fillmore since Jan rs. 1907, Of Miss
Hazel Heauregard. whose letter writ
ten at Fillmore on the day preceding
the burning Of the pustotiico and post
ed after tho departure Of the salt Lake
train. was found in the possession of
Hanson by The United States officers.
and Of Joseph Black, sheriff OF Mil
lard county. who was the first man at
the fire when the pOstofiice was burned
was taken, the direct examination OF
sheriff Black having just been COM
pleted when the noon recess was taken
After - talcsmen acceptable TO both
sides had been secured and the Jury
Nlfnf D.
made the opening statement for the
government He said the defendant,
Frank Hansen. was charged with forci-
bly, entering the postOfhce building at
Fillmore on the night of Sept. 8, 1908,
under the first count Of the Indictment
with intent 10 steal and carry away
letters; under the second. third and
fourth counts he was charged with
stealing and carrying away the letters.
one Of which was written by Miss
Bcauregard and addressed 20 her
brother, Donald Beauregard. at salt
Lake city. and several other letters.
mailed by the state Bank Of Willard
county 10 parties In Scipio and Holden.
Utah. under the fifth count he was
charged with stealing postage stamps
20 the value Of $500, and In the sixth
and seventh counts he was accused OF
setting fire with intent 10 destroy the
postofice building, and with causing
90 be burned the personal property of
the United states TO the value Of $500.
GOVERNMENTS CASE.
DIST Atty Booth said the govern
mont expected 10 prove that on Sunday
afternoon. Sept. 6. 1898, the defendant.
Frank Hansen, went 90 the postoftiCe
az about o'clock i'm the afternoon and
examined the interior Of the postoffce
building. and that same evening he was
seen ON the streets wearing a disguise,
but that no was recognized and fol-
lowed To the vicinity Of the pOstofhCe;
that Hansen appeared 20 be excessively
worked up about the fire the day after,
ana that the Beauregard letter had
been found lu his room. opened. after
the fire. and other letters had been
found In his room which had been
mailed after the trains had left town
that Sunday afternoon.
while we have no direct eye witness
who saw the defendant commit the act
OF setting fire to tho postofhce' said
Col Booth eve shall show such n COM
plote chain OF circumstances leading up
10 the burning Of the postoffce and the
possession of these letters by the de-
PENDANT that win convince the jury that
tho letters could not have been secured
I'm any other way than by his having
broken into the building
J. G. KELLOGG'S STORY
John G. Kellogg. postmaster az Fill
more was the first witness called. He
said ne had been postmaster at Fill
more since Jan 6. 1907, and that
previous to his taking the office Frank
Hansen had been postmaster there
Tor eight years. or such "A matter MI
Kellogg drew on a blackboard rough
sketch Of the postOffice building at
Fillmore. showing the postoniCe
proper. tho lobby the back room
which was used as "a sample room,
and the shed on the side. under
which was window leading into the
| sample room.
preached hy Frank Hansen the de-
PENDANT upon the afternoon OF sunday,
Scptember g. at about 4 o'clock In the
afternoon. that Hansen went into the
postOffice iust as he was about 10 close
no and offered TO help him close the
office. saying he would put up tho
| shutters on the outer window kellogg.
however declined 90 permit Hansen %
| mt nm the shutters, saying he would
attend 20 that himself Hansen then
asked the witness to accompany him
| through the postoffice into the back
room. which had been used as SAM
! pio room. saving that he wished TO
| show Kellogg whore man had
! broken into the postouice some years
l before. Kellogg demurred against
/ going back through the building and
] Hansen showed him where the party
l had entered the room by breaking the
/ look off the door The witness said
/ that Hansen looked about the room
! considerably before he went out Han
/ SON lived. witness said, about six
| ,IorIt4 distance from the postonice.
/ while Kellogg lived about three blocks
away Witness said he was awakened
NHH