The Chitina leader., 1912-11-26
EFFECT OF THE vERDICTs

fOSSfSDly upon no Otner occasion
has the town of Cordova been greater
exercised. or it's people more con-
cerned. than during the past few days
il the trial of what are generally
known as 1.-The post Office cases."
When the Cordova post Office was
turned over to the present incumbent
last November there was an admitted
shortage in the postal funds of ap-
proximately $4,000. The matter
was later taken before the grand
jury, sitting at Valdez, and indict-
mems were returned against postmas-
ter Jos. F. Diggs. assistant John w.
Foulks and clerk w. U. Park. Each
and all were charged with embezzle-
ment of the funds, failing to proper
ly remit funds to the government
depository, for covering up the short
age and failing to inform the proper
authorities that it existed After the
Indictments were returned Mr.. Foulks
pleaded guilty to several of the
counts, although insisting that he
did not receive any of the money.
He admitted that various shortages
existed during long period and that
he assisted in so juggling the ac
counts as to deceive the inspectors.
The other two defendants pleaded
not guilty to all counts and their
seperate trials have just ended.
They were presided over by Judge
Peter D. Overfield, and throughout
the trials and in his charges he was
actuated by fairness that has been
generally commended. The sessions
of court were held at the Empress
theatre, and at nearly all times they
were largely attended by the people
of Cordova. In fact the man, wo-
man or child who was not in attend
ance most or part of the time, proves
the exception. And subsequent de-
velopments have demonstrated that
this attendance was unfortunate.
| The people heard the evidence, and
in their own minds and by public ex-
preston they passed judgment. Their
svmpathies were largely with the de-
PENDANTS. In the one instance be-
cause of the steadfast loyalty of a
young wife and her firm conviction
in the innocence of the husband who
had led her to the altar sarcely more
than year ago. In the other in
stance because of the generous i'm
pulses, liberality, amiability and gen.
eral friendliness of the big hearted
defendant whose careless ways had
tlighted a promising career.
The people of the community hoped
that the evidence would be such that
There could be no criminal RESPONSE
bility that would stain the names of
these young men. And even as the
evidence was unfolded there were
still many who continued to hope
that the apparent errors might in
some way be explained, and that even
though there was moral guilt, such
extenuating circumstances would de-
velop that would make possible the
continued feedom of these young men
who might in the years to come make
amends for any previous shortcom-
ings. And when the yerdicts were
rendered, after the first gasp of sur
prise, there were still many who were
glad that the defendants were per-
mitted to 'go forth and sin no more"
The verdict of acquittal in both cases
came as surprise to many, as a
shock to others, and as a joyous mes
sage to a few. The natural sympa-
thy that weak human nature has for
the shortcomings of other nnfortun-
ates, is inherent.
We have no word of censure for
the twenty-four men who constituted
the two juries. In taking their oaths
and entering upon a serious and
great responsibility, their own con
sciences had to battle with the CUES
tion of right and justice, and higher
power only can determine how faith
fully their obligations were fulfilled.
The unfortunate part of the trials lie
in the fact that large percentage
of the people of Cordova who heard
the evidence held a view contrary to
that expressed by the members of
the juries. Many of these men, wo-
men and children have always had
an exalted idea of the sanctity of
courts and the justice that is there
1