The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1922-02-06
WITT ACQUITTED
HERE ON CHARGE
IN POSTAL CASE
Local Man Freed az PreIIm Of Ac-
eusstIon Of Stealing $1,000 from
Registered Malls at
PostoffIce.
Inspector on Stand Tells OF investloa-
tlon Made Into Missing Cash;
Defense Declines TO Put
on Witnesses.

ago on q FEDERAL warrant charging
him with the theft OF $4,000 from the
registered mails, was acquitted after
preliminary hearing today before u
S. Commissioner ONeill.
The decision Of the commissioner
was handed down this afternoon
about 2 o'clock. ending hearing
which opened this morning shortly
after 10 o'clock.
Attorneys for the defense did not
introduce a single witness. being
content with cross-examinlng the
witnesses put on the stand by the
prosecution.
p. o. Inspector Tastifies.
Testimony offered by c. p. Ma
lone. postoffice inspector who inyes-
tigated the case, was the proseca-
tlons bombshell in the preliminary.
Malope testified that investigation
revealed that Witt. after leaving the
postal service here October Is, went
to Fort Worth. Texas. and there
registered in hotel, giving his ad-
dress as Oklahoma City; that on
October Is he registered in San
Antonio hotel. again giving his ad.
dress as Oklahoma City; that he
later went to Denver and remained
there until about December TO-
: Money deposited in the banks at
San Antonio and Denver was the
subject OF considerable Of the testi-
mony offered by the postoffice in
spector. Mr.. Malone testified that
Witt deposited $685.. in a San An
tonic bank and later placed $541.S0
in a Denver bank; that he spent
approximately s36250 in liquidating
'old debts" prior to the time OF his
leaving the postal service.
II was brought out in Mr.. Ma
lones testimony that approximately
s40O of the amount deposited in the
San Antonio bank represented
check signed by one of the defend
ants brother and which was pro
tested; that some of the money de-
posted in the Texas bank was trans
ferred to the Denver institution.
In an terview early this afternoon,
one of Wits attorneys declared that
the total amount Of the deposits in
the two banks was a large sum, but
did not represent large amount
Of actual money; that in view OF
the transferal of money and the de-
posting of the check, only few
hundred dollars was involved in all
Of the transactions. No evidence to
this effect was offered at the hear
ing, however.
Inspector Malone testified that
Witt did no work in Colorado for
which .he received compensation,
and that he lived there from about
October 26 to December 10.
Testimony offered at the prelimi-
nary showed that the $4,000 was
prepared for shipment and that the
bag was sealed by J. y. McNeill'
cashier Of the bank that it was
conveyed to the post office by Paul
Hayes, an employee of the bank;
that the package was registered by
w. 0. Cook, money order and reg
istry clerk; that it later passed
through the hands OF Mr.. Van Wie'
registry clerk who relieved Mr..
Cook; Chas Warren, Witt and w.
L. Walker, clerks.
Witt, according to the testimony
of Warren, was by himself in the
office q minutes on the evening
September 2, preceding the discov-
cry of the. theft on the morning OF
September 8.
McNeiII First Witness.
Mr.. McNeill was the first witness
placed on the stand when the hear
ing opened this morning shortly az
ter 10 o'clock. He testified as to
the preparing Of the money for ship
ment and the sealing Of the bag con-
JdlDlQR Tie CullCuSy VhiSHt 49, -~>'
was mostly $40 bills. The method
used in sealing the bag was demon
strated by the cashier.
The bag alleged to have been used
in tie shipment and records OF the
registry clerk were introduced in
the evidence.
Mr.. Cook was the next witness
placed on the stand. He was FOL
lowed by MIR. Warren and Mr.. Ma
lone.
Wits attorneys are Judge Frank
M. Bailey, member of the firm o.
Bailey and Hammerly of this city
and w. L. Stephens, member OF the
firm of Burns. Toney and Stephens
Oklahoma City. Mr.. Malone repre-
sented the government.
When he appeared in court this
morning, the defendant appeared