New York Daily Tribune

Trial on a Charge of Post Office Robbery.

In the U. S. District Court, at Boston, on Tuesday morning, was commenced the trial of Wm. F. Newton and John Rogers, both young men, on a charge of robbing the Post Office at Stoneham, on the first of December last. The indictment alleges the abstraction of sundry letters containing money.

The prisoners were without counsel.

District Attorney Lunt, in opening for the Government said that the case was the most important one that had been brought before the Court during the term. At about the time the offense is alleged to have been committed, there was quite a number of Post Offices in country towns robbed, and the attention of Mr. James Holbrook, Post Office Agent, was called to the matter, and his investigations resulted in the arrest of the accused. At the time the Post Office in Stoneham was robbed, the store in which it was kept was also robbed of about $100 worth of goods. Suspicion fell upon the accused who were found by Mr. Holbrook in the jail at Alfred, Maine, detained on a charge of robbing the Post Office at Kennebunk. They each had on at the time a coat which witnesses would identify as stolen from the store of Stoneham. He then proceeded to summon twelve witnesses for Government, who were sworn, and the testimony was commenced. There is a second indictment for robbing the Post Office at Sherburne.

The trial was continued on Wednesday, and Newton, one of the prisoners, made his own plea to the jury. It occupied about half an hour, was well delivered, and showed the possession on his part abilities which well directed, would have given him a far different position in the community from that which he now holds.

The jury found both of the accused guilty. They were then put upon trial on a charge of robbing the Post-Office at Sherborn.