When was it published?

December 3, 1853 in West Jersey Pioneer

Domestic News December 3, 1853

West Jersey Pioneer

Q: What keywords are associated?

Martha Washington Case, Columbus Trial, Postal Laws, Letter Opening, Judge Mclean

Bridgeton, Cumberland County, New Jersey

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What is this article about?

In the Martha Washington case trial at Columbus, Judge McLean ruled that no person, including officers or postmasters, has authority to open sealed letters addressed to others, under penalty of Post Office laws prosecution.

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Full Text

In the Martha Washington case, on trial at Columbus, a question arose as to whether an officer had a right, under any circumstances, to break the seal of a letter addressed to another person. Judge McLean said that, "if any person opened a letter, under any pretence whatever, he was liable to be prosecuted under the Post Office laws. If suspicious letters came it would be better for the postmaster to send them to the Department; they had no authority to open them; neither had the Marshal, Police, nor that Court."

What sub-type of article is it?

Legal Or Court

What keywords are associated?

Martha Washington Case Columbus Trial Postal Laws Letter Opening Judge Mclean

What entities or persons were involved?

Judge Mclean

Where did it happen?

Columbus

Domestic News Details

Primary Location

Columbus

Key Persons

Judge Mclean

Outcome

judge ruled that opening letters leads to prosecution under post office laws; no authority for postmaster, marshal, police, or court to open them.

Event Details

In the Martha Washington case on trial at Columbus, a question arose whether an officer could break the seal of a letter addressed to another. Judge McLean stated that any person opening a letter under any pretense is liable to prosecution under Post Office laws, and suspicious letters should be sent to the Department.