The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-04-14
TRIAL OF sHUsTER, alias TOM HAND,
In the Criminal Court, Washington, for the robbery Of
The Patent Office

ms case came up to-day, (Aprl l2th,) and attracted
much attention. Shuser Tor Hand) appeared IN court
with his counsel. He spectacles, hair slightly
gray, whiskes black He paid close attention to the ey
dsnce bu did not appear IN any way oppressed by the
charge against him
John Warden in charge of the building at the time
OF thus robbery on the sh OF November. The several
articles were IN the case in which they were usually
kept On that day the was locked up as usual
about o'clock, p m On the morning OF The 9th he re-
turned 10 the room, and discovered that II had been en-
tered by person. and the several articles mentioned
in the indictment had been taken off The snuff box,
containing number of diamonds, was generally valued
at $1,000; bottle of altar OF roses containing about
pint, worth $4,000 the gold scabbards, studded with
diamonds were worth $4,000; large number OF pearls
were taken, worth 800, and some medals, worth $50
Some OF the pearls and diamonds were dropped in the
case, and were found there. The recovered articles
were then opened and shown to the jury Mr.. Warden
denhed two OF the pearls recovered to have belonged
to the necklace taken from the office he was positive
OF them. Among the diamonds recovered, many were
yet IN the setting in which they while in the orig
nal place OF keeping The altar of had been taken
out OF the original bottle and put into another The de-
fence objected to the fact that the liquid was altar OF
| roses
Chas. Stot was sworn, and said the contents of the
bottle altar of roses
Mr.. Warden, in his examination, said that the
box the property of the United States; it had
been presented by the Emperor of Russia to Mr. Harris,
American minister at that court The other articles
were presented by the lmaum of Muscat to Mr. Van Blu
rem, then President of the United States The hall in
which these articles kept was under the control OF
the United States and under the immediate direction OF
the Commissioner OF Patents.
Hon. E Burke. Commissioner of Patents. said tina.
upon entering upon the duties of his Office these articles,
with many others, were placed IN his possession, and
under his CONTROL as the property OF the United States
Mr. Radcliffe. When these articles stolen did
you offer reward II so, state the amount and condl-
Mr. Burke | offered reward OF fifteen hundred dol
lars for the recovery OF the Jewels and for such nforma
ton would lead to the convection OF the thief was
induced to put this condition in the reward, after consul
a,on with the Secretary of State because the property
had been taken before; this time determined 10 make
no compromise with the thief
Mr. Radcliffe Will you state to the court all you
know OF proposition made by the United States to the
prisoner, that he would confess plead guilty TO
indictment for stealing these articles and would
them, his punishment would be put at two years i'm
psonment and that the prisoner Indignantly refused any
such thing
Mr.. Key objected to the question
Mr.. Burke said he would not answer the question till
instructed by the court.
Mr.. Carlisle supported the question, and Mr. Key OPP
The court said that if any offer was made by the gov
eminent, the evidence shall be admitted
Mr.. Burke. never the prisoner in my life till
this day will go on to state all | know and the rea-
Mr. Carlisle objected to the witness stating anything
but the fact.
Mr. Burke said he could not say anything unless al
lowed to explain why and how.
Mr. Carlisle No, sir. We all admit the purity of your
motives and actions, but we want you now to say whsth
you authorized any to make the proposition to Shus
ter TO confess Was that proposition in writing, and where
is it?
MT. Burke. l offered a proposition somewhat to that
effect to person named Webb-the proposition was in
writing The proposition was, that if Shuser would con-
Tess his guilt plead guilty to indictment and restore
the property of the government, would do all could to
have his punishment reduced to two years cannot say
whether Webb made this proposition to Shuster not
AT that time the jewels were not recovered nor did we
know positively where they My object was to
gain the public property This proposition made du
ring last week.
| Mr.. Carlisle Did you make similar offer to Webb !:
| [Question objected to and ruled out
| Willis BlaneV | reside PHILADELPHIA. |
officer now; resigned in 1912. know the prisoner at
the barr know his handwriting; have seen it; have
think these letters in his handwriting; they not
| in his general handwriting, but in disguised writing.
have seen him write several times in this way There
slight difference III the writing OF the two letters
the character OF the writing the same but
little finer than in the other They both have resem
blance to his general handwriting.
The letters were about to be read when the defence
suggested that they be handed to the court for its opinion
as to their relevancy to this charge of larceny.
MIR. Carlisle objected to the admssiblity of the letters
upon two grounds ls', because the witness has not
proved sufficiently that the letters in the hand
writing OF the prisoners 3D. because the contents OF the
letter not inconsistent with the prisoners innocence
OF this charge
Mr. Key replied, and urged the admissbility of the
evidence
Previous the decision of the court the witness was
| recalled.
Mr.. Blaney was recalled and stated that he had seen
the prisoner write in this disguised hand several times,
and had been shown several advertisements written by
the prisoner, which he told him he had written. saw
him write letter in this disguised hand this letter he
wrote by my direction and for One OF the advertise
mens saw him write; have him write in this
way dozen times, and, as said in Philadelphia, if this
letter shown and utterly ignorant of the rob-
berry and everything connected with it. and asked
whose handwriting was, would instantly say it
Shusers This is the letter, dated the 5h of December
the other is rounder and finer, but believe it is his
Ten twelve years ago, perhaps longer time since,
while the prisoner in custody in Philadelphia, | re-
celved notes and letters from him, requesting to get
him some articles or to do him some tavors. | saw him
on the night OF his arrest for this write letter to his
we that letter his ordinary hand, but II bore
strong resemblance in character to these letters be-
fore me. have not seen any OF his disguised writing
since 1912 have had acquaintance with great deal
of handwriting; | him write the letter to his wife
| he did not me while he writing.
The Court decided that the letters should be read in
evidence except that part between brackets give you,
however the whole OF both letters, follows: Address
| ed on the outside
James X Polk, President U. s., W. c., d. G.
| New YoRK, Dec. Is, 1913.
| SIR: take this time to write few lines you say
at large few weeks ago the government Jewels
taken as suppose you know, and when they taken
intended TO them for much money could
got them but get any TO
conclusion. Il will now state what have say the
matter IL is this there is paper in this city called the
Wilkes and formerly fellow named Camp was with him.
these men men OF the most desperate characters,
who are guilty ofevcry mean act you can think Of
This fellow Camp has swindled every that has
come IN his he is pethloggng lawyer, Of the low
est kind he dares not through Delaware upon any
other day but Sunday in fact 1t is well known here
that he Is us base villain is known in New York As
for Wilkes he is thief and every thing else bad you
think Of he has always been connected with souri,
ous newspaper other before he commenced his
dirty sheet he published paper called the Whip he was