The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-04-14

Kingston Court House, Rhode Island.
Chief Justice Green. and Justices Braytou and Hal
presiding.
JOHN COLLINS, THE RANK RoBRER, (TiiE AcCoMPLIcl
or TOM KANoUsE AND LEVI coLE,) AND HENRY c
DORSEY, THE ALIBI STOOL PIGEON FROM NEW
YORK, INDICTED FOR PERJURY, BOTH FoUNI
GUILTY.
During the lat week the town Of Kingston or NOR
properly speaking Kingston Hill Rhode Island has beer
iaboring under great excitement, consequent on tn
Supreme Court calling special term Of week, to try
John Collins for robbing the Phoenix Bank Westerly
OF $4,000 and upwards in December 1910 associated
with Tom Kanouse and Levi Cole three Of the eonfede
racy Of stool pigeons located in New York aud vicn
ty Of which gang the Police Gazette Is known to be Their
organ Henry G. Dorsey, now convicted Of perjury en-
deayoring 10 aid the escape his also
the acting members this stool pgeon eo,eyi and
Of the leading correspondents Of the allied journal
Police officer Bowyer Of the Legitimate New York police
has immortalzed himself ia the estimation Of the people
and authorities of Rhode Island in accomplishing the
and securing the conviction Of the guilty parties
notwithstanding the distractions thrown In his way by
the stool pigeon clique who, under prctence Of aiding
the officers of the bank. were attempting to msead
them ultimately the bank oica- discovered their mis-
take and applied TO Mr. Matsc the chief of police who
selected that vgant and persevering Officer Mr. Bowyer
to investigate the robbery and bring the guilty
parties
The presiding Judges Of the Court and the Attorney
General Mr. Blake. have exhibited during these trials
the highest attainment Of legal knowledge in criminal
Jurisprudence. Much credit Is to be awarded to the
juries likewise for the firm and faithful manner in
which they have discharged their duty in these
Morden r Mercer sworn saysml was clerk Tor Henry
lowing; know that Dorsey purchased n set of books
for $50 from Messrs sbel Mott, stationers, in Wall
ttreet; in those books entries made by d ,rsey
showing the receipt Of moneys alleged to have been paid
by Kanouse, for the purpose Of swearing to Gbi
the trial Of kanouse; in May 1850 Kanouse down
Dorssy's Office. No I'll South street New York. and
gave Dorsey two $40 bills the Phoenix Bank Westerly
get exchanged for him; Dorsey and Kanouse out
together to get the money changed Dorsey returned
with the money exchanged and gave to give to
Kanouse who would find waiting at the of Pine
and Nassau streets Dorsey said that he believed that
he and Kanouse had been Followed by Of the bank
people; | took the money. and found Kanousc Mt the
place designated to whom / gave the money; Kanousc
told me few weeks before the August trial that he had
worked too hard for the money to give any OF it back
again; Karouse wanted me to swear on the trial and
substantiate the evidence to be given by Dorsey in
proving the abb The books bought for the
pose Of making up the abb defence for Kanose, and
tries made therein. some year back in order TO make
them appear genuine when not one in twenty-five was
genuine all the being fictitious the entry showing the
receipt of money alleged to have been paid by Kanouse
the 18th of December 1919 made in the book by
Dorsey about week before the first trial, which took
place in August him make the entry my self; at
the trial in August. while the jury Cole told
me how he got the money from the bank vault; he said
broomstick used, at the end Of which was nail at
tached and with that the package OF hooked
out through the hole cut in the vault door, and they
would have got more but the bandage of Of them
broke and fell out Of reach Tom kanouse then hurried
up and said there enough Cole also said there
u third party concerned with them, but did not say
who he was; Cole subsequently 81 To to Sto
ningon to Collins about the lawyers fees he Col
lns) had not paid dollar towards the expenses Of the
trial; accordingly went to Stonngton and saw Collins
and told him that Cole wanted him to to Paterson;
Collins enquired if Tom had sent for him: told him no;
Collins said then he would not go and wanted me to
Stonington; that he (Ley must be crazy for he had
written letters to him, and If they had fallen into the
hands of another John Collins in Stonngton AMI they
might he did not always to the Office IL
would have raised hl with him; returnei to Paterson,
saw Cole. and told him that did not Collins az he
had left Stonington: then kanouse, and told him
what had done: he said acted right, Cole only
wanted to get Collins to Paterson. to do him out of
his share Cole stated To that all the witnesses that
testified against them at the first trial told pretty
the truth another occasion kanousc said t. that
the money divided equally between the three
he said Cole had sunk' on them. meaning that Cole
had taken the largest proportion Of the to himself
IL being now near seven o'clock the court adjourned
until nine clock ON Wednesday morning.
SECOND DAY.
Mr. Mercer was called and continued his tcstimon my
know that Kanouse had large quantity Of Phoenix
Bank money the day they left New York in August
last for the trial. kanoc told that he had brought
from Paterson New Jersey that morning In carpet
the ferry Dorscys Office; Kanouse handed it
but he did tell Inc what in it, then Dorsey
opened the bag and took out large roll Of bills but
don't know what was done with the money
Crosse xaminaton by counsel for dcfence-I
asked about these facts the former trial Of kanouse
1t was not true what sworc to on the first trin IL was
false what then to about seeing Kanouse pay
$500 TO Dorsey on Monday, 18th Of December. 1919;
swore to what was not true; know ! did what was
wrong. and correct il; in November last did not
tell Dorsey that had been induced to appear against
Kanousc and Cole for money in order to procure the
conviction Of them did exhibit large
Of bank bills Dorsey endeavorcd TO get me to leave, and
not appear against him; entitled to property
by the death of my BROTHER my proportion win possibly
be several thousand dollars consisting Of aud
real estate situated in Kentucky but the division Of the
property present In dispute: the Goth Of October
last | carnd the Of Dorsey, for stealing some
Mo- nv lac \
In Louisville for killing man; shot him dead |
acquitted the trial. the jury were only out eight
minutes; would like to explain the circumstances.
Direct examination. by Attorney Gcneral.-Mr Mer-
you at liberty to explain.
was knocked down three times with budgeon. by
this man and shot him; this was five years ago, and
the jury brought in verdict IL justable homicide
the first trial II kanouse and Cole. witness up to
tie arrest Of Dorsey: had spoken to officer Bow
yer; I was subr@ncd by Mr.. Bowycr, the charge
against Dorccy; but intended 10 90 any how and give
my evidence; porc'y was arrested ON board the steam
boat rs he was leaving the city for the West.
Crosse xamincd-I have not done any particular bust
tor the last two three years have gambcd
sideraby during that time, and would like to the
Western or southern man who don't gamble or play
little game once In u while.
James Williams sworn. says--T reside at Pautuckct; I
tailor by trade: have worked with John Collins,
the person trial worked together Mt rautuck
et In March 1850. called on Collins Mt Stonngton in
cons, qu, Of litter received him; he said he
lived nj stonington went according TO his request
arriving ut Stonngton was before the time appointed
TO meet him. then went To public house and took my
ailtr me
residence If John Collins; meeting Collins he shook
hands with and after, while he spoke aud said that
the people Il stonngton were trying TO get him into dim
Guilty and that he told them 10 70 ahead to that effect
suppose. said he you have heard Of the robbery at
Westerly. and replied thought had and said Collins,
that in they did anything " shall want assist
ance;m he then asked me II had the letter with he
sent to me; sad and handed Vt to him. he took the
letter and burned 1t w in the stove; Collins then said
that two had been 70 his house and that those two
men had been arrested for robbng the bank and that
this girl had recognised these men and he wanted to
up and was one q the who called, and
might any other whom pleased he said was
about the size II ~ the men, and the other
larger and the girl was poor simple Kind 81 girl;
n, ked how the dressed, and he said had
glazed cap; then replied that in shop had
glazed and would he very easy for To- that cap
Collins and left the house and went down To this public
house; did not 20 direct to the house however;
aid, before going into the house must ray for my
upper; Collins then gave me 81 paid for my supper
going into the public house; sat there aud talked
about various succts Collins told that when those
two came the first time. he not there;
they called second time and the third time he met
them in the street and they went 10 the houS together;