The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-10-19
LOCAL MATTERS.

and practice Of which introduced him to the ac-
qnaintanceship Of the police OF Washington. In
consequence of his revelations after arrest, the OF
Hcers came TO this place Saturday morning and
took bis pal" VIM. j. SommeryilIe. ia custody, at
the Pow hatan House, besides capturing a piece of
Puilings baggage, left at the depot here, and
which, on examination, was found to contain $l0lo
IN the Kind OF coin stolen from the Custom House.
The testimony elicited at the examination of SOM
meryiile before the Mayor. Saturday will be found
below. 1t will be seen that, taking all the circum.
stances together but little is left for doubt
regarding the completely of both Pulling and SOM
merville. If the Washington officers pursue the
trail they are now on. the whole affair will soon be
brought to light Pulling alias Wheeler biowed
open safe In Alexandria, Va, in 1855, which he
robbed, and was put in prison for it, Constable
Allen, of Washington, knowing that he had passed
through to this pla e. came on here, and after
taking look resolved to catch him Failing to
do so here and learning that Pulling and one Da
guerrs, companion, had started for Washington,
he fastened on home. On FRIDAY morning, about
O'Clock, oa the arrival of the Washington cars he
saw the object of his solieitude in an omnibus. on
his way South, from Baltimore, when he was taken
into custody by Justice Hollngshead and others
and put in jail.
Since his incarceration in Jail at Washn gton he
refuses the name of Wheeler, and calls himself
Pulling ON his person were found $500 In gold
gold watch, and a collection of skeleton keys. Ii
Sommeryiie was in the omnibus with Pulling at
that time be escaped arrest, because the officer did
not know him. Pulling is the son of an English
thief, and is adept himself. As bank robber
ana burglar, his exploits are known to the police
of all the large cities Rewards have been offered
Tor his arrest in various places. The calling
himself Sommeryille, arrested here by Messrs. Al
len aud Boss, was suspected of connection with
the tsebrated Tom Hand. in robbing the Patent OF
hce, seven or eight years since. The thieves have
doubtless buried most of the coin. SommerviIle,
previous to his arrest, had bought lot of new clo
thing, watch, &C., but despite all exterior evidence
OF gentilty, he looks in the face like the thief he
doubtless is. lie appears to be about 40 years of
age. and is about 3 feet inches high. Ii suspi-
cion points towards Daguerrs, an effort will be
made to arrest him as II is surnsed that three per-
sons were concerned iu the robbery, and he may
be the third man.
On the examination, Messrs. Davis and Crane ap-
peared for the prisoner, United states Commission
er Watson, and District Attorney Gregory being
present also. The first witness called on to testify
was the Collector Of the Port. Vim. NJ. Harrison
Esq, who narrated the situation of affairs after
the visit OF the robber The following is the test
inony elected before the Mayor;
AqaiUa n. Auen.-i.ast Tuesday we heard of the
robbery. On Wednesday, we informed the Mar
shal OF the District of having Pulling, cele-
brated thief and safc-blower his way South to
Richmond We came to Richmond and found that
Pulling had left and come to Washington, where
| he was arrested ut the depot. From what he said
| concluded that the money in valise left be-
hlnd 10y him at the depot in Richmond; went to
the Po"hatan House to see the baggage-master and
got The Vaiise; III looking over the register saw
| Sommeryiles name, wbo.was to start in the morn
| ing for Charleston, s. c.; proceeded to his room
NO. !, and detained him IL custody till arrival of
| the captain of the Polee searching his baggage,
| clothing, &c, and found $2l3, mostly in twenty
dollar pieces also, revolver; lot of diamond studs
In baltimore found Pulling's name registered with
| Sommervilles at the Gilmor House, also in Rich
mond. at the Exchange. Don't know Sommerville
| Last Monday week heard of Pulling, while on his
Way through Washington.
Wa. BJSs.-Last Tuesday, Deputy u S. Marshal
Philips, informed US of the robbery, and request
ed us 10 go through the train and see if we could
could detect any one Heard that Allen had see "a
| Wheeler alias Pulling. Afterwards got a dispatch
aud went to Baltimore could not find Pulling there:
found him in Washington at the depot, when re-
| turning Justice lIOllingshead was present. The
prisoner was searched and committed went with
| Mr. Alien to Baltimore, and found on register at
the GilmOr House the names of W. SommerVille
and k. Pulling took from the latter a hotel check
Tor baggage, and started to Richmond for il. Found
SOnneryIle at room, No II, Puwhatan House
found S2lS in gold, &c, Sommeryle. The va
lice of Pulling contained 1000 in gold s. pieces
tied up in a womans stocking. Pulling who had
been prosecuted in Washington for robbing Mr.
Porter. said then that he lived in Louisville KY
Z. said when arrested thar he would tell the officers
| something of Importance if he could trust them
but afterwards declined 10 say any thing more
SommeTvie said in the room of the tavern when
he was arrested that they might ask any questions
aud he would answer them. Mr.. Boss slapped the
prisoner on the shoulder and said "then tell where
| the balance of the money is" Prisoner said il
| he did, he, (the oicerl would know much as he
| did. S0mmerville said he lived in Charleston,
| c., was sign painter by trade. and earned his
money with his hands. In addition to the above
Mr.. u. found muddy pair of shoes in SIS trunk
with Custom House dirt them, also took d
small piece of safety fuse out of his purse and two
| bags capable of holding $4,000 each made out o;
new bed ticking and which were stuffed in the
| toes of new pair of boots belonging to S.
| Officer La Trute.-Came from Washington after
| Pulling's yalise. Went TO powhatan House to see
he ha agsn nfFpU hnr NM utfn
| and found ). in room No II. Obtained the bag
gage belong to Pulling, on the check 5l1, found on
| his person in Washington. Found the $1,000 in a
stocking; also helped search the prisoner arrested
at No. II.
A. Fikmson--Corroborated the others as to
what prisoner said in the room when arrested by
Mr. Boss, who asked where the balance of the
money was hid.
Mr. Harrison, Proprietor of Ae Toegtatan-
Proved that he Sommervile in fredericksburg
a few days since lie paid his bill at the house the
| night previous to his arrest, and to have
started that morning, as he said, to Charleston,
| sc.
| G. w H. Tyler-Was confident he saw Som
| merville in the court room when Evans was tried
| In fredericksburg for altering $50 To $500
Afterwards saw him at the jail talking to Evans.
| s. registered himself from Charleston, ). G. He
told him he had not been out of New Orleans for S
years.
| The prisoner here interrupted the witness, and
protested with much vehemence that he was
|
burg He came he said, from New Orleans, Sth
Sept, since which time he had been living in
| Charleston, 5. c.
sommeryille and Pulling were in Richmond at
the time of the robbery, and came in the Exchange
| Hotel that night about half past O'Clock, muddy
and dirty, and, the servant says, in great hur-
ry Last Friday they both occupied No. ~, in that
building; in Baltimore, No. 81, together at the
| Gilmer house.
Mr A. Mann who lives with Keen, Baldwin &
Co. testified that the morning after the robbery, .
came into the store to buy silk purse. His be
havor was so suspicious that he at that time en-
| deavored TO procure his arrest. lie noticed be
could not look anybody in the face. Prisoner got
the kind of purse he asked for at Woodhouse Co 8
The examination adjourned till Monday
week The Washington officers, thus being al
lowed time to unravel the thread of the mystery,
one end of which there be little doubt but
they now have hold of When they return at that
time. Pulling alias Wheeler; will be brought with
them The money, goods, &C., found on >, and IN
the valise belonging TO Pulling, alias Wheeler
were inventoried and handed over to the Mayer
for safe keeping.