The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-10-22
LOCAL MATTERS.
The CusroM HOUSE, Ropnrny

! II y u o HOUSE hoBBEHY.-l
LARGE PORTION OF THs MONEY RECOVERED --CeSrrs
SION or osE TIE RoBBERsy-Robsrt Pulling ALA
Elias Wheeler, ono of tho Custom House robbers
was brought to this city yesterday morning in tn
fredericksburg cara. from Washington, not in Gus
tody, but accompanied by Constables Allen AMI
Boss. of the latter place. 1t appears that wheele
alias Pulling, who those officers have all along re
| garded the chief operator In the Custom Hons.
affair his arrest, last Friday, at the Washington
| depot, made certain propositions TO the officers
which were not then entertained. but which were
subsequently, after their return from Richmond
| talked over between Pulling and them.
The prisoner at the final interview, made pro
position that he would tell where the money was
and deliver all OF it, but such portion as he nam
ed, which he wished to reserve for his own use-
He was TO give up $4,000 Of the plunder, and re-
tain the balance aud then go scott free After
seeing the Secretary of the Treasury, the preposi
ton was agreed to by the officers with his concur
| renee He ordered release OF Pulling from Jail
and the Marshal discharged him in pursuance Of
the directions received. Pulling. who appears to
have been wanting in that distrust and canton
which We would expect to find in so adroit scamD
proceeded hither with the officers; apparently
not dreaming of any treachery the part Of
others or meditating any himself Indeed so
well pleased was he with the arrangement that he
had perfected with the officers, and 30 well salts
fed was he in regard to his own immnunity from
danger from his disclosures that his only an xietv
Somervlle had not, after he LETT the city removed
the deposits lie felt reassured after being told ot
the finding of the two check bags in the latters
boots, for he considered the money safe Arrived
here he proceeded in company with officer Alien to
the frame house on the North side of Broad street
below the stone arch. After delying for some time
under this structure. entrance to which is easilv
obtained from the rear, he produced two bags
while below the arch, aud hidden between the
granite boulders another bag and more money
found, the whole, when counted, being found
to amount to near $4,000; while under the house
Pulling had helped himself to about $1,000. with
which he was permitted to go off
The fact that they went In to the creek will
readily account for their muddy boots at the time
they came back to the Ballard House that night
Previously to this, officer Boss had given Pulling
f45 in Virginia notes to go away with in pursu-
ance Of the argr' nent entered intoin Washington
Pulling proceeded to the Petersburg cars in
tending to go South. While standing on the plat
form, Boss stepped up and arrested him. doubtless
much to his surprise He told that the Gov
ernment had not done with him. The s., ,o00 in his
possession was handed over to the clerk of the
American Hotel, and Pulling marched to the cage
by the officer
Before the Mayor yesterday, Pulling seemed
much crestfalen and appeared to entertain an idea
that he had been'the victim Of g misplaced conf
dence." He interrogated both officers as to wheth-
er they had not assured him that they could not
appear against him if he delivered the money, to
which both answered yes-but added they did so
by directions The amount restored reaches S17,-
lS0, inclusive it is believed of the $1,000 found in
Wheeler's yalice.
Mr.. j. H. Gilmer, who appeared as counsel for
Pulling contended that the testimony given against
him was informal, and such as would be received
in no court of justice. 1t was Che coDtnuedO of
tensve to all who had regard to the fidelity of an
oath. The prisoner had been entrapped by a
mode of procedure unbelievable, disingenuous and
disreputable." For the purpose Of having time to
confer with his cient he asked that the case might
hA 4 or i,;ol,
granted by the Mayor.
A few moments before IL O'Clock Mr. Boss had an
interview with Sommerville at the jail After tell
Ing him the discoveries that had been made the lat
ter made clean breast of the whole affair. Pull
ling had induced him to leave New Orleans where
he was earning his livelihood in an honest way
and follow him. The robbery was suggested by
him on Friday night, on their first arrival in
Richmond. He refused, and Pulling wished tc
night him. Afterwards be aGceded to his sugges
tions, and went on the street and watched the
Monday night Pulling entered the Custom House
The bolt of the door was priced up. The robber,
WAS effected about o'clock. The explosion of the
safe did not make much noise. They put the mo
ney away that night.
Sommervile. while making the above confes
sion seemed deeply agaitated and shed some tears
lie said it was his first operation Pulling was an
Old hand. Sommerville's wife was expected or
here yesterday, and he would have obtained a DO
licemans station in New Orleans if he had moi
have leit that place TO follow Pulling.
Examination ResaAaed-At the hour of o'clock
both prisoners were brought into Court Judge
Wm. W. Crump and j. II. GiImer, appeared a,
their counsel. An immense crowd of people were
gathered i'll and around the Court Room and q
general desire prevailed to catch the slightest
word uttereds in reference to the charge against
the accused
,lessrs. Allen and Boss, of the Washington DO
lice, were examined as tn the finding of the money
and the admissions of the prisoners, which Were
to the same effect, as contained in the above 40
count.
The following additional facts were elected:
After Pulling had helped himself to the money
found on his person, he was to be allowed to go
but Boss was to re-arrest him. The promise no:
further to modest him induced him to disclose
where the money was and give it up. Pulling
after his arrest mt the depot. requested Boss t.
take the gold he had on his person. Giving him
the Virginia notes, was part of the plan formed
by Allen and Boss. Prisoners admissions, in the
first instance, were voluntary. Allen saw him
take the money from the bag, but knew he could
not get far with it before Boss would arrest him. dis
he was watching.
The understanding was, that if he gave up the
$4,000 he WAS to 90 free. The reply to Puiiing's
proposition to that effect, Ton the part of Allen
WAS ''all right am satisfied" Did not offer the
accused any inducement to tell in the first in
stance. Allen got the money, afterwards told Pull
ling he had better leave. He took the money from
the bag, (the $4,000 with Aliens consent, who saw
him do it. Gave him the bank notes to gain his
confidence. He asked for them according to agree
ment. The Secretary of the Treasury when the
proposition of Pulling was submitted by Allen and
Boss. told them to go on-get the money if they
could.
The prisoners counsel denounced the conduct OF
the officers and their mode of action in regard to
the parties. At the conclusion of the testimony,
the Mayor announced his intention to send the
parties before the Hustin Court on the I'd Mon
day in November, for an examination on the charge
of burglary in breaking into John W. Davies shop
aud stealing the tools with which they committed
the robbery, and also for entering the Custom
House and purloinng s20,6SS They were sen,
back to jail, aud the witnesses recognized to ap
pear and testify against them.