Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-03-19
Primary Examination.

The three prisoners John and David Allen and Ed
ward Pitts, charged with robbing Mr.. Enoch Robbins
on the cars of the Manchester ran some twenty minutes
after o'clock, on the evening of Wednesday the 10th
inst, were brought up before VIM. T. j. Vann' Esq"
Special Magistrate assisted by some other Justices a'
o'clock on the afternoon Of Saturday, the 18th INST
Ali the prisoners are young men. Edward Pitts is
rather thinaced higheatured, with brown har' about
middle size and nothing peculiar in his looks John
Allen is perhaps little older, has sort OF salow frecE
led complexion, a reddish moustache and brown har'
with suspicion of red in it. David Allen looks like
bow at first being quite Short and with round style OF
features, black hair and small black eyes
NJ. B. Smith, J L. Holmes, Z. G. Miller and John
A Baker, Esqs, appeared for the prosecution u
Wright and A NJ. Waddell, Esqs, for the defendants.
It appeared from the testimony of Mr.. Robert j.
Howard that the three prisoners first made thelr a
pearance at Holmes Hotel at breakfast on Wednesday,
Did not register but one paid Mr.. Howard at the door
of the dining room for breakfast for himself and the TWO
others This one gave his name as Pitts The same
person paid in the same way for dinner The younger
Allen paid for supper After supper did not see Pitts
Saw the two Aliens next morning Thursday, about 8
o'clock Don't think they took breakfast. They had
Mr.. Robinson, Superintendent of the Wilmington and
Manchester Rail Road, saw Pitts at the Depot oil mat
road about o'clock on Wednesday nig int. Had his
attention called to theft committed on the cars when
he walked in he found persons searching the man F'S
upon whom they found nothing. Pitts SAID hrSt he mao
no baggage and that he came from Richmond where lie
got through ticket Mr.. Robinson SAID that coud not
Inc So since they did not issue them at Richmond After
the arrest of Pitts the baggage lett by the party consist
inc of three crpetbags and valse was searched One
of the Aliens subsequently claimed two OF the bags and
the yase In them there found three gold watches
and certain implements which presumed to be bur-
glars tools also small vial of nitric acid These things
were produced in court. Mr.. Robinson did not see
either of the Aliens Later, Pitts searched for and
found near the prvy on the depot lot Mr.. Robbins was
among the searchers The valise and carpetba9s were
opened in Pitts presence He did not claim or acknoW
ledge any of the baggage.
Mr. John McGrath heard the cutlery raised by Mr.
Robbins. Heard him cry robbery, murder, etc lie
rushed to the car from which the sound came. He there
found Mr. Robbins very much excited, having hold on
Pitts with one hand and John Allen with the other
Allen struggled good DEAL and Pitts begged off, say
inc he hadn't the money! &c. Mr. McGrath took charge
of Pitts and Mr. Robbins held on to Allen, and thus
they took them out when Pitts searched but Allen
got away somehow. 1<Ihey found nothing on Pitts.
Mr. Enoch Robbins testifes that he left Wilmington
about O'Clock on Wednesday evening" to go up the
Manchester Road to his honc in Columbus After get
ting his ticket at the Office he made his way to one OF
the cars of the train about to start so that he might put
down his carpet bag and basket When he went into
the car there was no in it, but shortly after enter
ING and as he was making his way along the aisle he
felt himself pressed upon by two men, Pitts and John
Allen Allen caught hold Of an umbrella he had under
his arm, and Pitts grabbed and twisted him around
He Mr. Robbins told them to pass or let him go on turn
ing partly in between the seats SO as to let them pass
Pitts sprung forward against HIM. thrust his right hand
into the left pocket of Mr.. Robbins FatGloolS' took
out his pocket book, containing about $l3O in money
and passed it to Alien who passed 1t behind him. whe
er into his pocket Or to an accompce he cannot
saw Mr. Robbins swcars positively to Pitts taking his
pocketbook passing it to Allen, and to Aliens getting
it. He is certain that he had the book when he went
into the cars
Mr. A. j. Jones saw the search made when Mr. Rob
bins and Mr. McGrath brought the two men out of the
cars He saw the younger Allen in the car afterwards
saw him near Pitts, and heard him remark You had
better leave here Or had better get out of this"
Mr., Beck. the Waterman at the w. Il NJ X. X. De
pot testified that the four pieces of baggage searched had
been placed under his charge by John Allen, on Wednes-
dav during the day That at night he had again re-
oucstcd him to take care of them he not going
that night David Allen had been with him on the
first OCCASION On Thursday morning, after the arrest
of Pitts David Allen came over to the Depot to see
after the baggage that his Uncle left there 1t appeared
from the testimony of Mr. F. SmaW, that john and
David Allen were together on Thursday forenoon when
they were arrested.
The counsel forebOre any argument on either slde ana
the Justices remandcd the prisoners into the custody OF
the Sheriff to stand their trial at the next Superior
Court If highway robbery, it is capital felony
This, we presume will be the charge upon which they
will be tried We would not comment upon the testi-
mony so far as to draw nerenccs but to say that Mr.
Robbins swcars distinctly and unequivocally to the
identity and the criminal acts of two of the prisoners,
is only rceratGg the fact already stated The younger
Allen is evidently proved to be associate Of Pitts and
John Allen, but participation ia the particular act
charged docs not appear to be brought home to him.
in the House.
On Thursday the lth instant there was considerable
excitement in the House of Representatives over qucs
ton of privilege, raised by Mr.. Harriss of Illinois, the
whole thing being part of the Kansas excitement.