The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-05-29

defendant was arraigned and plead guuty'
TAKEN IN HIS OWN DEvIoEs.-We noticed
ct the time, some two weeks since, the ar
rest of Jacob Miller, on q telegram from
Meadville, charging him with the stesling
of q trunk at the latter place from The
boarding house of q man nsmed Griffith.
He came to this city snd left said trunk at
one of the hotels on River street. This was
found full Of clothing, and was seized blythe
police authorities, who quickly ferreted out
the thief and lodged him in the city prison.
He was bound over, and Bhut up in the
county jsil. About the time his trial was
10 come of, the man who sent the telegram,
George LIS Platte, s. he signed his name
came on here from Meadville, and craved
an interview with the thief. In the con
versation which ensued, the sheriff wal
struck by what seemed an inconsistency at
if there were q mutual good understanding
between the parties. he had more Ocss'
sion afterwards to think Of this, however
than at the time.
This La Pratt was of course the princips
witness for the prosecution, but he had no
gone farther than the answer to the frs
question thai the Prosecuting Attorney be
eame convinced that there had been collu
sion between him and the defendant. Tn,
trial proceeded, and Miller was convicted
La Pratt was narrowly watched. Suspicion
were entertained that he was in complicit,
with Miller. He had sent here three dis
patches, the first signed George La Pratt
and the others George F. and George s
Pratt, respectively. He returned to Mead
Vile after he had given in his ambiguous
perjured testimony, but hearing Of Miller
conviction he hastened TO this city an
claimed the trunk and contents. The pc
lice, however, nabbed him and said b
might stay awhile. This was lone on th
representation of Miller, that Pratt We
sailing under false colors that his tru
name was Zade Griffith, and not Pratt, an
that they together had stolen the trunk an
goods at Cory, Pa, or that they held th
goods which had been stolen by two or thrt
other men of their gang. Griffith saw ii
FIX he was in, and, when arrsigned on sai
urday last, plead guilty and made merr
of the whole affair. He said there wei
three more of them, and that he would d
all he could to secure their apprehensic
and conviction, hat the whole crew migl
go together to the P~enitentiary.
1t seems that Miller ran away with III
/. trunk, half the contents of which beloDgC
to Griffith, and the latter had him arrest'
! on the broad charge of grand larceny. h
partner once arrested, he sought the int
, view to become reconciled unto HIM, 81
, then did his best, by false testimony as
the vslue of the stolen articles, to get Il
Indictment reduced from grand to petit Ia
ceny, that Miller might escape the Sta
, Prison. But the crafty chap was taken
: his own devices.
It is stated that these two fellows hs
been in the rebel service nearly four year
l aud are natives of Harrison county, vi
giDis, and that the father of one of theI
Miller, we believe, was recently shot the
as a guerrilla. Miller bears the marks Of
gunshot wound through his throat. 1t b
/, Just healed. Both are hard looking custol
ers, Miller being little above the status
the brutes, and Griffith adding TO his qua
ruped estate q certain degree of intelligen
and a great deal of pure deviltry.
E