Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-06-08
Singular Case--The Romance OF
a Trunk.
tFrom the Cleveland Icrald.l

lfrom the tleVclAld berhlul
One week ago last Friday, Marshal
Schmitt received dispatch from Mead
vile, directing him TO arrest il possible, one
Jacob Miller, for the larceny OF trunk
The telegram was signed by George Lapratt,
and contained personal description of
| Miller, stating among other things, that his
neck bore the marks of several prominent |
scars. That same evening the Police arres-
| ted a man on the streets for creating n
disturbance. Upon reaching the Station,
the gas revealed to his captors a number OF
large scars on the neck. 1t Immediately
occurred to them that they had unwittingly
caught Jacob Miller, the trunk thief. Up
on being asked if his name was Miller, he
replied in the negative, adding that his name
was Adam Fisher. Soon afterwards, how
ever he Acknowledged that he was the
Miller sought for. He had been stopping
at Barrett's, on River Street, and thither an
officer was dispatched for his trunk. The
latter was taken to the Station House.
The prisoner wore good suit oil clothes,
which be had taken from the trunk, having
! put in its place, his old and rusty garments.
MIR. Lipratt, Of Meadville, was now
, informed Of the arrest ofNliller and recovery
of the trunk. On the Monday following. q
man calling himself Lapratt, made his ap,,
pearance. He examined the trunk identified
, it as his, and took possession ofthe property.
] He was allowed an interview with Miller, IN
9 his prison. After the interview he gave 1t
$ as his opinion that the prisoner was innocent,
and that he had honestly got possession OF
the trunk. This opinion Uf Lapratt' how
I ever had no weight, and Miller's case, IN
J. due time. went before the Grand Jury, who
e found true bill against him for grand lar.
ceny In the meanwhile, the Sheriff had
learned from Miller that he had been 10 the
rebel army as private, and that Leprat
had likewise been there in the capacity of {
% Leutenent Miller had served under thu
latter.
Miler's case was tried before Judge Foote
u on Monday morning last. The prosecuting
e witness, Llpratt, testified that he and Mil
e ler had been roaming together at Corry,P,
), and had likewise worked together upon
Y wood train that daily ran out of that plce
lie J A week before the larceny Lapratt had take
l. tho trunk to Meadville, and lett it with on
8 Zade Griffith. On the Thursday following
q Miller suddenly left the place; and at thre
Q, O'Clock the next morning Lapratt received
~ dispatch from Griffith, at Meadville, Stain
as that the trunk had been stolen. BY 81
as clock in the morning Lspratt was in th
ne latter place. Immediately after seein
OF Griffith, he telegraphed hither to Marsh'
~ SchmlJt, ana afterwards caiue vi heio ~
10 the trunk. as stated above.
ey The Jury convicted Miller. While ii
Ut latter was being taken to Jail, he stated thl
~ the wine.s was not Lapratt Jut Ze6e Gri
10 ftM He (MiIler) and Griffith had stole
i, the trunk from man named Bisckma
o. living near Cory Griffith had sent hi
y, with the trunk to Greenville, from whic
ne place he had brought it hither. For th
'e- act Griffith has had him arrested.
az Immediately after Mller's statement, Il
ed Shrff earrested Griffith. The latter W
zee found at the Police Station, in the act
taking possession of bis property. ~ Up'
being taken into custody, he owned up.
On Friday he sent for Prosecuting Attern
he Palmer, to whom he declared that he W
guilty Of both perjury and grand larceny. J
ur announced his willingness to plead gull
RI to either charge. On Saturday mornln
ed therefore, special Grand jury was empa
his neled, who promptly indicted him for gral
larceny, to which he plead guilty. y.
sd, We make bold to say that a traveli
led trunk was never before party to so stran
ny, an affair; and more singular iumhe
be events never before characterized crlmlr
case in this city.