Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-11-08
LOCAL NEWS.

ARREST OF AN EXPERT CONFIDENCE MAN
Yesterday afternoon, at o'clock, complaint
was made at the police headq quarters that a
man calling himself Paul Miller had swindled
the Bank of Commerce in Georgetown out
OF 81, 0GU by means of a forged draft. The case
was assigned TO the entire detective force and
they went to work. Kelly and Bigley started
at once for the Baltimore depot, and as the 4 10
tram was about moving Detective Kelly ar
rested the man standing at the lower end of
the depot, without ticket, and ready to Jump
on the cars as they moved out. He was taken
to the police headquarters and searched, and
$3.50 in one package and S24 in another were
found on him. Also, a splendid diamond pin
valued at $50, a diamond ring $500, and studs
sleeve buttons and other articles valued at $500
to $500, some blank checks on various banks
and check for $500 payable to Gait and Bro,
jewellers, and bank book with entries OF de-
posts with Stewart Co., bankers. Several
slips, kprobably from the Police Gazette, Civ
ing the history of an expert confidence man, in
many respects answering his own description,
were found on him, and he surrendered them
very reluctantly. He was locked up in the
cells and hearing promised him this morning
al 10 O'Clock. Not being ready for a hearing at
that hour the hearing was postponed till / D.
m and again till p. m. The case attracts
much attention of our city bankers and the
trial will probably result in very interesting
Developments.
The draft upon which the money was oh.
tanned was drawn by w. X. Cole & Co, on the
First National Bank of Baltimore, to the order
Of Daniel Miller, for 81, 900; marked on the face
in red ink, "Good for SI,OO0 ]. S Norris.
cashier; W Griffin, pay and teller" Endorsed,
Upon telegraphing to the bank in Baltimore.
L. l.. Rittenhouse, president of the Bank of
CONNER &c, received the following reply:
"NovEMBER Z, 1866 BY telegraph from
baltimore. To c. f. Ritfenhouse Something
wrong. We have no account with w. r. Cole
d Co, and no teller named Griffin.
y. r. NORRIS, Cashier"
This morning, the President of the Bank of
Commerce received the following letter dated
Baltimore. Nov. Z. 1865:
"DeGr Sir: Your first telegram this morning
was returned 10 the telegraph office, surprising
1t had been addressed 10 the wrong bank The
second was promptly responded TO. There
must be something wrong, as we have no
account of w. X. Cole d Co., and no teller
named Griffin. Daniel Miller is President of
the National Exchange Bank of this city l
suspect fraud somewhere, and would be obliged
IL you can trace 1t. Who presented the check
TO you! Please give me ali the facts you can
81 S. NoRRIs, Cashier
Yesterday the prisoner went to M. w Gait
Co.'S and purchased 500 worth of ieweIry
and offered 500 in cash and a check on Stewart
* 20; 1or S5Oo In payment, but 1t was declined,
and that was the check found on his person
Tins afternoon Mr.. S. :. Cox, of Ohio, called
at the police heanquarters and identified the
prisoner as the man who married a lady in
Springfield, Ohio, who was applying for a d.
yorce in Ohio at the time her hi sband was mar
rled again in New York. Upon this informa-
tlon the detectives bring an additional charge
bigamy.
TRIAL OF JOHN MARTIN FOR THE MURDER
OF HIS WIFE.-CRIMINAL COURT, JUDGE
Hyhe-Ihls morning. the trial of John Martin,
indicted for the murder of his wife, Margaret
Martin, on the 25th Of June last, by beating
and stamping upon her when she was in the
Court-District Attorney Caring ton prosecu-
ting, and Messrs. Norris and Morgan appear
ing for the defense.
The effort 10 obtain a jury on Monday hay-
unsuccessful.
were chosen from those drawn and summoned.
VIM King, Of w, John b. Williamson, Josiah
Essex, Jas. X. Plant, De We're Burr. John E
Cox John Saul, George Harvey, Charles Will
SON, VIM. Ashdown, Charles G.. Ashdown, and
VIM. H. Moore.
District Attorney Darlington, in opening the
case, said that II would appear from this evil
dence that the deceased came to her death from
lingering torture; that the prisoner treated her
snamefully, almost daily beating her for a
week or more previous TO her death. If the
facts alleged are proved, the prisoner is the
murderer of his wife and child, although tech
nic%lly he is not guilty Of the murder of the
enid, for II was not born, but practically he
destroyed his own offspring.
Mr.. Norris followed for the defence, stating
tnat they We're TO try the case on the evidences,
and he denied that the deceased came TO her.
death from long course of cruel torture The
III treatment was from her, and he intended TO
show that she was the master spirit: an in
veterate drinker, and he a kind and humane
man. .r.-
Mrs. Ann Knot testified that she resided near
the accused, 9th and L streets; that the first
quarrelhng she heard between the accused and
the deceased was on the 18th of June 1.-THE Mon
day before deceased died) when she ran in and
saw Martin holding his wife by the arm with a
tea Kettle in his hand in the act of striking her
witness caught h is arm and said he should be
ashamed of himself, when he set the kettle down
he said that he would not earn another cent
until he had killed her. Witness testified 10
hearing the last fuss and to going in the house
and finding the deceased on the floor senseless
witness and neighbor applied restorative.
ana after the deceased came too she said that
he had thrown her down and stamped on her