Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-07-16
The Wiilard.' Hotel Robbery.

! The Willards' Hotel Robbery.
| Ths Arrest Of a I. S. Harshai-Cotton Cases in
| AlatGmd-- Con- fession Of one Of the Parties
| He Attempts 10 ImplicGfe others-Tke Eridence
| in the Case-Rieh Developments.
As the brief statements heretofore publ he d
in reference to the arrest and examination OF
| Hon. ]. NJ. Tomeny, U. 5. Marshal lor East
Tennessee, for alleged completely in in nstiea.
ting one Warren arpen ter to commit the lar
Roberts, at Wiilards' Hotel, last month. were
calculated to convey an erroneous impression
as 10 tue extent OF the connection OF Mr Tom
epy with the affair, we present below the SUBJ
siantial points Of the case as thus far deyel.
opeL before Justice Miller.
On Friday NOR ming Mr.. Tomen was shown
warrant sworn out by +. b. Roberts, charg-
ing that the said TOneny had instigated one
Warren Carpenter to steal from his {Roberts)
room, in WIlara's Hotel, between the lst and
18th OF June. 1866, one tin box, alleged to con
tain certain informal vouchers on the @ uarter-
masters and CCmmissary Departing call.
iRE for about SA5o, together with certain re-
tons Of the said Roberts in regard to certain
cotton cases in Alabama. while he was acting
as special agent OF the Treasury Department.
Mr.. Tomeny Immediately appeared before
Justice N H. Miller, and the case was set for
bearing at half past five o'clock on Saturday
afternOon-Messrs. Riddle and Saffold for the
first witness put upon the stand was L. b.
Roberts, who stated that he arrived In Wash
inRlon between the 18th and 1stn of June,
is isee' ;, and n1,nst put mp at at Wilards Hotel;
relative to alleged frauds practised on the
Government in Alabama in relation to cotton,
together with certain informal vouchers, (al-
ready described above,) about five dollars
worth OF revenue STAMPS, and affldayits rela-
tive to the alleged cotton frauds to be laid be-
fore the Treasury Department. that on or about
the 25th DAY of June, 1860, he left his room
about o'clock and returned about O'Clock;
that when he did so he found his apartment
bad been entered, and the tin box containing
the Aforesaid papers carried off: that on the
26th of June, 1857. in the custom house at MO-
bile, he was informed by one Gaeer, deputy
q. 5. marshal. as 10 who 1t was who had en-
getting this information he followed certain
parties to Memphis. Tenn. where he remained
till the 9th inst, when, in company with War
rem Carpenter, he started for Washinkten
Upon cross examination by the defense, wit
ness stated that while acting as special agent
for the Treasury Department he had rendered
by him in investigation OF cotton claims; that
Tomeny refused to allow the same and that
be had nothing to do with him since Jan uary,
ls6s; 'aat he (KobeTtsl was before the Federal
facts relating to Tomeny, referred to in the
papers. reports, and afiidavits in the tin box
which had been stolen; that ne (Roberts) had
charged Tomeny with defrauding the Govern
ment; was informed that the grand Jury had
found bill in May, 1866; had since learned
that the Attorney General for the United States
bad entered moHe prosequi; he had made COM
municatlon to the Secretary Of the Treasury in
January, 1866, that Tomeny was in collision
with one Winston: on the 18th or 10Th of June,
had made other statements CT a more general
character, unfavorable toTomeny; that he had
been pursuing Winston, and while doing 80
received telegraph from Tomeny that he
desired him to come 10 Mobile to consult with
him.
Insreply to a direct Interrogation, he said
that he did make proposition to Tomeny 10
have the military seize WInton. and himself
and Tomeny would divide about $50 bales OF
his (Wintons) cotton; that in reply to his
suggestion Tomeny's remark was, "All right,
Tomeny excitedly remarked in the ear of his
counsel. but loud enough TO be heard over the
room, "That's I'D lie;'' whereupon the counsel
for the prosecution made objection to Mr. Tom
enys manner as insulting to the prosecution.
and the Justice remarked that he must avoid
all occasion OF Offense in the future. Roberts,
resuming. said that nothing was done In per.
suance OF his suggestion apd that no attempt
" as made to get the cotton from Winton. In re-
Tly 10 an other direct interrogatory, Roberts
stated that he had appeared before SUBJ CON.
mttee OF the Rerren chment Comm ittee appoint.
ed by Congress. and had charged Tomeny with
defrauding the Government. Thinks that some
OF the aftidavits in the stolen box concerned
Tomeny: that the parties who made them are
still aliv.. N ost Of the affdavirs had been en-.
closed 10 the Departments At Washington and
he supposed they were on file: did not know
TomeIy knew the contents of he box. and had
reason to believe that Tomeny wished to get
hold OF the box.
Wdrren Carpenter sworn Stated that in the
later part OF 1865 he was at Gainesville, Ala,
with Roberts: engaged in picking up cotton:
that he was there till 1st OF January, 1866,
when he went to Moble and stayed till June,
1866; he knew OF Roberts loss OF box; that
while at Mobile man named Rockwell came
10 see him about copies OF certain dispositions;
didn't know what Tomeny ad to do with the
papers, or Of what value they were to him;
Rockwell told him {Carpenter) that if he
would steal the papers he (RoekwelD would
see that Carpenter was paid handsomely; his
reply was that he would do his best to get
them. but that it would take money; that he
made key to fit Roberts room at tho Battle
House in Mobile: that be had the key in Tome
ny's office at Mobile. and supposed he Tome
talk about the matter IN Tomenys office; that
soon after, say May, 1866, Roberts left for
Washington; that Tomeny had already left
man named Dubois after Tommy left. DUBOIS
saying that Tomeny had gone to Washing
ton and LETT no money for Carpenter 10
prosecute his design Of stealing Roberts
papers; that be (witRess) came to Washington
and registered as Wilson and dubois as Nor
gan: that man named RUter roomed with
Roberts at Willard,s; that plan was fixed by
which Ruter and Roberts should leave their
room, and while they were absent he should
enter their room by a false key already pre-
pared: that he opened Roberts room with his
false key, bolred the door after him inside,
then turned everything inside over on the
floor. opened bureau drawers and upset things
generally; opened Ruter' g trun K, put his papers
papers and took them out: rode to his hotel,
saw Dubois, and put the papers into his (wit-
ness') vaiise, and then took the first train for
Philadelphia; on arriving there took oUt the
box and found papers and revenue stamps:
that next morning he started for Dubois
house in New Jersey that he lett the papers
relating TO Tomeny with Dubois; then went
to his home in Michigan. and when he
came back to New York met Tomeny in
the dining room of the Brevoort House. tha,
Tomery asked him the news, when he told
him that Roberts goose was cooked: that he
afterwards explained to Tomeny more fully
what he had done; told him he was ont Of
money and wanted $500; that Tomeny let him
bave $50. with which he returned to Michi-
gan and came back to New Jersey on the 4th
OF July subsequently met Tomeny at various
points DuB BOs' cold the revenue stamps
In The box for 50; there were no papers Of
money value In the box, and had ne yer heard
Tomeny say anything as to the value Of the
papers 10 himself: that on his last interview
with Tcmeny he at first appea red to be salts
fled with the papers. but after looking at them
was dissatisfied because they were copies and
not the originals, and on that account refused
to pay him Tor them, alleging that Mr.. Win
stop. Tor whose benefit they were Intended.
said thu Were of no use to aim; that he was
induced to come on here as q witness on the
assurance that if he turned states evidence 1t
would make TomeIy guilty and he would es-
cape prosec cution.
Here the evidence for the prosecution closed.
he did not know that it was necessary to in.
~~,;&~ <h>.-