Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-08-07


of his child, who was received as a
pupil at the Conservatory Of Music.
One day he started out in search of
board for himself and child, and
about two O'Clock, P. NJ, closed with
Mrs. Gleason, proprietor of the
above number, for the front room
Of the second floor. The rear room
and q dark bedroom dividing it
from Won Elsner's room, was occu
pied by Mrs. Stone. Won Elsner
moved in and took possession about
three P. NJ leaving q trunk in the
hall on the main floor. Between
four and five the colored servant,
Mary Shannon, saw the German
enter the hall and go to the trunk.
He inquired the dinner hour and
was informed that it was at six
O'clock. Won Elsner disappeared
from the house and did not appear
again until about eleven P. NJ. In
the mean time Mrs. Stone left her
room at fifteen minutes after six,
and went down to dinner, having
first secured her room. On return
ing at half past six o'clock she dis
covered that the fastening of the
door between her rooms and Won
Elsner's had been forced off, and
800 worth of property stolen.
Mrs. Stone reported the robbery
to Captain McCaurey, who, on
learning of Won ElsneT's occupancy
Of the room on that day, jumped to
the conclusion that he was the burg
lar. Calling special officer Tully he
detailed him to work up the case
and arrest Won Elsner Mr.. Tully
proceeded to the House, made an
investigation and had doubts as to
the guilt Of the German. Neverthe-
less, he obeyed the chiefs orders
and made the arrest.
I The prisoner was taken to Jeffer-
son Market Court, and the German
committed for examination. Mr..
Doolittle, a son of the Wisconsin
Senator by that name, hearing OF
the arrest, and knowing Won Elsner,
at once appeared at Jefferson Mar
ket and secured an examination.
Mrs. Stone, Mrs. Gleason, a Mrs.
Harris, the cOlOred servant, and
some three other witnesses, testified
for the prosecution. Their evidence
was very strong against the musi-
clan, and occupied some three days
in recording. 1t clearly established
the fact that the burglary was com
united between quarter past six
and half past six P. NJ, and the
guilt Of Won EIsner appeared to be
conclusive. The case was opened
for the defence, when some five or
six reputable gentlemen came for
ward and swOre that at the time of
the burglary they conversed with
Won Elsner in the Bowery and
Third avenue, over a mile from the
scene of the robbery. After this
evidence had been put in and the
German had clearly proved an alibi,
the Justice declined to discharge
/ him. The night of the soiree of
the Conservatory of Music, at which
Won EIsner's little daughter made
her debut, Mr.. Doolittle res
quested the Judge to examine
the evidence and discharge him.
This was about five in the afternoon.
Mr.. Dodge declined to do SO, and
an innocent man was rerhanded to
the cells. o. A day orltwo after the
Justice admitted the man to bail,
and. allowed him to go into the
world with the stamp of a felon
upon him. In this tribulation he
was not without friends, who care
fully guarded the secret of her
fathers disgrace from the artistic
child who appeared at the soiree
and received the high encomiums
of the daily press. Some ten days
or weeks after, Mr.. Justice Dodge
Internationally discharged Won
Elsner, and he returned to his en-
ployment, with the modification OF
arrest and incarceration wearing
upon him. What has become OF
him is not known at the present
writing.
So much for the history of the
case before the court. During the
hearing, TuIly, who from the first
was convinced of Won Elsner'
innocence and was an unwilling
prosecutor, studied the physiog
nomy of the witnesses, and formed
the conclusion that the robbery
| was committed by the colored ser
| want. A few weeks ago Mary Shan
! non, the servant, it was given out
had gone to the hospital with the
smallpox. A day or two after hen
death was reported. Here FULLY
| who had watched her .maneuvers
was confirmed in his suspicious, ant
| followed the inquiry with renewed
| energy. In the meantime he had
been promoted to Sergeant Kelso's
squad, at the Central office, but Thu
did not deter him from following
| up the clue that he hoped WOulC
yindicate an innocent man and
eaable him in some manner to atone
for, the wrong he had been forced Il
commit. b.. e.
After Mary ShannOn's return
| from the hospital, two weeks ago
she returned to Mrs. Gleason's
where she had been employed, and
| offering various excuses, sought tt
| gain admittance TO the house. The
servant was instructed by Tally t.
admit her, and while she stood il
| the doorway some seven days ago
TulIy secreted himself in the house
The servant went up stairs, wheI
Mary stepped inside and, opening
| furnace, attempted to draw out I
pillow case, but, hearing the ser
want coming down stairs, aban
i doned the work. Tully did not ar
rest her at that time, hoping to SO