Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-06-30

in Eastern Avenue, South side, $3.50, be
tween 2S and %: the Franklin Avenue H.
r. cars pass by his door.
At this point the District Attorney ask
ed leave. for the furtheranee of publlcju justice,
to enter a noHe proseq,i as to John Nelson,
one of the parties indicted with Lemoine,
that he might be called as a witness. which
was granted by the Court. This was, of
course, in pursuance of an arrangement pre-
viously made with him, that he was to turn
State evidence 1t is is due, both to
him and to the gentlemen who conducted
the case for the Commonwealth, that some
of the reasons for the arrangement should
be stated In the first place, after Wilson
and Newman we're arrested, Lemoinc, who
got off with his share of the plunder de-
serted them. They waited Tor more than
week on him to send them assistance and
received none Wilson then sent for the
counsel of the bank. and proposed TO give
as much information as would secure the
arrest of the third man, in the hope that
when arrested he would use the means
Wilson knew to be in his power, for the de-
tense of the whole But when Lemoine was
arrested, his wife went Immediately to work
to prepare his defense independently of the
others. Two detectives and lawyer were
brought from Chicago to assist Lemoine,
while Wilson and Newman were left to shift
for themselves. without even money to pro-
vide consolidating been compelled TO throw
all their plumber away when arrested. Viii
son then proposed, as it was evident they
had nothing to expect from Lemoine's
treachery, to the counsel for the Common
wealth that he would develope the whole
transaction, on condition that he should be
wealth, having learned from police officers
at ST. Louis and Chicago, of the highest re-
specta bility, who Lemoine was-that he was
one of the most expert and accomplished
'craeksmen' on this continent, and had al
ways heretofore managed to evade the pen
atty of his crimes, felt satisfied that they
could best promote the ends of justice by
securing his certain conviction He could
not have been convicted, but for the infor-
nation obtained from Wilson. Nearly all
the important facts developed in the evi-
dence were procured through him, and with
out the information he gave, il would have
been, to say the least, doubtful whether any
of them could have been found guilty
John Nelson, s1eoym-Nyas three men
engaged in this-Mr. Lamoine, Mr.. New
man and myself we came here from Mis-
souri,; started from ST. Louis to Harrisburg;
Mr.. Newman and myself. We came TO
Harrisburg and waited there; went from
there to W illamsport where we met Mr..
Iemoine; waited there on him or 10 days;
we stayed there one day. We all three then
met at Tyrone, but did not all get there at
the same time; ] came sup from Altoona
and net Mr.. Lemoinc there first; that was
on Wednesday or Thursday Newman came
on Saturday. | came to Cearfeld on Fri
day, and went back to Tyrone on Saturday
Mr. Lemoine came here on Saturday.
When l.emoine was here ! went to Harris
burg and Newman stopped at Huntingdon
| was at Harrisburg on Saturday, Sunday
and Monday, and on Monday evening | re-
turned to Huntington met Lenioinc there
on Tuesday were all to meet there we
stayed Tuesday and left on Wednesday go;
yEOUc dtlu t'lph tne lOF
got here about 1880: got off the train. and
went back on the track and got upon the
hill stayed there until night was about a
mile back from town. Went to two or three
blacksmith shops and got some tools out.
We waited until about half past II clock,
and then came down in front oc bank saw
all was quiet and then pushed the door open
with piece oil steel L opened it, and Nr.
Iemoine and then went TO work at vault
door and the safe inside: we got the money
and started out of town. Newman stayed
outside. We took the bonds We went
over the hill and buried some nickel that
was too heavy: we went on until about day
light on road towards Tyrone. Daylight
came and we went to right of road, crossed
the creek and got On the hill where there
was cabin, and stayed there all day there
we divided the money: 81 500 in bonds
several $1,000 bills. 3 or G-about $3.50 in
postal currency: several $500 bills.5 or C.
some $40 and $50 bills, and ) or 500 bills .
was between $4,000 and S20,0 600 in all. |
got the bonds as part Of my share: the
money was equally divided Mr.. Lemoine
paid me his note, which held for 81 100 at
that time; | gave him the note and he tore
it up and threw down outside the cabin.
There was some mutilated bills, which we
stuck under a log at this place. When
night came on We got on railroad track, aud
followed it until morning: about daylight
we came 10 station and saw a man stand
ing on platform: we were making our way
toward Tyrone About 3 o clock we got on
railroad track again and followed it about
half mile and then got off and saw train
pass: was pas enger train. We passed
three men on track came to Intersection
was Just night We saw men there and
turned off and went over the bridge: saw
men after us and we ran through the creek !;
we staid in the woods about an hour and
then got on Bald EagleV alley railroad track
andswent to turnpike. Went on until about
. clock in the morning, when we separated,
Lemoipe leaving US. We got breakfast
Lemoine said he would aim South of the
Z. Central Railroad, then to Broad Top and
Bedford, then to Cumberland and strike
the railroad; we had not crossed the bridge
when Lemoine left US. Newman and |
crossed the railroad at Spruce creek and
went South: brought up at a dutchman' s
in Bedford county-Stayed all night. Next
morning got on the stage and went over TO
Centrevlle and were arrested | saw that
something was wrong when the Sheriff came
up. / went down through the garden. |
threw the package of bonds. currency, &C..
in hollow stump. Had about $500 or
$500; | bad about $4,000 or $4,000 with