The New York herald., 1870-09-24
COEP0UNDING FELONY.

A United States OFiciaI UsinS His Iuaueuca
to shield n Criuninni--s'ChurleyA Adan,s,,, tho
Bank ROSbcr, Trying to Get Free District
Attorney Davis Wound Round His Finger.
The authorities of The state Of Maine well rs all
the officers OF the United States consclentiously en-
gagged In bringing vio.at0rs OF the law to punish.
ment, are considerably exercised over the now well
known fact that District Attorney Davis Is actively
engaged in endeavorng TO procure the release from
jail-where he Is at present confined on the charge
Of bank rObbery-of "Charley Adams, alias John
A. Stevens, alias Langdon. The robbery perpetraied
by Adams and his gang upon the Lime Rock Bank
OF ROckiand Is OF too recent date to require any
rehearsal. The robbery was shrewdly planned and
boldly executed. large amount or money and
bonds were TAKEN for which Adams and several OF
his fellows In crime were arrested, since which
time they have been connned In Jail at Belfast Me-.
awaiting their trial.
Among the most prominent Of his many vlanous
transactions may be mentioned the daring and sue.
cessful robbery of the Concord Bank ut Concord
Mass. the Armenia Bank, In Dutchess county, ".
y; the WOlfb0ro Bank, at WOlfboro, ". H., and a
host Of other ike nefarlous depredations But js.
tlce seems 10 have at last overaken him, and the
reward Of his long career Of crime IL about to he
meted out to him. There are those, however VINO
have undertaken to procure his release through the
instrumentalily OF the government, ana actively
engaged III attempting to gam the ear and obtain
the ad ofthe United State Treasury oiclas to erect
their object. The man SO asslduousy laborlng on
behalf OF Adams is William p. Wood, ex.Chlei OF
the United States detectives backed by the
ex-socitor Of the Treasury, Jordan. Jordan,
however, however mas IIh ne lniiusnce in government
Treasury and the solicitor Of the Treasury being
opposed to compounding felony IN the manner de.
sired by MIR. Wood, the rObber Adams and his uu-
scrupul0us friends. Yet notwithstanding the Oppo-
stion OF the Treasury officials, It Is quite possible
That Wood may escape The consequences OF his WI
lanous transactions. His discharge Is sought by
ex-Chief Wood on novel grounds. When, In 1867
large number OF seven.;hiry bonds were stolen from
the Treasury Department. Wood captured a plate
which he SAID must have been the one from which
the evcn-thrtics had been printed; but the plate
was 80 badly battered tnat trace of the engraver
could be found. The discovery or the plate led the
authorities Of the Treasury Department to declare
spurious the seven-thirties which had been stolen
But II Is said that those found cOrrespOnded i'm The
numbers ana series with the Issue recorded on the
books OF the Department A reward OF $4,000 was
but 1t Is not known whether 1t was paid. Meantime
number OF bankers OF this city who had received the
| began suits IN the United States Court Against
the government TO recover $4,000, the amount OF
tried. Ex-Chief WOOD now SAYS that the notoro"s
burglar Charley Adams alias Lan0dOn Moore car
| swear thai the plate was the one rom which tht
seven-thirties were 'sfruck;" that the bonds were
spurious, and that he can save the government the
amount for which It Is sued If ne is brought from
tne Name state Prison TO this city and pardoned for
There are facts in thi. case which deserve men.
lion ana = cai lor Official inquiry. When Adams
the Treasury and the Solicitor OF the Treasury ap-
plicaton was made to District Attorney DAVIS
Whatever influences were brought TO bear IN that
direction, certain 1t Is that Mr. Davis wrote to the
authorities OF the State OF Maine to postpone the
trial OF Adams In order that he might
be witness for the government IN the
case OF the $4,000 suit Should Mr. Davis he sue.
cessful In obtaining Adams release from the State
Prison Ol Maine Tie rescue OF tnat notorious rObber
from his merlted fate would be an easy matter That
such ls the intention OF the district Attorney who,
oi course understands his position, and Of the
friends OF the notorious robber Adams the boastful
declarations Of exChef of United States Detectives
Wood are a sufllcient guarantee. A few days will
faf atfno nor,t.
consent to compound felony for $70,O0e without
the chance OF bringing any OF the parties 10 the
several robberes OF Adams TO justice, whether the
administration OF justice in the federal departments
Is not corrupt