New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-03-08
THE ALBANY EXPRESS ROBBERY
Desperation of the RObber.

The desperation of the Albany express
robber, Filkins. may be clearly understood
by reading the testimony of Thomas A.
Halpine. the express messenger, who posi-
lively identified Filkins as the man who
entered the car and shot him:
Halpine's testimony concerning the crime
and the identity of Filkins was as follows:
Il was engaged in putting weights on the
bills when the cars started; the cars had
gone one length; heard noise on the south
side; saw a man enter; he said. Hello, is
that:you'' thought it was Woodward;
said. Where are you going''; lie came in
the door and stood in front of the stove; he
then crossed over and shut the door; he
stood SO as the light fell ON his face; looked
at him: was engaged in looking at him and
talking with him. he said, I'm going Just
across the river; said, Idont know YOU
he said. my name is Jones, have run good
many trips on this road he said Where
do you put off first at Chatham l told
him at Pittsteld: l stood Just west of the
lamp on the north side of the car and
within eighteen inches of the side of the car
when he fired; the ball entered the right
side of my neck fell and tried to rise up.
when he fired the second shot, it entering
my right eye; he then stopped over me and
fired the third shot in my ear; the feeling
was awful; felt him feeling for my keys;
then l lost consciousness; l know
who that man was who entered the car and
fired those shots; it was the prisoner have
satisfied; saw Filkins after l was
taken to the hospital it was two weeks
from the night; DR.. Armsby, Dis
trict Attorney Peckham, Captain Hale, and
two other persons were present it was
about nine O'clock; l was told that Filkins
would be brought up about an hour and a
half before DIR. Armsby told me that Fill
kins would be brought up had not seen
what purpoIte d to be portrait of tilkins;
was not told that Filkins was in the build
ing; | saw my man when he came into the
| door"
The only grave doubts which can be
| thrown upon this direct testimony, appa-
rently, depends on descriptions of the rob-
| Der claimed aT the defense to have been
| given ill private by Halpine, which do not
| correspond with the appearance Of the pris
| oner. Eaipine being crOss-cxamined on
| these points, denied that he had given the
! alleged descriptions
| In his opening speech Mr.. William y.
| Hadley, counsel for the prosecution, gave a
long descriptive history of the crime, and
of the chase for Filkins, summing up by
stating in brief the points which the State
would attempt to prove. The principal
| points the counsel will seek to prove are as
follows: That Filkins had a motive to com.
nit the crime; that Filkins prepared him
self for its commission by looking for ps-
toll; that Filkins wanted pistol to use tOI
some purpose that night; that Filkins ac-
CURED the means to commit the crime by
purchasing the pistol and having its seven
chambers loaded; that Immediately before
the crime Fikins had no money;
| that Immediately after the crime FIJI
kins was in possession of a considerable
amount Of money; that considerable por
| ton the money stolen was fractional
currency; that the day after the robbery
| Fiikins was in possession of a considerable
amount of fractional currency; that the
man who got in the express car was an eX
| pert in getting in and out of cars when IN
| motion; that Filkins was such an expert;
| that the man who shot Halpine said bis
name was Jones'" that Filkins said "Mr
Jones' directed him to 60 to the Osborne
| House; that the man who shot Halplne SAID
| that he had made great many trips fol
| the express company; that F'ilkins had been
| pany; that the man who shot Halpine and
| opened the messenger safe must have had a
previous knowledge of the secret of opening
| it; that Filkins knew the secret mode OF
opening the messenger safe that the pistol
which Filkins purchased between four and
five O'Clock shot lialplne between eight and
nine; that while it was expected Halpine
would die, Filkins remained about the city
as usual; that when it was expected Hal
pine might recover, Filkins precipitateiy
| fled; that as soon as he was suspected Fill
| kins tried to escape from Justice; that the
manner and circumstances of his flight indi
cate conscious guilt; that Filkins tried tc
alter and disguise his personal appearance
| III order to avert pursuit; that FIlkins Is
positively identified by Halpinc as the man
who ahot him, and said his name was Jones
ana that Filkins had in his coat pocket
| when arrested, the identical shoemaker
knife with which the man who said his
name was Jones ripped open the money bags
| o. the express company.
An carly settler of Indiana planted two
trees in front Of his cabin, saying to his
wife that they should be the trees of then
| lives. In 1884 the one named after the man
| fell, and he survived it but little. Re