The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-01
THE CENTRAL PARK BANK ROBBERY.
Trial of the Prisoners ard Conviction o.
llurray-Sent TO State Prison for Twenty
Years.

Trial of the Prisoners and Conviction of
Nlurray-Sent TO State Prison for Twenty
Years.
Before Justice Bedford.
At the General Sc ssions yesterday, Walter Moffat
James woodruff and Joseph Murray were indicted
for robbery OF the Central Park Savings Bank and
an assault upon Mr. Andrew Ellis, the cashier
The bank is situated on Third avenue, between For.
tynftn and Forty sixth streets On the 3D. OF April
the complainant was officiating at his desk. and at
about half-past eleven O'Clock, Immediately after
the departure or some depositors, three men en-
tered the front door OF the bank, and approaching
Mr.. Ellis before he had time to suspect their pur.
pose jumped over the counter,
KNOCKED THE OLD GENTLEMAN ON TIE FLOOR,
placed handkerchief about his neck another In
his mouth, securely tied his feet together with
strong cord and in other ways secured him and pre-
vented his making any outcry. They then pro-
cecded to rob the bank OF $780, and were disturbed
in their burglary by the arrival OF DIR. Alexander
Hadden. The men escaped, but were subsequently
arrested and Identified
All the evidence In the case was received only
against Joseph Murray, who was on trial alone.
The other two defendants were placed at the bar Tor
purposes OF lientincation only, their trials having
been put oil until the conclusion OF Murrays case.
For
Mr.. Spencer called the record clerk OF the Tombs
Prison. who produced his book ana read on the
names OF Waltcr WOUdruH ana James MO1at, VINO
had confined charge OF carrying burglarious
instruments. They had only been released on the
Ilsn day OF Apreght days alter the robbery OF the
savings bank. The name OF Joseph Murray was not
ON the book.
A Mr.. Shields who keeps restaurant In First ave-
nue., near Thirty fourth street, testified that
THE PRISONER, MURRAY, WAS IN HIS PLACE
on the 80 OF April, the day OF the robbery, from
about nine O'Clock In the morning until after twelve
the same day; he remembered TINS distinctly, but
did not remember who asked him 10 appear as a
wItness-wheher u was the wife or the prisoner or
his mother that called on hm-but he thought It
was both mother and wiie; he thought the wife
came i'm the morning and the mother In the evening;
did not remember the day OF the month, the hour
the week; did not remember anything, In fact, but
that the accused was in his place at
THE TIME or THE ASSAULT
on Mr. Ellis
The prosecution conceded that the prisoners, who
were Jointly indicted with Murray-Woodrnn and
Monat-were I'm the Tombs prison from the Both OF
March until the 18th or April. Consequently, they
could not have been engaged In the robbery
After the prisoner testifying IN his own behalf the
case was submitted to the Jury under the charge OF
his Honor by consent OF counsel.
Judge Bedford simply charged that n the jury
credited the story told by the defenceviz that the
prisoner Murray was at Shields dining saloon at
the time the robbery was commtted-the accused
should be promptly acquitted but IT, the contrary,
they thought and believed that the prisoner was
ONE OF TIE PARTY
participating In the outrage, they should then render