New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-03-10
THE 4LBANY EXPRESS ROBBERY.
FILKINs TEsrIFIEs IN HIS OWN Defense.

FILKINs TESrIFIEs IN HIS OWN Defense.
ALBANY, March 9.-The prisoner, John J..
Flkns was placed upon the stand to-day, and testified
in his own defense. He first gave brief outline OF hs
life as follows: al am 81 years OF age; was Dorm ia
Chatham Columbia County; left there when II years
Of age; went Wayne County, worked on farn thefei
went back TO Chatham and staid three months; went
from there TO Canaan; staid two months; came TO Al
bany and drove team for two months; went back 10
Chatham staid three months went on the Boston and
Albany Railroad as brakeman in 1888: brakesInan
about four years. then was bage,geIpan about 'hre"
years; then went into the employ OF the Alneio. ~
nress Company between Springfield aud Boston; worked
at that until 1861 then run between Albany ana H0cn
Company as Superintendent OF transfer; a'ted a.
such two years and-s,haf; then they dIschaIgen
and Merchants Union Express Company, cor
sOldated sent for me; went in the express deliver
iivered freight" Concerning the buying Of pistol,
the day of the robbery he testified that ne MAJ 1o VA
street, that he would buy him psg, ana alt.rNa,"
vent to pavs sa9p 10 oSy Spc thew showed me one
they asked q for offered them 81 Tor lf IN case cou
get cartridges to 1T IT, went 70 hartns nt t 1i p 1
result from thence went To scott > DuI co9d gt
no no. carrdges; men tOIk mink t9 sd onehng about
going West not in seotts after this; went iron.
the pistol in Davis's did not try to gei pistol amy
where else" The prisoners account OF hl5 m1gesou'T
on the evening on which the robbery was eonnSeu ~S
as follows: :" went 10 MI Bentzs IN the LthnR "enV
home went down 10 No. I'D taitl w
ness detailed what has already been given IN IN teS-
mOny OF Gresman and BentLs family; u Was :. Wn",
L lett Bentzs; then / went hOlue went down '1hal
to Hawk; then up Hawk TO Orange; went dnd looked
I'm DOrrity's store, but did moi go In thcn went mp
Hawk to First up First TO swan, across Swan 0 LLin-
minutes when she left after Mrs. Stewart LETT thk
had OF my horses; think went INTO l;oot
stad around little while, then think went ana ciOsh
the store not at the Union Depot on Friday nlg,
January not in any car nor on the brdSe ! uu
not see Halpne discharge any pistol az MN on
that night; the nearest | To the depot was IN"
corner OF swan and Lumbersts; did Lot know halpne
heard OF the robbery at 81 O'Clock the next morning
Referring his fight after 10 reported that ne
would arrested, Fikins said: went 20 bed and
got up at "a O'clock mixed the bread then changed my
clothes; went away about oeloe&; uOnt kho" why
went; my wife laid my all night crying, ana NV
child in back OF the bed was also crying dd 10
knife took the broken shOemakers kne; tLe miro
had before been OF tho premises took $40 80 when
| left" 1880. .
being on the stand the counsel for the prosecution pro
posed 10 show that the policemen WHO searched fn
house took ambrOtype OF Fklns.tind that thn
picture was shown Hapne before the identification
In the hospital This Was objected 10 objection SUE
tanned by Court, and the counsel exception
Filkins's testimony to the identification,
which, it IL evident very carelessly conducted ~
follows: "They shachled me and told me they wero
going TO take 10 the hospitals: was taken into room
few minutes walked up STAINS and was marched ny
aOn yde OF Halpne; DR.. ArmsDy introduced Mr. Peck
ham Halpiue, when they both walked away nc asked
me If had ever seen him before; tod nm i Thought
asked him II he had ever seen ne DeiOrei nc suu,
think you are the who entered nay ear Two 'tehs
ago tonight, and sand your name JOnd; tod nm
he mistaken; he said, am s4lnedifl tien 500
deaf said il necessary should know now De Wa
satisfied; was then taken away"