The New York herald., 1871-01-21
THE ALBANY EXPRESS ROBBERY.
| HALPINE AND FILKINS FACE TO FACE.
Fillxins Identified as the At.
tempted Murderer.
THE PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION


Fllkins, the man whom suspicion fastened upon
as the attempted murderer OF Hapine. the express
messenger, was confronted with his victim TO-DAY
and was positively identified by him as the person
who entered his car and shot HIM, two weeks ago.
The District Attorney OF the county, Mr.. Reikham,
had arranged that Filkins should be taken to the
hospital where Hapine was early IN the forenoon.
The prisoner was sitting in chair when the Dis
trfct Attorney, Filkins and three other gentlemen
entered His wife was standing by his side and
looked anxiously and nervously toward the
visitors as the door opened. 1t had been supposed
that number of persons would be made to assem-
BILE in the room and that Halpine would be requested
to point out, II he was among them, the party who
had attacked him; but strange to say, such was not
the case. The gentlemen accompanying the District
Attorney were the chief detective and three sur
geons whom Halpine had previously seen on several
OCCASIONS and when the party entered he, OF course
knew quite well that Fiklns was stranger. Be-
sides Halplns was informed that the man with whom
he was to be confronted was to be brought before
him for identification, and this fact may have had
certain influence upon him. This may be the right
way OF Identifying man according to Albany IDEAS,
but 1t looks rather uncertain One to say the least
Filkins strobe boldly into the room and placed
himself before Halpine, who had eyed him intenty
from the moment he had entered the room. The
pr isoner looked in n0wise shaken and returned the
searching gaze Of the wounded man without the
slightest sign OF nervo usness. Halpine moved his
mead forward O little from the pillow against which
it rested as Filklns went near him, and for lew
seconds stared at the prisoner as though he was de-
termined TO make him finch. But all to no purpose.
His stare was returned with ten-f0d determination.
Nine out of ten innocent men, weighed down with
the suspicious thoughts Of an entire community,
under the same circumstances would have given
way before the searching glance OF the express
Filkins was apparently unmoved.
'stand with your side to me-" said Halplne
finally. FilkinS did as requested, turning about
twice, as to show his profile, left ana right. Hal
pine then looked at him steadily for moment as If
meditating within himself, and then exclaimed,
''YOu are the man who said to me your name was
Jones'"
"Have you ever seen me before ~ asked Hapine.
81 have never seen you before" and after a slight
pause Fllkins inquired, "Have you ever seen me be-
Il never saw you but once before, and that was
two weeks ago to-night."
Fiikins at this moment sank down In chair and
exclaimed,
Railroad yard"
Were You ever in those express carsS"
ayes; had charge oil the express cars for the Mer
chants Union Express three years."
did you know WOodwardr'
ayes; knew woodward Smith and weatherwax.
I did not know y0u."
Halpine, without saying q word, looked at him
steadily for minute Two, and then called one OF
the surgeons TO his side and said-"I am satisfied.
/ do not wish to have him remain any longer"
two hours al ter this interview before Justice McNa
mara George Benedict, q train MASTER was the
first witness. He testified to hearing the pistol shots
bag cut open. The other railroad witnesses exam
ined testified to the same facts, all being corrobora
tive in their material points
II Is said, do not know with what foundation OF
truth, that o day or two ago Halpne WAS shown O
photograph OF Filkns, and was made aware OF all
the facts as to the suspicion which had been excited
concerning him. He ut once recognized In the pho
tograpb the likeness OF his assailant 1t is said. If
this be as stated there was good deal Of bungmg,
as far as the police were concerned.
In a conversation l had with Governor Holman
on the subject this afternoon, he being totally ig
norant OF the manner In which Fllkns had been
confronted with Halpine, remarked:-"I hope the
people who brought Fllkns before Hapine took
good care In the matter. l don't know what
they did but the right way should
have been for the police to have made
a number OF persons enter Halpine's presence, one
after the otner, so that he could have examined
each ~ leisure. No hint or word that could give
him an idea as TO which OF Tie men was the sus-
pected party should have been allowed TO reach his
ears: for assure you this matter OF identification Is
very uncertain thing. Grievous mistakes have often
been made In not taking the proper measures TO
guard against them. In the case oil Ftlklns tue
comm unity OF Albany has fixed upon him as the
murderer. You can feel the precondemnation IN the
atmosphere, This fact II none other should nave
made those who had the Identification in charge all
the more cautions and prudent"
CIRCUMSTANCES, u must be said, point very
strongly TO Filkins being the guilty party, but ne
stu strua1i' protests Ills iunoceASe.