National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-03-24
The Express RObber Trial.

1he trial of John j. Filkins, charged
with the express robbery and the at
tempted murder of Thomas A. Halpine,
the messenger, on the morning of Jan
6, was resumed at Albany. The details
Of the robbery will be gathered from
Halpine's testimony, which follows
Thomas A. Halpine sworn-Have been
i'll the employ of the Merchants Union
Express Company two years, and as
messenger eighteen months ; run from
Albany to Boston and back had charge
OF the money and express pack ages be-
tween those points; there is a car on the
Boston and Albany Railroad devoted to
the use Of the express. company, which
is in charge of messenger on Jan. 6,
| entered the car at 7:25 p. NJ, the train
left at 500: was engaged i'll putting
weights on the bills when the clr start
ed the ear had gone one length when |
heard a noise on south side saw man
enter he said, "Hello is that you :?
/ thought it was Woodland - Il said.
Where are you going 2" he came in
the door and stood in front OF the stove
he then cross Il over and shut the door !;
he stood so that the light fell on his face;
| looked at him j.; he said. Il going
just across the river = l said Il don't
know You : he said. MY name is
Jones | have run Il good many trips on
this road y he said "Where do you
put off first, at Chatham - told him
at Pittstield; | stood just west of the
lamp on the north side of the ear. 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 entered my right eve he then
stopped over me, and fired the third
shot III my ear; the feeling was awful
| felt him feeling for the keys then l
lost consciousness think the shot was
fired before the train got on the draw
after recovering consciousness, the car
was standing still; got up with my
hands over my head trying to reach the
bell-rope tried to call ont murder y
tried to open the door to get on the
platform when assistance arrived some
one asked me where | lived / said 213
Jay stree asked me- again, | said 2l3
Jay street baggage master on the train
was the first one recognized ; the first |
sad was, Il hope God will forgive
him : 30 my poor wife and baby"
Mr.. Rockwell was the first one from the
Express Office | saw think saw him
on the other side; said to him, IL
thought | was goner y some one said
to me on the platform. Would you
know the man - | said would If ever
saw him recollect speaking TO another
man, who asked me how l felt and talk
ed to me about religion the blood was
in my mouth and throat the first shot
caused large flow of blood my mouth
and stomach was full of blood, and ut
terance was indistinct felt checking
sensation in my throat was placed on
car conveyed to Dr. Armsby's office,
where an operation was performed
the bullet in my neck was cut out by
Armby from Armby's Office l was taken
to the hospital was there four weeks;
| know who that man was who entered
the car and fred those shots it was the
prisoner have no doubt at all that he is
the mani am satisfied / do not know
the amount in the safe that night there
were bags delivered to me; put them
in the safe and locked them up; | can.
not tell what was in the bags the bags
were of canvas, open at one end, tied
with string, and sealed; they We're
delivered to me in that condition, and
placed in the safe