St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1871-01-27
The Iib0ny Express Robbery.

IIalpinc, the wounded express mcssen-
ger, continues to improve rapidly, and is
able to walk about his room. The dr.
gus says:
1t is very generally believed that the
amount stolen was largely in excess Of
what was PAIL She'd Ima parties piac
ing il rs high us from $4,000 TO $40,
600. for it is generally kno"n that that
pal ticular train carried all the remit an
cc5 from river towns AMI from the West
TO their Eastern correspondents. The
repeated refusal of the express company
to distinctly state the amount of loss
the large reward they Immediately of
fcrcd the unrising zeal of their repre-
sentative here, Mr.. Dwight, all tend to
give truth 10 thcSS rumors OF very
heavy loss.
Filkins was taken before IIalpine
Friday morning, in company with seven
other persons. Upon IIalpinc's being
asked if he recognized any one of the
eight as his assailant, he at once said,
''you," taking hold of Filkins' coat,
"arc the man that got into my car and
said that your name was Jones" Pre-
vious to taking Filkins before Iialpinc,
the latter was shown 4 handful Of photo
graphs, among which was one of Fiiklns
which he readily recognized. The ex-
animation Of FiIkins was continued at
Albany on Friday, and the drift Of the
testimony WIS strongly against him.
The young man who sold the pistol iden-
tilted him is the purchaser.
Another account says: lIa!pine was
sitting in | hospital chair, leaning back,
with his head supported upon Il pillow,
looking very feeble, as if FRUSTRATED by
severe illness. His young wife was
standing by his side, leaning upon his
chair, her face white rs marble, an her
eyes fixed upon her husband. There
were present District-Attorney Peck
ham, Chief Detective Hale and his as
>istant, Dr. Armsby, his attending sur
geon, and DIR. VIM. IIai'es, resident
physician of the hospital. Filkins
walked quickly INTO the room and stood
before lialpinc, who had watched, in
tently, every movement lac made from
the instant he cntcre the door. After
standing thus a moment, Filkins stood
seemingly unmov d before IIalpine
llaipinc requested him to change his
position, 50 rs To turn his face first to the
right and then to the left. IIalpine
lookcl stra lily at F,lkinS for one or two
minutes in the several position, lie had
assumed, and said: you are the man
who SAID to me your name was Jones. >
FIlkIn>: Il am not the man Hal
pine: Have you ever seen he before ?
Filkin>: Il have never seen you he
fore, Have You ever seen me- before =
lla!pInc: i never SAW you but once
before, and that WAS two weeks ago TO-
ni.it'
t'ilki;.S at this moment sank down in
Il CHAIR. After Il pause FIlkins said {:
i think | saw you once before in the
Central Railroad yard IIalpine: Were
you ever i'll those express cars ? FIJI
kin>: Yes; had chargr of tie Mer-
chants Union Express three years.
lIalpinc: Did you know Woodland >
Fl!kinS, Yes knew Woodland, Smith
and Wcathcrwax. did not know you.
After Il pause of five minutes or more
during which time Ilalpine fixed his
steady, - ,rciIim" gaze upon FIlkins, he
called DIR. Arm>by to his side and said
4 am satisfied. drnpt wish 10 have
him remain any longer
Considerable criticism is TO the man
ncr in which this interview WAS arranged
i INDUCED by people experienced in
such matters. Gov. Hoffman Is report
eel aS >ayinL the right way would have
been for the police to have made a num-
her of persons enter Happiness presence,
one after the other, 50 that lac could
have examined each ut leisure No hint
Or word that could give him an ilea IL
TO which Of the men WAS the suspected
party should have been allowed to reach
his ears, ~ this matter of identification
Is u very uncertain thing. "Gricrous
the Governor l. reported 10
have said, ''lavr often been made III not
taking proper measures 10 guard against
them. In the case OF F'iikin5 the COM
nunily of Albany has fixed upon him rs
The murderer. luu can feel the precon-
lrmnatIon in the atmosphere. This
TACT, ii none other, should have made
hose who had the identification in
:har2c all the more cautious and pru-
lent"