Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1871-02-22
BeunehoF Robbery Trial.

Our readers will remember the Ben
nehoff robbery in Venango county
some years ago, in which old Mr.. Ben
nehoff was assaulted in his own house
by7porsons in disguise, who after re-
lieving him Of a large amount Of mon
ey, made their escape. About q year
ago, one of the accessories was arrest
ed in Olio, where he was living on
his ILL., gotten gains. He was convict
ed and sentenced TO prison for a year;
but he has now got out, and it seems
is making things livey for some Of the
witnesses against him. Below we give
an extract taken from tho Titusville
Herald.
An interesting case is now before
the court at Franklin More than a
year ago, one Shoppcrt was tried and
convicted as an accessory in the great
Bennehoff robbery. The principal
testimony against him was given by
two accomplices, Waldo and Miller,
whose evidence was secured by aprom-
ise on the part of the prosecution that,
in consideration therefore, no further
proceedings should be taken against
Them. But now Shoppert has served
out his year in prison, and "goes for"
his comrades who SO meanly "went
back on him. The Testimony ofShop.
pert is very interesting, and we shall
try TO giveit fully in another issue
Its said to be very damaging to two
or three Meadville lawyers and some
one or two detectives.
A curious feature in the case at pres
ent is, that Mr. Bennehoff is assisting
Wade and Miller in their defense. =
Mr.. B. recovered, ii is said, forty or
fifty thousand dollars of his stolen
money, and never expects to get what
the professional "cracksmen" received
for their work or what James S@ger,
the superintendent Of the whole affair,
took with him to Europe, Asia or Af
rica. A detective or two have sued
Mr.. Bennehoff for the reward offered
for the detection Of the thieves. ii
Wade and Miller are now convicted OF
the robbery, the case of Detective VS.
Bennehoff will be materially strength
ened for the plaintiff; hence the anx,
iety of Mr.. b. TO shield the parties
now arraigned and thus frustrate the
ends Of Justice The case is before
Judge Turnkey, Associate Judges Con.
nelly and Mccormick, with a sound
jury, and we have no doubt but the
law will be thoroughly vindicatod.
LATER.
James Seger, Hugh Donnely, alias
Hugh Donaldson, Louis Waldo, George
Miller, ct al. Indictment, robbery. =
This is the second edition of the Ben.
nehoff robbery, committed on the
night of January 10th, 1868. Two oi
the defendants, Louis Waldo and
George Miller, were placed on trial
the first as principal in the robbery
and the second as an accessory before
the fact. The suit has occupied tht
court over two days and was closely
contested by the counsel on both sides
On Friday, after the evidence had
been closed, and while the counse
were addressing the jury, it became
the defendants had left without await
ing the result. Inquiry was mad,
and it proved correct, for Loui. Wald,
was not TO be found. The telegraph
and other means were brought int
requisition and in few hours tht
prisoner was again in custody, having
been captured in Meadville. The Jury
after an absence of about six hours
returned with verdict Of guilty as to
George Miller The court ordered thu
jury TO be taken back to their room
and loft together until to morrow
when the verdict as 10 Waldo will be
received, ifthe sherif'roturns with him.
STILL LATER.
Friday morning, during the progress
of the trial in this case, about halfpast
ten o'clock, Wade left the Court room
and made his escape to MeadviIe,
where be was captured Friday after.
noon by Sheriff Herpst and brought
back to Franklin on the eight o'clock
train on Saturday morning. Court
convened this morning Saturday al
halfpast eight o'clock, when the jury
came in with a verdict of guilty as to
Miller as he stood indicted, and guilty
as TO Waldo on the third count in the
Indictment, viz; of being an accessory
before the fact
A motion was made by defendants
counsel for arrest Of judgment, and
ably argued by Taylor and Marsh for
defendants, and s. b. Myers, Esq, for
plaintiff, and was refused by the Court.
when Wade was sentenced to the
penitcntiary for five years and one
month, and Miller for one year and
ono paopfh