Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-03-29
MORE STEALING,
a Young Lady is Robbed of Her Trunk AZ
the Depot.

On Saturday Mr.. James Ogden, General
Freight and Ticket Agent of the East Ten
nessee, Virginia and Georgia Railroad, re-
ceived q telegram from Huntsville, stating
that trunk was short which had been
checked No. 81, from Bristol to Hunts
vile, Ala. He at once examined the bag
gage masters reports and found that the
trunk was short between Bristol and Erin.
He also learned that trunk had been put
off here with n Knoxville and Bristol
check, No. 81 on the night train of the
18th or 18th. Mr.. Ogden, thinking he had
a clue to the whereabouts of the trunk ,tele-
graphed to Huntsville for n full description
of the same and yesterday received the fol-
lowing reply:
New Saratoga, marked OH card, Miss
Emile j. Richardson; contains lady's
complete wardrobe, jewelIy, &C."
Policeman Pat Cain and others discover
ed the trunk yesterday, and arrested one
of the men implicated.
From partial hearing before Esquire
Ochs, A. ]. Kicks, Esq, appearing as at
torney for the Road and J. G. J. Williams,
Esq, for the defense, we gather the follow
ing facts: Taylor Williams baggage
master left Bristol on the evening of the
18th with Il pieces baggage, three of which
were checked to Chattanooga. A gentle
man came to him, asked him to change the
checks on these three trunks to Huntsville,
stating that he could not get them checked
through to Huntsville on the Virginia
road. The baggage master made the
change, and knows that it was right, "a
they compared the corresponding numbers
and the man felt satisfied. After Mr..
Williams arrived here and had turned over
his baggage and taken receipt colored
man by the name of Pritchard, who was
| Il a
called for one of the trunks which had
been checked for Huntsville, but was then
checked to some other place, claiming that
the lady had concluded to stop over here.
He presented a corresponding check and
took the trunk. AS before stated, Mr.. Og-
den having received notice of the loss of
the trunk, he told Col. Isam Young to look
the matter up, who yesterday, having
grounds for suspicion, with the assistance
of Policeman Cain, searched the house of
Samuel Jordan, u colored man, and then
finding Wesley Williams, q former brake
man, they asked him if the trunk was
there. He denied its being there, but after
Mr.. Cain found the trunk stored away in
| the loft, Williams claimed that
Pritchard brought it to him and told
him to keep it until lady would call
and pay him ten dollars. He afterward,
| however, admitted to Cain that Pritchard
had given it to him in another house, and
| told him TO keep it until tine lady would
call and pay the ten dollars, and that he
himself carried it over to where it was
| found. Cain arrested Williams, but so far
Pritchard has not been found. 1t is to be
hoped, however, that by the time the trial
is to be concluded, (the court having set
| Monday, at z. NJ, for the further hearing
of tn cause) he will also be in the hands of
the law, that the partners in crime may
bear each other company in the punish
ment.
The trunk is said to be one of the best
and finest ever seen in this city, and was
the property of lady who had just
| returned from Germany, containing her
entire wardrobe as well as valuable jewelry,
and of course would have been no mean
prize. The trunk had not been opened,
! probably owing to the fact of its being of
so superior make that it would have been
impossible to open it without creating con-
siderable noise and causing detection, the
place where the trunk was first kept being
in the rear and not far from the Atkin
| House. The trunk, without reference to
the contents, is valued at $25. Williams
not being able to give bail for his appear
ance on Monday for further examination,
was sent to Jail.
The case of the State VS.. Wesley Will
lams, charged with being a party to the
stealing of the trunk of Miss Emile Rich
ardson, from the East Tennessee, Virginia
and Georgia Railroad Company, referred
to in Sundays CHRONICLE, was concluded
yesterday. After hearing all the evidence,
Squire Ochs, in default Of bail, committed
Williams to Jail to await the action of the
next Grand Jury. In his decision the
Magistrate said that the evidence showed
that the trunk was one Of unusual size of
unusual value and one to attract al
tention anywhere. The defence WI 8
that the trunk had been pawned 10
Pritchard, a colored brakeman, now fu-
gitive, for ten dollars the lady finding her
self out of money. Williams claimed that
Pritchard turned the trunk over to him for
a debt, telling him that it was pawned to
him and that it was TO be delivered back
to her on her paying ten dollars. The
Magistrate said the evidence showed that
Williams tried to conceal the trunk and
denied that it was in the house when the
officers came for it. All this, the Squire
said, convinced him that ms duty was to
commit the defendant, which he did.
Pritchard, who is unquestionably the
chief offender. is still at large. Williams
proved good character and seems to have
many friends who feel confident of ulti-
mately proving him innocent.
The Centennial Meeting.