Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-12-24
A Scrap OF Paper Saves a Man From
State Prison.

For several days past the Essex Coun-
ty Court of Quarter Sessions In Newark
has been absorbed in the trial of young
New Yorker named Patrick McCarra-
CHER on an indictment for completely in
the wholesale series of burglaries per-
petrated during last summer in the sub
urbs of Newark by one Louis Walrabe,
alias Meyer, "the Orange Mountain
burglar" The circumstances of the case
are exceedingly interesting and reveal
degree of laundering and looseness in
the administration of justice which fur
nishes the reverse of a flattering COM
mentary on Jersey justice" about
which the ey.Statc of Camden and Am
boy is wont to be so proud, and, In the
main, justly, indeed, as the sequel will
show; it was only by chance that an in
nocent man was saved from conviction
of crimes which would have consigned
him to State Prison for ten or fifteen
years and his octogenarian mother to
her grave.
The facts in the case are as follows:
This w alrabe, alias Meyer, above men.
toned, had found against him twenty
five indictments, the full penalty for
which, in case of conviction, would reach
nearly 100 years sentence in the State
Prison. lie had several accomplices.
One Of these, Richard Barrett, was also
arrested and indicted. Walrabe, in the
hope of having his sentence toned down
three or four score years, pleaded guilty
and turned States evidence. Through
him it was hoped to sweep in quite a
gang of burglars. Barrett stood trial
and was promptly convicted. In the
meantime Walrabe said certain James
Murphy was an accomplice. He gave
description Of the latter to the Newark
Chief of Police, who took II down in
writing on scrap OF foolscap and gave 1t
to Detective Becker Becker went to
New York and saw McCarragher 60 in
and out of Barrett's house. This excited
in Becker's head the idea that he might
ba implicated, 80 lie induced McCarra-
CHER to go to Newark with him, saying
that he might be able to do something
for Barrett. On reaching Newark what
was McCarragher's amazement to find
that Walrabe, seeing him, declared that
he was James Murphy. Upon this
evidence the Grand Jury indicted Nc
Carragher as an accomplice of Walrabe.
He was placed on trial, and the evidence
seemed pretty strong against him, though
his friends and employers--all highly
respectable people--came from New
York and did all they could for him;
proving him person of unblemished
reputation. But Walrabe swore that
McCarragher was Murphy. During the
trial 1t came out that the paper upon
which WAS the description given by Wal
rabe TO the Chief and by the Chief to
Becker was lost. The case went TO the
jury on Monday at two O'Clock. They
were out all night. Yesterday forenoon
the Court sent for them and McCar-
ragher. The Court handed them q scrap
of paper, saying that that doubtless
would facilitate their deliberations.
They took searching look at the pris-
oner, retired, and in few minutes re-
turned with a verdict OF acquittal.
The paper was the description of Muir
ply. II called for q person the very
opposite in appearance from McCar-
ragher, light-complexioned person,
whereas McCarraghcr is dark. AS mat
ter of course there was great rejoicing
among the friends of McCarragher over
his hair-bresdth escape from felon's
doom.--N. r. Herald.