The New York herald., 1874-10-24
THE STRANGE SAFE ROBBERY.

The STRANGE SAFE ROBBERY.
The Testimony Begun-startltng Dis
closures-Details OF the Burglary.
WASHINGTON, Oct. %, 1874.
In the trial OF Whitley, Harrington and Williams,
for the sale burglary conspiracy, on the opening
OF the Court to-day Mr.. Davidge suggested anu
MIR. Riddle coincided with him, that inasmuch as
several witnesses were in Court this morning for
the first time, they be called and placed under the
rule. The Court directed it 10 be done, aud they
were called by the Marshal, sworn by Judge
Humphreys, and placed under bonds OF $500 each
10 appear from day to day during the trial, their
own recognizance being taken, after which they
we're directed 10 retire outside OF the court room
and remain there until called upon to TESTIFY.
Mr.. Riddle resumed his remarks, saying when
the Court adjourned yesterday he had just asked,
"How may conspiracy be provedS'' A con-
spiracy may be proven as any other iact IT may
be done by concessions OF any OF the parties to the
conspiracy. 1t may he proved by the establish
ment OF other facts which verify 1t, and the
government expects to prove 1t by both OF these
methods. He then recounted each step taken by
Zirruth from his first step in Newark until the
completion Of the scheme, and said all these
things did not merely happen as ordinary events
happen. but occurred by preconcerted plan.
He then declared that the fact could be proven
that the plan was actually carried out upon
the Theory of this alleged conspiracy; that certain
articles were to be delivered into the hands or
Columbus Alexander as stolen property 1t be-
came necessary TO have this delivery made 80 pub
Acly that 1t could DC substantiated He would
here, and that preparations we're made 1or the
consummatton OF tue conspiracy, and that they as
TO Alexanqer's hoase. 1t became q part or the
g0vefnfHent's duty TO prove who we're the con-
spiraOrs and it expects to prove that the parties
arralgned, with others named in the indlctmenr
and others unknown, were the c0nspira ors. Each
consplrator was responsible for the acIs Of eaGa
OF the Others, but not particularly ny It's !
prosecution by agreements. IL Mr.. Riddle SAID he
showed that any one OF tness alleged consprators
proved that person conspirator, for IT Is pre-.
sumed tnat person did do what he intended to
ments and the perpetratlon OF the burglary,
endeavorlng 70 show that Whitley made the plans
Tece,ptea ior ] some OF the sslsgIams showing that
would be opened on wednesday or Thursday
night; tnat harrington did nothing on Wednesday
night; that on Thursday Harrington with hts own
hands procured two OF John Z. Evans books and
placed them In the safe himself; that by appoint
to the burglary and allowed them to take oDser-
vations OF the safe and the premises; that the
burglary was committed, and that half an hour
after the explosion OF the safe two gentlemen
came out OF the office. One OF them walked
pared to prove, whatever might be thought. The
other went 10 Alexandria, followed Dy his CON-
quired the way. He would also show that Har-
rington, Nettlesnip and Somerville met at the
were Afterwards called before the Con-
gressional Investigating Committee 10 SLOW
Snrrars au Yes neither Hsrrin1ton nor nor
Someryille mentioned this meeting at Phadel-
phis. He then told over the tricks and the dn-
burglars ana the truth away nom the Washing
Ion officials. When he tRlddle) was called to the
the Gsna ns been IN
session over q month, and yet not step had been
the Assistant bsrlct Atsorney HARRINGTON. WAS
resting under an imputation OF completely in the
burglary; He alluded to what he termed '.the set
ter had announced 10 the Court that the case
had passed out OF his hands entirely.
Mr.. Riddle concluded by reierr1ng to A. B. Will
liams and his connection with the case, and would
prove his frequent communications and NEE tngs
certain gentleman out Of the i city very mys-
teriQusly. via the Baltimore and Potomac Rail-
AT the conclusion OF Mr. Riddles remarks the
Court Took q recess till halfpast one r. NJ.
Mr.. Davldge said 1t was the wish OF the defence
to reserve any remarks for the present.
Major Richards, sworn py Mr.. Riddle. testified
that ne was superintendent OF Police; first met
Harrington on rnis subject on the 22d OF April last
me: him again at his tHarrnQtons) house on the
23d and was shown the letter or warning con.
corning the burglary, and Harrington tod him Of
lls Tears about 1t; promised to send oricers to
watch the once; harrington desired that only
once; while there Williams called to see Harring-
ton, and sent up MS card; Harrington directed
the servant to tell Williams TO wait; afterwards
the burglary; secresed themselves in the
onice; heard parties come INTO the ofilce
office 70 watch from some other posi-
near the CITY Hall, IN the shade OF q, blliposters
board; saw suspicious looking person leave the
same point and go across 10 the office; saw two
persons come up -Four -and "a haf street and enter
Harrington's ONCE; crossed over ana heard them
at work In the once; wanted 10 arrest them,, but
Harrington requested him TO walt TIL they came
out and then follow them and see II they went 10
Columbus Aexander's house; harrington said
tnat he had prepared q package aud placed IL in
the sale and wanted 10 see II they took II; thought
something serious was going on, and, fearing that
the parties might escape by the rear way, went to
Police Headquarters and got more policemen and
posted them to watch tue rear aey about one
O'Clock some one came out OF the office and looked
up and down the street; about ten minutes there
alter an explosion occurred In the once again
suggested TO Harrington they should go In aud
arrest the burglars; Harrington stii objected
about half an hour after the explosion
two parties came out, one going down Four-and-a-
half street, and the other, holding bundle,
started toward Fifth street. Richards and ! lo-
lowed MIN through several streets to the house OF
Columbus Alexander; arrested the man and took
Tofn nlm bundle; all OF us went TO Police Head
quarters. harrington was quite SICK after our ar
rival there and went into the street and vomtted
freely; during the whole Of the time OF the bur
glary | saw nothing tDat would lead me to sup
pose That the burglars were trying to conceal
themselves ur wished TO do while we were
watching the ONCE some one came across from ID
street, and. when on the pavement directly oppo-
site the once stopped and shufled his feet uuiJe
vigorously. whether as signal or not could not
determine; In the bundle were some account
books spoons, &c.
the Court then adjourned until tomorrow
STEAMSHIP CITY OF TOXIC,