National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-10-27
DISTRICT SAFE BURGLARY.
THE TESTIMONY ELICITED AT THE
TRIAL YESTERDAY.

CONCLUSION OF MAI. RICHARDS EXANI-
NATIoN-HE ACTED ON Mr.. HARRING-
TONS ORDER EVIDENCE OF WI. NJ.
EVANS AND JOSHUA PARKER.
The trial of Whitley and others, charged with
the safe burglary conspiracy, was resumed in the
Criminal Court yesterday, Mr.. JHstiee Hum
phreys presiding. The attendance Of spectators
continued large, and ths interest apparently un-
absted.
The Jury was called at the opening Of the co1rt,
and after some observations to the jury ss TO the
case, the court directed that If any of them had
read any newspaper, not merely IN reference to
this case, bat any newspaper stall, they should
hereafter cease TO do So and that they should not
converse with anyone or receive any documents
from any one without the consent Of the court.
He might feel it incumbent to keep the jury to-
getber, under the control of an otheer Of the
Maj. Richards resumed his testimony in chief,
being examined by Mr.. Riddle He testified that
Mr. Harrington said that the result of that night
had not complicated Mr.. Alexander as he had
expected and that It ought to be given out TO the
civ. Eithout any mention to the special place.
Accordingly, when reporters came next day, they
were sent to Mr.. Harrington, as witness did net
want to give the information. There was an IN
Outstanding that after the arrest was completed
news was to be sent to the clubhouse, where, he
understood, there would be something to eat;
Mr.. Harrington had previously told witness that
on the night before the burglary he had caused
his Office 70 be lighted up.
The cFOss-examination was then begun by Mr..
Davidge. Witness did not recollect that where
they all stood and saw Benton ring Alexander's
bell that Harrington said in reply 70 witness eK
clamation that "Alexander is In II, )" "Oh, no; no
man of sense, If he was in II, would have the pa
pers brought direct to his home" Witness first
Impression was that the anonymous letter sent to
Harrington was sell. He had, however, men
toned 20 Mr.. Harrington that similar letter
had led TO the prevention Of robbery in Hoods
jewelry store. Witness concurred with Mr. H.
that this robbery took place it would be proper
to take such steps as might show what the parties
who were to commit the burglary were seeking
to obtain. When 1t was first arranged to watch
the building It was agreed that Harrington and
witness should watch inside in little back room,
and Mr.. Clarvoe should watch outside. The door
of this room opens into porch, and that porch
runs down into the back yard. Witness knew
that burglars could not get out back from the
which witness and Harrington first watched; after
one or two parties had come in and gone out Of
the house witness had asked where the colOred
janitor was and on Harrington saying he was at
the clubhouse witness had said that 1t would not
do for him to come there; 1t would interrupt the
burglars: Mr.. Evans was then sent to tell the
ianitor not to come back; after awhile both left
the building, and went out by the back alley
around: it was the drifting about Of his men
about Clarvoe or what he had seen; when witness
and Harrington came up on the City Hall side.
opposite the office, and stopped In the shade OF
the billboard, Mr.. Thos. shepherd passed: wit
ness does not recollect whether the two burglars
had at that time entered the house or not; during
the time the burglars were IN the All
those who watched frequently changed their DO
sitiOns; during that time others came up; when
witness stationed McElfresh, Sargent and Miller
at the rear he did not order them TO arrest the
burglars If they came out back but to follow them
and report to the parties watching in front; wit
ness, when the men came out, did not hear Har-
ringtOn say to Shepherd, TON, run and tell the
men in the rear they have come outs" witness did
not ask Williams at any time what became Of the
BURGLAR wS TRo otSr S Wsn T sanv FINN
and E streets; witness could not say pos
itively at what point on E street Benton
crossed from one side of the street to the other;
it was somewhere between Fifth and Seventh
streets. As they followed Benton they constantly
neared him until, when he reached Tenth street,
witness told Clarvoe when they were at HIS
house to remain below was that he did not know
that ClarYoe had gone there on the same bust
ness as he had; the reason which induced him not
to call ClarvOe up while he and Harrington
talked was one he would prefer not to state as it
might do injustice to Mr.. Clarvoe. The reason
witness did not interfere with Mr. Harrlngton's
plans was that Mr.. H. had told him he was ar
ranging line of evidence to be used with refer
ence TO this burglary; for this reason he wished
that Mr.. H. should have a full opportunity to de-
Telop his plan.
At this point recess was taken.
When court reassembled Mr.. Riddle asked
the witness: If you had acted on your own
judgment would you have arrested the burglars
while they were at work in the ONCE?
To this question the defence objected, and after
some discussion the following was substituted
and allowed by the court:
OF L06 arrest, 81 what III The
course Of the evening did you propose to arrest
these burglars.
a. As soon as they entered the ONCE.
Major Richards announced that in falling to
arrest the burglars in arresting Benton at last
he acted upon the order of Mr.. Harrington.
VIM. S. Lee. Witness was a Metropolitan po-
lice officer. On April q last was at police head
quarters as telegraph officer. At ll30 that night
he was called by Major Richards TO take charge
Of the rear Of the District Attorneys office. As
he went there he met Mr.. Harrington and Thos.
Shepherd, and Harrington said want you to
watch the burglars; If they come from my office
you are to ''pipe" them.
Mr.. Riddle. To pipe" means to follow.
Witness thought ne needed assistance, and after
meeting Major Richards ran down to EOur-and-a-
m vbs oT ad b ~ sg saa SsE
and found three detectives there. Soon after he
went to police headquarters and walked into the
street in front; there heard an explosion and went
back. Some time after Harrington, MAJOR Rich
ards and the detectives. came with Benton, who
had been arrested. The bundle found with Ben
ton was examined and Benton locked up.
VIM. NJ. Evans, lawyer, testified that he has
been employed in the District Attorneys office
for two years. letter sboWn.) Witness got that
letter, envelope and all from the post office. The
letter was shown on the day before the burglary,
It a Joke, but Harrington took the information
more seriously, and thought there might be some
thing in it. He afterwards told witness to tell
JOSH the Jantor, to sleep in his room that night.
Mr.. Gloss, Mr.. Harrington and Judge Fisher had
rooms in the building. Josh usually slept there.
In the afternoon Mr.. Harrington asked witness to
open the safe. Witness had the combination. He
said be was going to put some papers in the safe
in order if the safe was broken open and anything
taken he might be able to identify 1t. Witness
knows nothing Of Mr.. H. putting any Of J. q.
Evans books in the safe, except Mr.. H. g state
ment to the Congressional committee. Mr.. H.
put in a bundle Of considerable size. Wit
ness closed the safe, and saw Mr.. H. no more
until about 7:3O O'Clock. when witness came back,
in pursuance with an understanding with Mr.. H,
who had told him that the safe was TO be watched
that night and he might be wanted; he came &C
eOrdtngly and laid down on the sofa in Judge
Fishers room. After some coming and going,
witness was called into the little back room,
where Harrington and Richards were, and heard
them talking together; Richards said that II the
burglars came in they might kill Josh. the lani-
tor, and witness was told TO 90 to the clubhouse
and tell josh not to come back; witness told him
not to go away until he saw Mr. Harrington, and
witness went to the clubhouse and stayed TO see
that he did not 20. He saw there Messrs Mat
tingly, BOteler and Stanton. Witness remained
at the clubhouse until about one o'clock, and
then went home. When witness when to see Mr..
Harrington, on the first day, he was at Welcker's
taking o lunch with Mr.. Kilbourn and ]. o.
Evans. He told Mr. Harrington that he had that
evening saw one Jensen go into the office and up
stairs; Harrington then told witness to tell Josh
TO light up the office and stay there all night.
Joshua Parker, janitor Of the District attorneys
ONCE, testified that on the morning Of the bur-
glary he heard that 1t was to take place that
night. On the night previous he HAD slept in the
He had said before the Congressional committee
that he did not know whether he had lighted up
or not but now he recollected perfectly that he
had done so. On the night Of the burglary Har-
rinRtOn told witness to go the clubhouse and wait
until 10 O'Clock. On the afternoon Of the burglary
witness had in the safe some spoons. some deeds,
and a twenty dollar gold piece. Has had no con-
Yersation with these parties since the meeting of
the grand jury, but does not recollect the matter
now as he did when he testified there. H.. Har-
rlngton did not as witness recollects, promise
witness that If any Of his goods were stolen he
would makeit good.
Mr.: RIDDLE. Did you not SO swear before the
grand jury?
Mr.. DaTidge objected to the question, and after
some discussion the question was withdrawn.
1t was then determined by the court to meet at
II and continue the session until $3.50 o'clock.
FIFTH AND LAST GIFT CONCERT IN