National Republican., 1875-09-14
The CASE OF SNYDER.
DID JOHN GREEN. PLAY pAYIEL EDEl
an ATTENEr TO DISCOVER His IDENTITY
THE PRELIMINARY HElaIIG N HlIIiHln
NO WITNESSES FOR DEFENSE CALLED
The Case Postponed Until Wednesday
Then Green VIII Attempt an Alibi-
Interest Manifested I'm the Pro
eeedings - Two Witnesses
Identify the Mantle
Scenes I'm Court.

That the people Of the District feel an interest
in the matter Of the illegal release OF the man
Snyder, who robbed Perry's store, was evidenced
BY the fact that yesterday morning representa-
tive from each Of the city papers was ct the depot
Of the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Company
ready to take the train which would carry them
to the preliminary hearing Of the man Green,
charged with personating David Edes. There
were seven In the party, and they were aug
mented by the arrival Of Major Richards and Q
gentleman friend, who seemed anxious to know
the result Of the proposed examination.
While waiting for the departure Of the train
Mr.. Barker, the Washington representative OF
the Pullman Palace Oar Company, appeared
upon the scene, and with forethought worthy Of
the company be represents he at once suggested
that palace car was none too good for the party,
and on q vote being taken, 1t was agreed that
Brother Barker knew whereof he spoke, and the
car he placed at our disposal was accepted and
used without the usual formality OF . vote Oh
thanks, but the generous gentleman and his COM
pany may rest assured that It was duly appre-
ciated. Baltimore was reached ia due season,
and at the depot Detective George MoElfresh
was found in waiting to convey us to the temple
of justice.
Some of us who were we'll acquainted stopped
by the Wsyside to interview Mother Teach"
woodruff, and from there to call on Smith, Pier
son and West, the independent detectives OF the
Monumental City. By the way,the Battle monu-
ment was duly decorated, and the surviving gen.
tlemen of the Old Defenders, who had ofticiated
at the battle Of North Point, were OF some where
on holiday trip having q good time all to them
selves.
For this spark OF patriotism we felt truly grate-
full. 1t was an evidence that in the busy matter
offact Uhirl Of every day life, with its terrible
responsibilities, we could find time to honor he
roism which had helped to purchase our birth.
risht.
But away from sentiment and facing stubborn
facts. step from the Battle monument, and
almost aKdecade from the event which it com
memorates, we are called by stern duty to look
upon the eventful history OF to-day The special
episode is the preliminary hearing Of John Green,
charged with the grave ofense Of personating
David Edes of this city In the matter Of giving
bail for Snyder the man arrested for the burglary
OF Perry's store, In August last The excitement
over the case which has been 80 fruitful topic OF
conversation in this city, has extended to Balti-
more, and there 1t is readily seen there are two
sides to the question Of guilt and innocence Of the
accused.
1 The man was arrested by alUnitedsStates dep
uty marshal, assisted py Detectives Sargent and
McEIfresh, and lodged in jail on Friday night.
where he remained until yesterday awaiting his
hearing, which was set for yesterday.
The warrant was issued by United States Com
missioner R. L. Rogers, and as q consequence the
hearing was fixed before him, and yesterday the
meagre quarters which hold his majesty the COM
missioner were crowded with the interested ones.
The quarters were crowded, but his majesty was
not and would not be. The shadow Of Andrew
Jackson, which looked down spprovingly from
q pine frame on the wall, forbade It; the stern
countepance Of the elder Adams, which added its
Nha MIA
to the ofacial, and If any incentive were needed
the array Of faces In the room said palmer than
words could say, "Mr. Commissioner, do your
duty"
2hese faces were those Of officials used to such
scenes, and who were, not liable to be Influenced
by any sentiment, but among them there is Q
divefsity of opinion to the guilt innocence Of
the accused, q fact which was lapparent to the
casual observers.
The commissioner himself deserves notice.
At the head Of table austere in its build he sat,
the personihcation of justice. As even as the
scales Of the blind, impartial goddess, whom he
represented was the furrow on his closely -shaven
head. As unrelenting as fate was the-sene of
ms voice; in fact he felt and appreciated the i'm
portance of the occasion. The small room swelled
into magnificent proportions, and the commits
sioner was Tor the nonce q Marshall or Cock
burn. In front Of him were the highest police Of
fcIals of the two cities OF Washington and Baltl-
more, the representatives of the press, the wit
nesses of the State, the prisoner accused Of o
grave crime, but in that group the identity OF the
court was not lost and the court did not intend 1t
should be.
He cleared his throat with a preparatory
"hem." pitched his voice an octave higher than
m.s ms wont, looked as wise as an owl and stern
as fate and then called slime" The prisoner
sat In a seat in one corner as quiet as though he
> &C an invited guest. To the left of him was q
bailIf, and in the rear hiding from the frowns OF
his august majesty, was the reporter Of the Sun.
Dr. Cole, Of the Gazette, who seemed to have no
fear even OF this terrible commissioner, took the
W washington press men in charge and furnished
them with such meagre accommodations as the
limited quarters afforded, and for this he has
now and here our thanks. Mr.. Commissioner
Rogers If he has occasion to try many such cases
should increase bis quarters and make the United
States pay for them.
He should also learn how to treat company, q
Lesson which he seems to have sadly forgotten, rs
was evidenced yesterday by his utter ignoring Of
his distinguished guest.
When the case was called the Commissioner
sent an emissary after the United States Dis
trict Attorney, and as that legal luminary did
not appear at once he took occasion to say that II
he did not soon come in he would dismiss the
complaint. The attorney referred to, Mr.. Archi-
bald Stirling, Jr., however, made his appearance
before the dire threat was put into execution, and
the Ill fated barber was required to SIT in the
prisoners dock. He (the prisoner Green) had as
his counsel Mr.. John Wills, and while Mr.. W.
may not be the most brilliant man In his profss.
sion, talk Of q moment will satisfy one of his
honesty and devotion to his principal.
The care was opened at 0 few moments after
o'clock, with Mr.Henry Barton on the stand, and,
as will be seen by the testimony, the old gentle
man swore that he could see q scar no larger than
q twenty-five cent piece distance OF twenty-iv
or thirty feet. Henry Lacy, the discharged dep
and swore alEo to the telltale scar, which he no.
ticed with particularity not one Of Henry's fall.
ings
Mr.. Barton was the first witness and he swore
that on the day the bail was given he was in the
rear of the courtroom, and saw the prisoner
(Green) enter, and heard him swear that he was
David Edes, and enter into his recognizsnce Of
5000. Identified him by small scar on the left
side Of his check as well as by his general appear.
ance.
Horace Lacey was sworn, and testified that he
was in the courtroom on the same day, and saw
the man: and recognized him by the same scar,
as well as. by his general appearance. He was
shown the picture Of Snyder, which he also re-
cogniZed ss that Of the man who entered his re-
cogniEance on the same day.
Several Baltimore officers were sworn, and tes.
tilted that on the 9Th day Of August the prisoner
(Green) vas seen at the railroad depot with the
wife of Snyder, the burglar, and there the prose-
cution rested.
The defense ssked and obtained postpone
ment until Wednesday, and the court thersupon
adjourned.
POLITICAL ASSESSMENTS.