Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-05-06
The Chambersburg Burglars.

At the conclusion Of the trial of
ROLAND and johnson in Chambers
burg last week, charged with at
tempting to rob the bank in that
place, aud after the jury had return
ed verdict of ''guilty in manner
and form as they stand indicted"
ROLAND asked permission to say a
few words to the Court before the
sentence was pronounced. Permis-
sion was granted, and he spoke as
follows:
If the Court will suffer will make
few remarks in justification of my
wife and my comrade in crime. |
came to Chambersburg in this way:
/, in company with my wife, was in
Europe when Ireceived q letter from
my mother-in-law stating that her
son was sick. | gave up my own in
terest for his and came back with the
intention of taking him to Europe.
When l. arrived in America | learn
ed that my brother-in-law's health
was in such q condition as to render
him unfit for such trip. | then
took him to Cresson, in this State,
for three weeks, where the physicians
said the air was too strong, and re-
moved to the valley below. Leaving
there | went to MELVILLE, Mt. Holly
and Doubling Gap. Thence | came
to Chambersburg. My observation
was drawn to the National Bank and
| conceived designs of robbing it
finally, after great deliberation, |
INV hn Of NJ
was made, followed by my immedi.
ate arrest. When Messrs. Pomeroy
and Mcknight called upon me, the
object of their call was frankly stat
ed, and told them as frankly that |
preferred talking in presence of my
counsel, but out of courtesy to them
[ would make guarded statement.
A protracted interview ensued, the
substance of which they misconstru-
ed, though with no improper motives,
as I.believe them both to be honora-
BILE gentlemen. Imade no statement
that / was eight years burglar, and
after the appearance of such state
ment in the Repository | sent for Mr.
Pomeroy and he readily made the
correction. | was acquainted with
Tweed, and | met Connolly and Ge-
net in Jerusalem as | was making
preparations for going up the Nile.
| knew no other notorious criminals.
That was certainly mistaken infer
ence of the gentlemen. | claim in
telligence of my present position and
| certainly would make no such de-
trimental statement. Our liberty is
as dear to us as any in this assembly.
In my feelings and that of my wife,
and rather than connect her in any
way with me as an accomplish | in
sisted on withdrawing my objection
on that part of the testimony, prefer
ring to lose my own liberty rather
than have my wife. connected with
the plot.
I owe duty to my comrade in
crime, whose connection with the
burglary was wholly under my influ-
ence and direction. | will say for
him that it is his first attempt at such
work and my first conviction. The
sensational article published in the
Philadelphia Times is entirely incor-
rect. as | was not in this country at
the time of my alleged offences. In
mitigation ofmy comrades sentence,
/ would say that / told him to hold
Mr.. Messersmith but not to hurt
him, and had no intention whatev-
er of maltreating any member of that
family. / went there to rob not to
murder. / place my liberty and thai
of my comrade in the hands of the
Judge.
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