The Morning herald., 1876-04-14
THE b. s. COURT.

THE b. 8. COURT.
1sstsrdsy's FrocssdSSes.-Trtal Of Pss.
msllasd Hsmnssrslv. Pssrsssll Cossvtetsdo Of
Roebsry. Hanssrsly C,sarsd.-Adje.rs-
sss,st Of Court.
At the session of the U. 8. Court, yester-
day morning, the case Of Thos. Purnell and
John Hammersly was called. The prisoners
plead "not guilty." The Indictment against
Purnell was for the robbery of the Post
Office, and against Hammersly for receiving
the stolen money. Tn cases were taken
up separately, Purnell's being called first.
Anthony Higgins, District Attorney,
opened the case by stating the facts to the
jury, and proceeded with the examination
Of witnesses.
\. Isaac W. Sirman, sworn-1 am post
master at Laurel, Delaware; keep also .
small store; on the evening of Janury 18th
l left my daughter who assists me in my
business to lock up the store, which she
did; before left It, I received SIS from
Mr.. Wooten for two tons of coal, which /
put In the money drawer; there was also
money In the box; do not know the
amount, which was the money received
from the sale of stamps; did not return to
my store till next morning, when dis
covered that the money in the drawer, and
that IN the box was gone; also made the
discovery Of charred remains Of postage
stamps and money orders, showing that
some one had been careless with fire; &C.
cused my daughter Of burning the things
at first; she denied, and also her knowledge
of the missing money; we then concluded
that we had been robbed; several parties
camein during the morning, and to them
stated my loss; we searched about the store to
see If we could discover how the robbers eff.
fected their entrance and from seeing heel
marks IN the moss, we concluded that the
party had climbed upon the shed, about
IN feet from the ground, AMI entered
through the window In the second story of
my store; afterwards heard of Purnell be-
ing at the depot with money, also of his
spending 1t rather freely through town; /
was told that if went to the station,
would find my money and the robber;
did so and learned that two boys, the pris,
oners at the bar, had been to the depot and
purchased tickets for Wilmington;I tele-
graphed to the conductor of the train that
the boys left on, giving description of
them, and saying to get the money and let
them 60: then telegraphed to send them
back to Laurel; they were brought back,
and the money which they had stolen, as I
had identified some of It, was given to me
by Mr.. Williams (the money was here pro-
duced as evidence, and the witness swore
to the identity Of one ten cent note.)
Miss Sirman, sworn-Live at Laurel;
locked the store on Monday evening, Jan
uary 18th, the sun was not down when l
left for home; before went away from the
store, ! noticed distinctly the SIS received
from Mr. Wooten for coal; alsoss noticed
money in the box where we kept the post
age receipts; think there was nearly $780,
cant say positively; Purnell used to work
for Pa. but WAS never paid as regular
hirelfng; he has been about here since last
fall. Miss Sirman also testified to the
note, but could not tell when It was taken
10, but that her father had received It from
Mr.. Boise, and on account of It's being go
autilated, only gave him for it, two three
cent stamps. She further corroborated the
Testimony given by Mr.. Norman.
Francis Williame, sworn-Am Station
Agent at Laurel; on Monday morning the
18th of last January, sold to Thomas Pur
nell two half tickets; charged him S3.10;
he gave IS bill; Hammersly was, with
him; both boys took passage for Whining
ton; the next day they were both brought
back. Mr.. Duncan, conductor on Del. rail-
road gave me q roll said to contain money;
this I gave to Mr.. Sirman.
Stephen D. Duncan, sworn-I am q con-
ductor on the Delaware Rail
road; on Tuesday, the 18Th day Of
January, while on the train, received q
despatch at Dover, stating that the robbery
had taken place. and wishing look out for
the culprits; ] found two coloved boys on
the train who answered the description
given in the telegram, and at once arrested
them on suspicion; talked with them, snd
finally obtained from Purnell the fact that
he had robbed the Postoffice at Laurel
then told the boys that must search them;
they gave me the privilege to do so; OBJ
tained altogether about $40; when we came
to Wilmington gave the boys into the
hands of Officer Legg; the next morning
paid Mr.. Mcdonald IS for keeping the boys
at the Police Station; reserved So for my
own trouble, and returned the balance to
Mr.. Williams; Purnell at first denied all
knowledge Of the robbery, and Hammersly
said he got the money from his sister.
VIM. Legg was summoned, and testified
to his taking the two boys In charge when
they arrived at the depot; also stated that
he had short conversation with the boys,
in which Hammersly entitled the blame to
Purnell; Purnell called him liar and said
that he had just as much to do with it as
he (PurnelD had, and that he had got half
the money.
Officer Donald was called, and testified to
Duncan's and Legg's statements.
H. G. Conrad, Esq, counsel for the de-