The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-10-23

AND GRAY ON BEACH AND COLEsfAN-A
PRETTY MESS ALL CERTAINTY
THAT A DANGEROUS BAND OF THIEVES
ARE NOW IN CUSTODY.
Some weeks ago two negroes, named
Holmes and Jackson (both ex-convicts), were
arrested by Sergeant Dan. Wren and asquad
Of police, cooperating with Private Detec.
tive Wren, in an attempt to rob the store ol
Mr.. Thomas Reilly, corner OF Twenty-frst
and Main streets. The information OF the
intended robbery was given Sergeant Wren
and Detective Wren by Beverly Gray and
James Beach. The latter, also an rex-con-
vict, went with Holmes and Jackson to
Reilly's, and was seen by the officers, but
was permitted to escape, inasmuch as be
had "peached." In the examination OF
Holmes and Jackson before the Acting Po-
lice Justice (Crutchfeld) the atsehpe Of the
third burglar, whose name was then not
known to the public or to the Court, was
commented upon. The policemen were
told that one man would "walk off," and
that man they were not to trouble, and they
obeyed instructions.
Justice Crutchfeld said, after sending
Jackson and Holmes on to the grand jury
for indictment, that the man who was al.
lowed to escape must be caught. 1t was
promised that he should be forthcoming.
Holmes and Jackson were tried in the
Hastings Court and sent to the penitenti'
ary.
THE WRONG MAN ARRAIGNED.
John Adams, an ex-convict, was arrested
by independent Detective Wren as the
third man of the party of burglars-the
man who had been allowed to escape.
Adams was brought before Police-Justice
White, and one or two witnesses swore
positively that he was the missing man
Being so positively identified, Police-Justice
White sent Adams on to the grand jury for
indictment as an accomplice of Holmes and
Jackson in the attempted robbery. Adams
was duly indicted and put upon trial before
Judge Guigon. There he was soon able tC
prove his innocence OF the charge, and was
honorably discharged, the Commonwealth
attorney desiring the jury to bring in yer.
dict of "not guilty." Judge Guigon, in 9
letter to Mayor Darlington in relation to
this case, said that the whole affair looked
to him, to express it in detective parlance
like ga put-up job"
From information received by Judge
Guigon he was led to believe that Beach
was the guilty man (the missing third burg
lar), and ..bench-warrant was accordingly
issued by Judge Guigon for Beach's arrest
The warrant was placed in the hands o.
Sergeant Tyler, and Beach was at once ar
rested.
GRAY, BEACH, AND COLEMAN.
Beverly Gray and Anderson Coleman
(the latter commonly called Anderson were
summoned as witnesses. and committed tt
jail in default of security to make goot
their appearance.
Saturday partial examination OF the
case of Beach took place before Justice
Crutchfeld. Captain George D. Wise wa:
present as representative OF the Common
wealth. During the proceedings Coleman
and Gray were arrested on bench-Warran
issued by the Justice, charging them witt
being accessories before the fact.
Captain James NJ. Tyler, City Sergeant
testified that on the day he arrested Beach
Beach voluntarily made a statement to hin
concerning his part in the intended robbery
Beach said that Anderson, WHO had beer
living on Mr.. Reilly's premises, told the par
tv of burglars where the money was; that HI
and Gray had informed the Messrs. Wrer
OF the purposes Of the burglars, and ha(
been promised by Mr.. John Wren thirty
dollars each should they succeed in deliver
ing the burglars into the hands OF the OH
GERS of the law; that he (Beach) went tx
Reilly's with the burglars because he wa!
not SO well known as Gray, and Ora!
was somewhat distrusted by the burglars
Mr.. Reilly said he did not know Ander
son Coleman. No man OF that name hat
lived on his premises. He had been warned
by Sergeant Daniel Wren several days be
fore the burglary was attempted. 1t wa
his custom to leave only very small amoun
OF money (only few coppers) in his draWe
at the store.
THE THIRD MAN.
Policeman Cartwright, who was with the
detail that went with the Messrs. Wren t.
ReilIy's TO watch for the coming of the burg
lars. testified that they were lying in wal
Friday night and Saturday night. Sunda.
night Holmes and Jackson were arrested
and, according to orders, the third mar
(whose name Mr.. Cartwright did not thel
| know) was allowed to escape.
This third man they could have easil!
taken into custody.
Anderson told Mr.. Cartwright that h.
lived on ReilIy's premises about two week
before the attempted robbery, and knew
Reilly had money.
| The testimony OF foilcelnen MaIlheW
Lamkin, and Michaels was in substance tn
same as Mr.. Garthright's. They were all IL
the detail with Sergeant Wren. There wa
general understanding that the h burgla g
who would walk leisurely OF, not run, wa
to be allowed to escape. The name OF tina
third man they did not know. Mr.. Michael
understood that the. informant was Beach
CAPTAIN WATT TAYLOR WARNED.
CAPTAIN G. Watt Taylor stated that on tn
Friday preceding the attempted robbery o
Reilly's store he was notified by Sergean
Daniel Wren that burglars would attemp
to rob his store or his residence that night
Subsequently messenger came to him iron ;,
/ AIR. John Wren that the attempt would b
/ made upon the store. Afterwards receives
another message from Mr.. John Wren tina
the burglars had changed their plan, AM
/ would attempt the robbery OF Main-stree
store. Paid Mr.. John Wren $40, as Wrel
said he needed money to "pay OF hi
| hands,"
THE FRAUDS CONFESS.
/ A-I.,,,o,, SNolorpan and Royarl