Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1878-09-21
The Concordia Bank Robbery.

We gave. last week, a pretty full synopsis
OF the principal points of the evidence In the
bank robbery case, and mentioned that
speeches had been made In It by Judge VIII
Ism Walker Col. George 5. Rnthbun AMI
MIR. Robert a. iItckiln. The argument was
concluded on Saturday by MIR. J. d.. Shew-
alter for the defense. and Judge William
Young Tor the slate. AT the conclusion Of
Judge ioung's speech, the court room was
crowded with people, anxious TO see what
disposition would be made of the case, and
Mr.. James NJ. Callahan. the justice before
whom 1t was tried, promptly rendered his
decision In these words "Fhe charges
against the prisoner. are Tor robbing the
COncOrdla Savings Bank, and for feiOnlOus-
ly sSsaulting, with intent to Kill, Mr.. Henry
Firk.n, the cashier, and other citizens. he
evidence establishing the guilt or innocence
OF the prisoners in one case. establishes the
fact in the other case. The crime with which
the prisoners stand charged Is a grave one,
which every good citizen OF our county AMI
state feels Il deep Interest in seeing punished
10 the full extent Of the law. The witnesses
on the part Of the state are among the best
CltiZtHS y HIS county, HtnN VI tll' III huO"n
to Inc as honest, honorable. truthful men.
Eight or ten Of them testify that the men
who committed the crime with which the
prisoners stand charged. are entire stran-
gers TO them. They testify. also, that these
are the three men who robbed the bank In
Concordia. on Aug ist 10Th, between the
hours Of one and two O'Clock, p. IN. Among
tina Witnesses fnr m. Stafa II U.. affau,nfaI
to impeach one, by showing that he bad
made conflicting statements ss to the iden-
tity OF one OF the prisoners. l think 1t quite
probable. rs Mr.. Welhorn stated, that tue
parties were mistaken Is to what he had
stated tc them. tie Is a young lawyer, with
q reputation for honesty and integrity Of
which he has just reason to EEL proud. The
state has made cut Il strong case. The de-
Tense sets up AN slibI. The witnesses, about
forty In pumDer are adnitted by counsel
for the state to be among the most respects-
Die and honorable citizens Of Johnson coun-
~. Their testimony, therefore, is entitled
TO equal weight with that OF the prosecu-
ton. Without going INTO the evidence in
detail. l Will say that II establishes, beyond
the possibility Of 4 doubt. tn At at the time
the Concordla bank vas robbed, these pri,-
Oners We're from uiietecn TO thirty niles
from there, rendering It utterly impossible
for them to have onsnitted the crime. The
witnesses for the defense, with but one or
Two exceptions, are, and have heen for 4
number of years, personally acquainted with
the prisoners. May of them relate facts
and incidents that took place which convince
ME that thsy csnLOt be mistaken as 10 the
time. | think that the witnesses tor the
state, being entire strangers 10 the men who
committed the crime, and. having seen them
but cast lily, and for IA short SIP ace Of time,
not exceeding ti'c minutes aud under more
or less excitement. are more likely 10 be
mistaken as to identity than are the witness
Us for the defense, who are intim ,teiy sc-
quainted with these defendants. The sher-
i'd and his posse deserve Us great credit for
their prompt action in making the arrest as
If these We're the guilty parties, as they had
reason to believe that they were. After
considering all the evidence. | am convinced
that this is y case Of mistaken identity. and
that the prisoners are innocent Of the crime
charged against them. |, therefore, dis
charge the prisoners