Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1878-12-07
THE ROAD AGENTS.
WHAT WAS DEVELOPED IN THE TRIAL OR
THE CHERRY CREEK STAGE ROBBERS.
A FULL HISTORY OF THE CASE.
Interesting Testimony and Other
Facts,

were arrested here. A Reno exchange
gives the following account of the trial of
! Wilson:
On Monday evening the trial Of George
Wilson, one Of the Cherry Greek stage rob-
bers, zane to o conclusion in the United
States Circuit Court, resulting in a verdict
Of guilty. From a gentleman who served
as a juror in the case. q Gazette reporter
to-day obtained the following facts, de-
scriptive of the circumstance Of the rob-
berry, and giving an outline o. the evidence
| upon which the highwaymen have at last
been brought to Justice. This was the
third trial. In the two previous ones,
Wilson. Bell and Donnelly, the robbers,
were tried together, and in eaci. instance |
the jury failed TO find a verdict.
THE ROBBERY
| Took place on the night of November 21st,
1877. The stage from Spruce Mountain |
TO Cherry Creek, driven by Frank Nay,
having aboard the United States mail and
Wells, Fargo & Co.'S treasure box, when
within q mile and q third of it's destination
was stopped by three armed men,, all
masked by having handkerchiefs tied
across their faces. The tallest OF the
three, armed with q carbine. ook the
middle Of the road, in front Of the horses,
and ordered the driver and a passenger,
named Hughes, who occupied the seat by
his side, to throw up their hands. The other
two h~ighwaymen advanced from either
side of the road with cooked pistols in
their hands. The driver, Hughes, and
the three inside passengers we're compelled
to come down with their hands held over
heads, and were also forced to go on their
knees, while the brigands searched them
for arms. Everything Of the kind being
removed, the victims were led to the side
OF the road, ordered to lie upon their faces,
and had their hands tied behind their
backs. They were then robbed Of whatever
money they had, amounting in all TO about
500. They were laid in a row and COW
cred with blankets taken from the stage.
The driver was ordered at the point of a
pistol to unhitch the horses and tie them
behind the stage, after which he was tied
and covered with the rest.
THE oBBER
1t happened that a passenger named
Honeyman. who lay at the end of the row
next the stage, had not been given quite
his share Of the blankets, and he was thus
enabled, as it was a bright moonlight
| night, to watch the actions of the ~rascals.
The mail sack was taken from the boot.
cut open and rihed. Wells, Fargo & Co.'s
box resisted all attempts to open it. While
the robbers were thus engaged they, rely
ing no doubt upon the blankets, allowed
their handkerc.litfs to slip down about
their necks, and Honryman wai enabled to
distinguish the faces 0f all. He recognized
Wilson al a man whom he had previously
known and roomed with at Cherry Creek.
Honeyman had never before seen the other
two fellows hat he could remember, but
next day in Cherry Creek he saw and
recognized them. After the robbers de-
parted, the robbed passengers lay quiet
about ten minutes, and then managed to
free themselves. The horses were hitched
up and the stage was driven into Cherry
Creek at IL o'clock, about two hours behind
tinlo.
A TELL-rALE PISTOL.
On the night OF the robbery a man named
Nose Watkins, supposed to have been a
confederate Of the highwaymen, was dis
covered in Cherry Greek trying to hide in a
haystack two pistols, one Of which was
recognized as Bells. Watkins said he had
found them in ar old deserted slaughter
pen which lies off the road between the
scene Of the robbery and the town. An
officer next morning visited the place and
found, what had probably been, according |
to the theory OF the prosecution, over
looked by Watkins, an English bulldog
revolver and a carbine, subsequently identi-
fed as the property u Bell, and some
wooden socks which had been worn over
BOOTS. The robbers, all known az hard
cases. were arrested on suspicion the same
night the deed was done, and next day
we're examined by Justice Clayton.
A %BuLLDosED WITNESS,
Honeyman, appeared as q witness and tes-
tilted that he was not able to swear that
Wilson was one Of the robbers. He was
not called upon to identify the other two,
and there being nj direct evidence against
them, the three men were discharged. In
explanation of his remarkable testimony
on that occasion, Honeyman who is a
simple sort of a fellow, and had not been
long out from Ireland. at the time of the
robbery, has sworn at the subsequent
trials, and before the United States Com
missioner at Elko, and the United States
Grand Jury, that upon the night of the
robbery, after his arrival at Cherry Creek,
one Charles Day, the only man in Cherry
Greek he knew besides Wilson. and whom |
he believed to be q friend, asked him if he
had recognized any Of the road agents.
Honeyman answered that he had recog-
nized Wilson, and didu't. for his part,
think he would have done the same under
the circumstances. Day said. in return
You must be careful and not say anything
about it. There's a bad crowd in Cherry
Creek. and you'll surely be shot if you do"
This naturally alarmed Honeyman very
much. a. he had confidence in Day, and
his fear induced him to testify as he did.
As soon a. the United States authorities ar
rested the robbers, and Houcyman was
brought before the United States Commits
| sioncr, at Elko, and was assured of the
protection Of the law, he gave testimony
| identifying Wilson, to which he has ever
since adhered.
A FOOLISH ROAD AGENT.
At the trial it was testified by Honeyman
| and Hughes that on the day of the exanlin-
| alton before Justice Clayton, Wilson. meet
ing them in front Of a saloon, offered them
money, which both refused-Hughes tell
| ing him that he didn't need any money,
and uoneyman saying Let ii so to hsll,
with the rest y having reference to some
$50, OF which he had been robbed. Wilson
still insisted upon their taking some coin,
saying that it would do for whisky money,
and lie thrust into tho pockets Of each,
three or four dollars in silver. He also
said to Honeyman (and the words were
overheard by Hugies), "You and your
partner (alluding to Hnghes) go and board
anywhere you . 10 in town, and the bill
upon any OF the boys who were examined
to-day" Immediately after this. Wilson
said TO Hughes-out Of the hearing Of
Honeyman "Wore you scaredl" refer
ring, Of course to tho robbery. Hughes
replied Yes. l was scared. because l
was afraid l might be mistaken for a mes
senger." To which Wilson said t" When
/ saw you throw up Your hands, / knew
you weren't q messenger"
The lawyers for the defense endeavored
to break down Hughes testimony on this
point by asking il Wilson had not said
81 they " instead of ssI," but Hughes was