The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-20
THE sAND-BAG HIGHWAYMEM.
Trial OF the Three Men Accused OF Robbine
the Planet Mills Cashier.

The trial Of George W. Martin, William
Bartlett and John Roberts. the throe alleged
highwaymcn who were arrested for assaulting
and robbing Warren II. Lane and Daniel Nc
Guinness tho cashier and messenger Of the
Planet Mills, on March %. as they wore on their
way to the Mills with about $1,000 to be used for
paying tho giis and men employed in tho fuc-
tory. was begun in the Kings County Court Of
Sessions yesterday afternoon. Lane and Nc
Guinness had been to the Commercial Ex-
change Bank. in this city, to get the money.
They left the Sackct street car Mt Hoyt street.
and walked toward President street. When
they wore directly in front OF the public school
building four mon drove up in plumbers
wagon. Swiftly the wagon was turned around.
three Of the men jumped out. and assaulted
Lane and McGuinness. Lane was struck on
the back " the head with n hag filled with mus
tnrd-sccd shot md knocked down: The package
of bills. about $1,000. which ho had bound TO
his thumb 10y u string. was snnt'hed from MIN.
McGuinness had package OF SILVER, Wllcl WAS
taken from him in The scuille that he had with
ono of the robbers. The three men Tossed tho
money into the wagon. jumped IN after II; ana
they wcrc driven rapidly away. Martin. Bart
lett. and Roberts were arrested because OF the
idrntilcation of their portraits in the rogucs'
gallery in this city. The fourth man was never
found.
The prisoners sat togethcrina row Yesterday.
They all have strong. hard features. and nro
lett sat between Martin and Roberts toying with
IA glossy silk hat His wife. IN elderly woman
dressed in a plain greeu silk suit. sat almost
unol,scrNrd about three seats behind her nus
bind. She watched tho proceedings intcntly.
RobeIts's red whiskers had attained a curly
growth while In Jail He was the most nervous
OF the three. and kept continually striking his
thumb nails together all through the day.
District Attorney Catln, in opening the case
referred 10 the claim 10y the defendants coun-
sci that the Identification Of the prisoners was
incomplete He said that their pictures were
selected from the rugues album In this city
and that thOy were Identified by nearly all the
witnesses. and were selected from thirty Oh
forty men in the Office Of Police Superintenden
Campbell. lie added that he would also pro-
dure Ms WITNESS man who was locked in tn,
same cell IN Raymond street jail with the pris
oner-. The prisoners were reading an account
OF the robbery ina newspaper. and they reached
the statement that Lane WIS struck on the bach
" the head with n sand hng. one 81 then
turned to the other and said You didn't strik,
him on the back NJ tho head. did you 2" Again
when rN-Judgc Troy visited the prisoners II
the Jail to see about his fcrs they agreed to give
him a certain sum. which one of the number
thought was too large. and after the counsc
| departed he said. What did you give him =,
much forf' on" said the other We hay'
| got to give IN pnri Of II to get out"
Detective James Roche of the Butler stree
| police station testified 90 tie identification %
| the prisoners in the Police Central O1icc and ii
the police station. The trial will occupy three o
I four days.