National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-05-22
Mr.. HANSCOM'S BONDS.
Trial of Edward Perkins in the
Criminal Court.
of Mr.. Hanscori, Bank Omcinls,
aud Detectives--The Way the Bonds
were Kept-How Perkins was Cap
tured--Other Facts Brought
Out in Evidence-Tho
Trial Continued.
Boston Pct In the Prisoners pocn.


The trial of Edward Perkins, with several
aliases, charged with larceny of bonds from
Isaiah Hanscom on June 3, 1873, was resumed
before Justice Ilagner in the Criminal Court
yesterday. District-Attorncy II. II. Wells and
his assistant, II. II. Wells, jr., appeared for the
Government, and Colonel William A. Cook and
Mr.. A. =, Williams for the accused. Mr.. Isaiah
Hanscom testified that in Juno last he had in
his possession Sil 600 in United States coupon
bonds, $1,000 in Pomcroy City Kansas bonds
and $4,000 in Saginaw bonds. lie then pro-
ceodcd 10 give the denominations of the bonds,
Of what issue aud number. The bonds were
kept in tin box, secured by n common lock
in the lower drawer Of the witness writing.
desk, which was also locked. This secretary
was in the front room, second door, adjoining
the bed chamber. There were two entrances
to the room, which were always kept fastened
when the witness was not occupying II. Tho
bonds were kept in envelopes the different
kinds being separated. He looked over them
on Friday, May 81, and they were all there ut
tho time. After breakfast on the Sd of June
he found tho drawer of the desk omen, the box
that held the bonds unlocked, and tho bonds
gone. They belonged to him. Since then he
had seen three of the bonds in the Police Court
at Philadelphia. Bonds shown Those were
the bonds referred to, and no gave n dcscrip-
ton of them. Mono of the remaining missed
bonds had been seen by him since they were
stolen.
Mr.. George II. Hill, In charge of the bond
department of Drexel & Co., Philadelphia,
Pa, recognized the defendant and saw him in
the hnnking-house of tho firm on June 6. lie
came in and put down $500 in bonds and sold
them. Ho came in twice with Others
and on the the third visit. he was detained
by the witness until an officer could be sent
for aud Perkins placed under arrest
Mr.. John n. Crosson, in the employ of Messrs
Drexel Co., recognized the accused rs n
party that visited the bond counter of the
bank, and offered bonds for sale. On his second
or third visit the witness purchased bonds of
Perkins and read from the record-book of the
clearinghouse, showing the bonds purchased,
together with the number and series OF issue.
Benjamin Franklin, OF Philadelphia Pa,
knew the prisoner and saw him as he was
coming ont of the Office of DreSoly Il Co., and
had short conversation with him. He was
then in the hands of John Lynn, special of
tho brokers' board. He took the man Perkins
into the office of Pinkerton's detective agency,
aud searched him, but found no bonds on him.
He gave his name ms Perkins, from Easton, Pa,
and said that he got tho bonds in the regular
way. He was told that they belonged to Mr..
Hanscom and he would be held for hearing,
which was given him that day.
In second conversation the witness asked
Perkins If lie was not Western man and
knew Pinkerton. lie said that lie did know
him, and then he asked the witness if he re-
membered where they had met last, who re-
piled that he did not. Perkins said that it
was at Cherry Hill (thc penitentiary), aud he
was there under the name of Anderson. The
keys that the witness took from the prisoner
were turned over to Detective McDevitt
James A. McDevitt became acquainted with
the prisoner in Philadelphia in June last, and
had conversation, but no confession was
made. He brought tho keys to this city, car
ried them to the house of Mr.. Hanscom, tried
the skeleton on the drawer in the secretary
and unlocked it. At this point the case wa!
continued until to-day.