The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1880-01-29
Trial of H,lsom,. Casa aud Wolf.

The trial Of Geo. Holcomb, John
Cash and John Wolf, charged with
conspiring and attempting to rob EX-
press Agent Laync came of Thursday
and Friday, with the exception of
Wolf, who continued until tomorrow,
Friday.
Holcomb plead guilty and waived
an examination and was bound over to
the next term Of the court.
John Cash was then put on trial, and
the state made a witness Of Holcomb.
Holcomb swore that he and Cash had
agreed among themselves to rob Llyne
| and had talked the matter oyer two or
three times, and that OH u occasion
John Wolf was present and seeming
ly agreed to it.. lie further stated that
himself and Cash went to the depot
on tho Monday night previous for the
purpose Of robbing Layne, aud that
Cash was to let him know, by whist
ling a certain tune, when Laync left
his office; but he said Cash failed tc
whistle and that Layne passed by him
and he thought Layne was a negro as
tie night WAS very dark, and that they
failed that night. lie then stated that
Oh the next night he and Cash wcnl
again to the DEPOT about passenger
time, and that Cash watched Laynt
while he was hid in a dark corner o.
the depot, and that when Layne left
the depot Cash followed along behind
and whistled the tune agreed upon.
then he (Holcomb) was on the oppo'
site side Of the street and walked pass
IIarle 6 Bros store, stepping in be-
hind Layne on the brick pavement anc
following him to the alley near Mrs
Hampton's, and there attacted hin
with a hickory club, knocked him
down, but LaynG rose again and ht
knocked him down twice more. Tx
saws then that Layue made 20 much
noise that he run through the alley
and made his escape. He further tes'
tilted that Cash was 10 have been oil
hand and helped search the pockets
but that he failed to do as agreed. Cash
IIolcomb claims, turned back and wen
into Jones store. j. A. Jones testified
that Cash was in his store when they
heard the noise. Several other wit
nesses also coroborated Holcombs tes'
timony as to Cash.
Aftor hearing the testimony the Jus
tees, Brown, Smith and Green, bound
the defentent to court, and he failed K
rive bond and was put in Jail.
The case of John Wolf was next
called and the trial continued till to-
morrow morning, Jan. Both, at 10 a. m
In these cases the defendents, Cash
and Wolf, claim that IIolcomb is only
trying to punish them for exposing
him on the Saturday before. Cash anc
Wolf both swore on the first trial Of
Holcomb, that they told A. Z. Naples
o after the occurrence, all they
knew about it and that Naples advised
them to 'hold still" till he could WORK
the matter up and arrest Holcomb wht
was then out of town. Naples also
swore the same. They gave that as the
reason for not letting the public know
it sooner.
Holcomb also stated that, on Monday
morning he was arrested last and h&C
heard that Cash and Wolf were laying
Il plan to have him own up in the pres
ence of other witnesses who were to o'
secreted in an old stable, and that 1T
thought he would just so to Layne ant
own up like a gentleman. Cash an'
Wolf claim that HolcOmb hearing O
this plan, turned OH them and conclud
ed to swear them into the p~enitentiarI
to yet them out of the way. IlolconI
also stated that he expected to be re
leased or dealt lightly with if he woult
own up.
The trials have created considerable
interest In the community, and tn
Justices deserve credit for the manne.
in which the cases have beer conduct
ed. Every II earnestly desires tina
the guilty parties may be punished
and that the innocent may escape.