Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-08-16
COLLIER'S CASE.
The Evidence In the List Lar
oony.

The Evidence In the List Lar
oeny.
Considerable interest has been mani.
tested in certain circles over the case OF
Percy Collier, charged with the larceny
of Sl65 FROM Tom List, on Wednesday
morning. The case was set tor hearing
on Friday AFTERNOON, but the defense
not being ready, il was continued until
SATURDAY.. At that time q large crowd
went up to the jail, only portion OF
which. however, was admitted, a wise
precaution on the part OF Jailor Daily,
as the incentive was idle curiosity. Still,
with witnesses, counsel, reporters anil
other iunctionary, the debtors room"
was very well filled up.
Justice Caldwell presided over the
examining court, Col. Miller being I'M
well. L. S. Jordan represented the
common wealth and Col. Arnett the pris.
oner. Percy Collier, the accused, is q
Young man of some two or three and
twenty years, rather small, with a
bright, pleasant face and prepossessing
appearance. His manner predisposed
the general spectators to regard his case
favorably
Tom List, the complaining witness,
testified in brief as follows: On last
Tuesday evening he had Sl85, OF which
amount he had given away ten dollars.
and had probably spent five or six dol
lars. There was one twenty dollar bill
badly torn, a twenty dollar silver certiti.
cate and two other twenty dollar bills
among the money taken. He had met
the defendant at the Mcclure House
about 8 o'clock Wednesday morning, in
company with friend OF his; had in.
yited the friend to take drink, and
Collier came along. While In the
bar he had exhibited the money
and then put it in his right
pantaloons pocket. From there he went
direct to Henry Lehnert's saloon on
Market street. Alex. Wallace accompa
MED him, and Collier followed along be
hind without invitation. Arriving at
Lennert's the party repaired to back
room and List soon after went to sleep
a, a table. Collier sitting next to him
and Wallace on the opposite side. Slept
about an hour and half and was wax
enei no by Wallace, who handed him a
small amount OF money, saying he had
20, it from Collier and that it was his.
List then discovered that he had been
robbed and went Immediately and swore
out warrant for Collier.
Col. Arnett subj, cite the witness to a
skiliul cross-examination, In which,
however, nothing was developed be-
yond that List could not say, OF his own
knowledge, that Collier had taken his
money.
Alex. Wallace was the important wit
ness OF the case Taking up what was
alleged to have occurred during Lists
nap, he testified: He had been asleep
and Collier called to him to know when
he wanted to be woke up. He heard
the defendant call TO him, but did not
move, and having bis hand over his
ewes, he looked through his fingers and
saw Collier with his hand in Lists vest
pocket. He then got up and accused
the prisoner of robbing List,
and demanded that the money be
returned. Collier handed him 81 -,
saving, Between me aud Christ, that is
ali | have taken" | then told him that
he would have to be searched, to which
he willingly assented. He took a
couple Of books out OF his inside vest
pocket, and asked re to search him. l
did not examine the books or his pants
pockets. Told him ! did not want to
INQUIRE into his private affairs, and
would take his word that he had taken
nothing else. Went to the Mcclure
House twice with Collier before | woke
List up. The defendant acknowledged
TO stealing the 81 50 in the presence OF
the officer who arrested him
The crOss-.XamlnauOn was rather
lengthy and severe. Wallace said he
did not see ColIier take the money, but
saw his finger. in Lists pocket Arnett
asked if be was not standing for some
time i'm the closet ut the Mclmre House,
when he went out the first time. After
some little study, Wallace said he was Il
little full and could not remember.
When he returned the second time, he
said, il was to return his watch to List,
which he had taken Tor security. Ar
nett asked il he (Wa!lace) could not
have taken the money as easily as Col.
lier, to which the witness replied that he
could not. List was then asleep in such
pOSltiOH THAI IL nVulu Ha'O ''N' '4'
possible to have gotten into his pocket
W 'hout disturbing him
Ohcer Detibaugh was TIE last witness,
an after stating that Collier had adj
united taking S2.35, started to tell what
search OF the defendants valise re-
suited in, but objection was made by
Mr.. Arnett and sustained by the Jus.
tice.
Argument was made by both attor-
news, after which the Justice held the
accused in the sum OF 81 600 He fail,
ed to furnish bail and was committed to
Jail in default.
1t was reported, Immediately after the
hearing, that Collier intended swearing
out warrant before Justice Bulger, for
Wallace, charging him with completely