The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1880-03-24
AFTER TWELVE YEARS.
Trial Of Thos. Wall, Who in 1868
Robbed $4,000 from the
Southern Express.
Ha Wanders All Over the United
States, Is Arrested on Requi-
sition. and Stands Trial in
This City-The Case
Continued Until
To-Day.

| A very Interesting case was tried before
Judge Whitaker yesterday. II is the case OF q
former employe Of the Southern Express
Thos. Wall. alias Robert Smith. who. In 1863 alb.
seconded from the Express Office with o package
containing sc. 600 Since that time he has beer
. fugitive from justice. When last heard Of
towards tho beginning of December. Wall was
In Illinois.
REQUIsITIoN
was Immediately sent to the Governor OF ILL.
nois. and the accused brought to this city.
Mr.. Thomas M. Wescoat. agent In New Orleans
OF the Southern Express Company. swore az
afldavit before Recorder sheehan against Wall
charging him with grand larceny. Wall was
arraigned on the twentieth OF December. 1879
and having blended guilty was remanded to the
Superior Criminal Court under $4,000 bonds.
On the thirteenth Of January. 1880. an infor-
nation Of grand larceny was found against
Wall who. though having his bail reduced.
could find no one TO- answer for him. and he
was remanded for trial.
WALLIS TRIAL
began yesterday at o'clock. full jury had
been imMpAneled. M as follows: ~
sasas ssia'' Msrie 4 n'n baine e0u Henry
The examination Of witnesses was then be.
gun. The witnesses for tho state were: J. W.
Westcoat agent Southern Express In New Or
Who had M lost a money money package o. % 81 5000 by the
robbery: P. B. Glrauit. tnaney clerk OF the Ex-
press. and Thos. N. Boyan. chief OF police.
VARIOUS PAPERS AND DOCUMENTS
were shown the witnesses BY the district attor-
ney. First there was the impression copy book
Of receipts Of money packages sent In 1868 BY
nsp cSn oa the
k,,asxA xA,yA ,t~A NJ has k.~rt
bill sent by Chaffe Il Son to the Express Com
by the Governor. OF Louislana TO the Governor
eoniession y" made de- BY Wv Vail II ohief Boyians
Office. taken down By o shorthand. reporter
and signed BY Wall on tho twentieth Of Decem-
Of peeembsr as and is jules s's ! pise liz % snee
sealed ohs an Sn
to the Express Company the sum OF $So00 tax
Ing receipt therefor.
Mr. 0IRAULT.
money clerk Of the Express. was next called
twenty. third Of December, 1868. Nj. Sparrow.
one of the messengers OF the office, put the
package together with others in small safe, o
about $4,000 altogether In the safe. Mr.. Wall
was watchman OF the Express Company ct the
time. Witness recognized the prisoner as Wall.
Mr.. John Chaflee was then called. and identi-
fed certain bill for $4,000 sent to the express In
January. 1859. as being for an amount of money
g S s es sed Hssre %s
never received. Witness does not remember II
the bill was settled In full or compromised.
COL. THos. N. BoYLAN.
chief OF police. said that he first met Wall In
W. Tss a ensody asy II M
Chicago detective. Mr.. Osborne. Mr.. Westcoat
and others were present.
At the time l entered my office. Wall was
mAkfn0 n Rtat9m0nt.
Southern Express Company for the. State Of
see. was next called. he first met Wall on the
morning OF the twentieth OF December. 1879. at
the jackson Railroad depot. Wall was pris-
way to Ohief Boylan's office. Wall insisted upon
making Q confession. Witness told him to
walt until they came Ia Chief Boylans office.
Wall said: Il want to talk to you. Mr.. Osborne.
and tell you all about It."
@* THERE WAS NO INDUCEMENT
whatever held ont to him to make a statement,
but he insisted upon making q confession.
which was taken down by 9 short. hand re-
withstanding the fact that three or four times
he was cautioned by me and by the other 9entle-
men not to say anything unless 1t be Of his own
Col. Boylan was called again to the stand. and
said that the accused was told II he desired to
make q statement he could do 80. but he was
sired to do 80 Of his own free will. The ,pris-
oner was perfectly cool at the time, and ap-
peared TO me to know
WHAT HE WAS DOING.
The examination Of witnesses was then con-
Cluded. Having no means to engage lawyer
the prisoner was assigned Mr.. J. r. southworth
to act In his behalf
The confession Of Wall. produced In court,
has been already published. II not wholly. at
least In substance, In the DEMOCRAT and other
papers Of December al. 1879.
District Attorney Finney was proceeding 70
read the confession. when Judge bouthworth
objected to Its being read until the State had
established foundation for the prosecution.
The district attorney answered that on this
confession the State intended to make foun-
dation for the prosecution Of the case.
JUDGE soUTHwoRTH
asked the court to order the jury to retire. as
he wanted to argue his objection In Its ab-
sence. The jury retired. the argument was
made. and the court overruled the objection.
When the jurors had again taken their seats
the confession was read.
Judge HouthwOrth then said that after the
reading of this confession and under the otr-
cumstances he could not at present do justice
to his client. He therefore asked continuance
of the case until this morning.
SO ordered: the court adjourned at A:3O
o'clock. and the jury was locked uD for the
Thomas Wall. after wandering from one part
Of the United States to the other. married In
New York under the assumed name OF Robert
Smith. The lady to whom he had been mar
ried was present In court yesterday. She re.
mained there until o'clock. She watches mar