The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-05-28
The Dsfrauding Of Mr.. G. r. Adams

The Dsfrauding OF Mr.. &. r. Adams.
THE TRIAL AND CONVICTION OF TIE YOUNG
NAN WHO LED THE STATESMAN INTO A OAM-
BLING DEN.
| BosToN, Nav 24.-.James Fitzgerald alias
Morrison alias The Kid was arraigned Tor
trial in the Superior Criminal Court to-day
on an indictment charging him with hay
ing obtained from Charles Francis Adams,
by fraudulent means and by use OF cards
and other gambling devices, checks for
$3.50, $1,000, and S17,500. The defend
ants counsel filed a motion to quash the
indictment, Which was not granted,
and the State puts its first witnesses on
the stand in the persons OF the receiving
teller OF the Merchants National Bank,
who took the larger check for deposit, and
one Fernald, q lawyer, who, under the di-
rectiOn of Morrison and Norton (he ac-
complice who escaped). deposited the check
mentioned. Richard Olney, counsel for
| Mr.. Adams, testified and narrated the con-
| iession OF the crime made by Morrison and
Norton at an interview held before the
arrest, and ut which Messrs. Olney, John
Quincy Adams, and Detective Heath were
present. The defence objected to the adj
mission OF the confession, but Judge Brig
ham decided to allow it to 90 in. Mr..
| Olney said: "Fitzgcrald told lis his occu-
patton was to allure elderly gentlemen OF
wealth into some den and eXtort their
money. This is my business Morrison
said. Il have been in it long time, and
recently came from Florida, where L got
lots of money from Boston parties He
had coniederaies, and they knew hr.
| Adams. On March 2Sth he met Alr. Adams
| n ..,tx i,au Of Al
| friend lie produced lottery ticket upon
which he said he had drawn prize, and
requested Mr.. Adams TO 90 into den and
| identify him. Mr.. Adams went in and the
prize was paid. Then Morrison called at
| tention to very fascinating game, and
asked Mr.. Adams to watch lt, and finally 10
take hand in It. Mr.. Adams consented,
and drew = prize Of $500, giving check
for $3.50, 10 per cent. belonging TO the
bank. They played again. Mr.. Adam
drawing another prize, and giving check
for 1850. Another play resulted dis
astr ously to Mr. Adams, who gave q
check for S17,j00 and also the tickets he
had drawn. During the game Morrison
pretended TO be fellow-victim, and when
they went out began to cry and say he was
ruined, and suggested that they go to the
police, which Mr.. Adams refused to do.
He accompanied Mr.. Adams to his home,
and a confederate watched the house. Mr..
Adams soon after went out for drive, and
it was thought safe to negotiate the check y
This story the witness testified that he
did not at the time believe, but Morrison
said that such checks were always paid IL
the end, although there was sometimes {
struggle. John Quincy Adams corrobo
rated this story in all its particulars. Thi'
concluded the important testimony OF the
dav, and the court adjourned until to
morrow.
BosToN, May 25.-The trial OF jane
Fitzgerald, the banco stoercr, was finished
to-day in the Superior Criminal Court
Previous TO the opening OF the trial it wa
a question even with the prosecuting at
torneys whether the testimony, apart from
"Kid'sn own confession, was stronl
enough to convict him. Hon. Charlie
Francis Adams, whom Fitzgerald "stecr
ed into the banco den and swindled
was not in court, having been excused
on account OF illness. The point upol
which the question OF conviction hinged
was the admissibility OF the confession o.
having swindled the elder Adams, Whicl
Fitzgerald had made to John Quincy Ad
ans and Richard Olney. The defence 40
mittcd that such confession had beer
made, but claimed immunity for the de
fendant on the ground OF having beef
promised that il he confessed he shoult
be "free as the birds of the air." Th'
Government, on the other hand, claimed
that FITZGERALD showed perfect willingness
TO confess to the Adams family; indeed
that that was part Of his game in ordel
TO get the money on the check o
S17.5 800 which Mr.. Adams had signed
and that the only promise made u
him by the detectives OF any OF Mr
Adams's relatives was that he should no
be molested going to, passing from, o
while in the place OF meeting where tn
confession was made. The court ruled tina
the inducements offered were not such a
would exclude the confession, also that tn
evidence showed that the interview Wit
Morrison was arranged for the purpose 0
satisfying Mr.. John Quincy Adams and hi
friends that the checks were not i0rgeries
that there was also strong evidence L
show that the confession was voluntary, ant
that the evidence fully disposed OF thes
> questions, and thereupon instructed the lur
, to find Fitzgerald guilty, which 1t did OF
three counts. The case will 90 to the Su
premc Court on exceptions. The testimon
showing the assurance and ciIcek vi lith
gerald i'm demanding the money on th
largest check of the three obtained wa
interesting, particularly John Quinc
Adams's delineatiOns OF the fellows man
ncrisms and 3" flash y expressions, the pris
oner in the dock even smiling at the truth
full pictures.