Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-10-11

The Trials Of the Cases Investigated by
the Citizens Committee Begun To.
day i'm the Criminal Court with Pro-
ceedings in the Case Of Thomas Dunn.

criminal Court, Judge Wylie. When the court
oper~ this morning there were present District
Attorney -COrkhill, Assistant District Attorney
Taggart, Special Attorney H. II. Wells, Messrs A.
H. Jackson and Charles Pelham. (Mr. Coomes
counsel) Mr.. A. Ecklof. formerly In charge OF the
detectives, ex-Detectlves Acton and McElfresh,
and others.
TRIAL OF DUNN FOR THE SPARKS ROBBERY.
The first case called was that OF Thomas Dunn,
indicted with John c. alias Con Lynch, John alias
Jack White. and David Murray, for the larceny OF
$5l6 from Bushrod H. Sparks on the night OF Oc-
to0er 18th, 1881 Mr. A. B. Williams appeared for
The following were selected as Jurors: Colum-
bus J. Eser. John Golden, w. H. SCOTT. w. H.
BAILEY & g. ". Banagan, John |, Vogt' Jos shSrteT'
Hughes and E. F. Simpson.
HISTORY OF THE SPARKS ROBBERY.
MI: Taggart opened the case, stating that Mr..
Sparks sold out his property in Virginia, and ar
rived in this city october 49, 1881, on his way to
approached in the g. & O. depot by Lynch. who
engaged hi m In conversation, and pretended to be
on the way to Marshall. They got on familiar
and drink was proposed, and Mr.. Sparks took
lemonade They expected to show that the bar
aeepr was nn m That aoh party ~
one,' played with dice. was proposed on which
Sparks put up his money s5l6j against the Doodle,
taken. They expected to show that these were
confederates; that everything had been arranged
Y,
he participated in the division of the SpoilS
Mr.. SPARKS TELLS HIS STORY.
BushrOd Sparks testified that in october, 1881,
he started for Missouri, having in his possession
after he purchased tickets, s546 After getting his
tickets and having his baggage checked he sat
down by his wife, when a stranger came in and
pretended to be reading paper about the York
town celebration, and remarked that he was
going west to Marshall, Mo-, and proposed that
they travel together; that before the train left
a The
to get some lemons or oranges and they went into
saloon. where witness was invited to take a
and it was proposed to throw dice. as to who
should pay. The man, who pretended to be a
broker proposed to throw bottom and top" and
game. The other man coming back
said that the broker was the luckiest
The broker said he did not ike to be bufTed OF.
and proposed to borrow the money, and witness
went to the depot and got it from bis wife. When
was put up, and the dice was thrown. Witness
was told to count the spots and as he was doing
cried out "Your are set Of thieves" The man an
behind the counter said: "D-n, you, you are
gambling here, and Will cause my business to be
could not catch him. Through Onicer Scott wit
ness got his tickets exchanged, and went with him
to police headquarters. Witness had seen the bar
keeper since, on Pennsylvania avenue and in the
court room, and saw him now-pointing to Dunn.
Witness said he had never received a cent OF
his money.
The witness was cross-examined by Mr.. Will
1ams- He said that after going to police head
quarters. and to station house, he went to the
depot, where Detective Acton saw him and told
him not to talk about the case. Before he picked
Dom out he was shown picture OF him by Gov.
Wells number OF pictures were handed to him
by Gov. Wells, who said that one OF them was
man who was concerned in robbing him, and wit
ness picked it out. Never saw this picture but
twice. Witness was summoned here. and he went
direct to Gov. Wells house; saw O'Leary several
days after he arrived; had had no conversation
with O'Leary and Donohue on this subject
By the court-When the $516 was bet the spots
on the other dice was not counted; witness did not
Re-dIrect.-Witnss IS was not told the name OF
DCnn TILL he recognized the picture In the pack
There were ten or dozen pictures. and Dunn's
picture was we'll down In the pack. AS soon as he
saw it he said he would swear to him wherever he
saw him.
BY the court.-witness pursued the man 80 or 40
yards, and was recalled by Dunn, who spoke OF
policeman.
A recess for 80 minutes was taken.
AFTER RECESS.
On reassembling at one O'Clock Mr.. Sparks was
recalled and identified the photograph.
Officer Scott testified that on October 18th or
18th he saw Mr.. Sparks at the B. and O. depot,
who said he had been robbed, and pointed out
restaurant 229 New jersey avenue (Wise's) as the
place.
Garfield B. Stratton, clerk In the city post ofHce,
testified that he was boarding at Wise'S boarding
house in 1881. MI: Wise, his wire and daughter
not at the time. Had seen Dunn at Wise's
Ferdinand Lambrecht testified that he lived at
bers the time Of the robbery: saw Sparks In front
Of the house; there was screen in Wise'5.
oBJECTING TO o'LEARY's TESTIMONY.
Charles O'Leary was sworn.
Mr.. Williams objected; that O'Leary had been
convicted Of an infamous crime, and called for the
reading OF the record
The clerk read the record. showing that O'Leary
was convicted on March 18th, 1882, of larceny and
was, on May 10th, sentenced to the penitentiary
Mr. Wells-Is there no record Of pardon7
The clerk.-NO. sir.
and it would take him half an hour to get it.
The courI-I Will have 10 sustain the objec-
tion.
MIR. Wells said that O'Leary could stand aside,
but he thought he could satisfy the court that
OLeary was competent without producing the
pardon.
The court said that it was very remarkable
proposition,
MIR: Wells and Mr.. Taggart argued the case.
The Washington City Presbytery.
PROCEEDINGS AT FALLS CHURCH YEsTERDAY-rHE
CONVERSIONS OF NEW CHURCH LAID
At the meeting OF the Washington City Presby-
terry at Falls Church yesterday Rev. JOS T. Kelly.
the newly elected moderator, presiding, Rev. Clar-
ence Duard was dismissed to the Presbytery at
Yadkins. and Rev. A. Poulson to the Presbytery OF
New Castle. Drs. Sunderland, Chester and Bit
finger and Elders Ballantyne and Frost were ap-
pointed as committee to act in connection with
the Baltimore Presbytery in reference to the GEN.
tennial Of the original PreSbytery OF that CITY,
The application OF Rev. 8. w. Walker TO dissolve
his pastoral relation with the Eastern Presby-
terlan church was referred to an adjourned meet
ing to be held on the 23d instant. Rev. Mr.. Bur-
dick, OF the Sixth church, being unable to attend
on account of illness the Presbytery took no ac-
tOn in reference to the restriction from preaching
that rests upon him. Rev. c. Fl. Darlington was
appointed to attend the coming synod at VIII
mington, Del The PreSbytery then adjourned
The Sixth church. of this city, was chosen as the
place for the next regular meeting OF the Presby-
terry.
In the afternoon the members of the presbytery
took part in the exercises Of laying the corner
stone Of the new stone Presbyterian church, now
being constructed at Falls Church The Rev. ID. a.
Riddle. pastor OF the Falls Church Presbyterian
church here, presided. The exercises were COM
menced at O'Clock pm. The first was singing by
the choir. Then followed In regular order, the
singing OF the DoxoIogy; the tReading OF the
Scriptures" by the Rev. DR. Howe; singing OF the
964th hymn OF the hymn book "The Church's One
Foundation; n;"extemporaneous address by the Rev.
William A. Bartlette, ID. d., which was excellent in
conception and eloquent in utterance; the laying
OF the corner stone by DR.. Bartlette; singing, an
original hymn by Mrs. A. e. Greenough; benedtc-
tlOn by DR.. Howe. In the cavity beneath the
stone were deposited the following articles:-
washington city daily papers, religious papers OF
church, brief history OF Presbyterian
church, roll or church showing names OF pastor,
members OF session. trustees and all present men,
bers small coins OF 1SS3 piece OF stone from Solo
mons temple, and program OF the day exercises.