Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-10-24
TIE DETECTIVE CASES.
Finder and McEffresh on Trial.

1885, against c. E. Finder and George W. Nc
hiresn, indicted for receiving stolen property (s
goid Watch) belonging to Joseph Bauman, Noven-
DEF 2'tn, 1882. on the evidence of Joseph Baumar
and Thomas Donohue. The government was repre-
sented by Messrs. Wells, Corkhin and Taggart, and
the defendants by MeSSrS. C. Pelham, C. NJ. Smith
and A. B. Williams.
| THE JURY.
The Following jurors were selected: Eli II. Hughes
John L. Vogt, W. B. T. Davis, Henry Bailey Th6s
Lucas, George w. Banagan, Walter II. Evans B
W. Page, Edward F. Simpson, Andrew Archer anG
Clarence Beall With the challenges the pane
was exhausted and the marshal summoned Feliy
Mulldoon to fill the jury.
The defense, having challenged four, made the
oHer 10 challenge another, but were Overrued and
an exception noted.
Mr.. TAGaART's STATEMENT OF THE CASE.
Mr. Taggart opened the case, stating that they
expected to show that the parties, in committing
| thls o1ense, perpetrated a fraud. They expected
to Sho" that MIR. Bauman, standing in front of the
infantry armory, when the Infantry and theil
guests "a company from Pennsylvania) filed In, was
robbed OF his watch; that he went to police head
quarters and met Mr.. McElfresh and others, and
was advised to offer a reward Of 500 for the pur-
pose OF getting clue, and he did so. Some days
| aIterWaros Fl1nder called on Bauman and said he
! knew where the watch was: that it was In Balti-
| more, and he demanded the 500 reward. Bauman
| Inen sald that he would give $40, which Finder
tu teiused 10 lake They expected to show that the
thief sold the watch for $50 and McElfresh got the
| watch and said Finder would shake ''the sucker'
up Tor 500, and it was returned.
BAUMERs TESTIMONY.
| Joseph Banner was called and testified that he
| resided at Montgomery, Ala, and was employed in
the CapitOl that on the occasion OF the arrival
the Scranton Guards in tlds city, escorted by the
Infantry, he lost his watch. His friend advised him
TO report the loss at police headquarters which he
did, seeing number of persons who he thought
| were detectives. One of them put his watch In
witness pocket and showed how it was done Wit
| ness gave complete description OF the watch.
witness was advised to offer reward of 500. to
| Which he deInurred, but finally consented to
6o 6o =, SO, o., and agreed to inform them il
ne snoun near OF the watch through the advertise
| IhenC IhlS was On Thursday night, and on the fol-
| lowing Monday MI. Finder called on witness and
presented the card OF the ''National Detective
Agency" and said he knew the whereabouts of the
,s Wadeh, ana told him the number Witness was sat
lSied ISM that he knew something about it, and Film
uer urged him TO send for it, saying it was in Bal
| timofe, ana asked him for the money to get it.
Witness met Flnder at 12 O'Clock. and offered him
s3O, saying that when the watch was returned he
would pay more and he said unless he could get the
500 he would trouble himself no further Wit
ness subsequently met McElfresh near head
aar'es f6e tntarv;e and detailed the substance Of
SAD It was strange, for he had had dealings with
Finder and found him clever fellow and he would
ness and said that he would see Mr. Finder and get
the watch, as he thought he could do it. Witness
gave Br1stoW $50 and he came back and said that
ne could not get IL TIL the detective scandal was
over: He Went again and said Finder told him he
coud not have 1t for 81 OOO for he had published
| it there
| Crossexamined- Witness was accompanted to
ponce headquarters by Mr. W. d. Cash, and he
hear heard the conversation. He was not acquainted
With the officers, but to the best OF his belief NC
three three 10 or four persons around the clerks
them. Don't remember that McElfresh had any
pointed conversation with him. He left the adver-
tlsement for the watch, the night of its loss for
him on Tuesday after the loss. On the Friday be-
| fore Mr. McElfresh told him that there were no
o Iolngs OF th watch, and when there was he would
! OTHER TESTIMONY.
FRANK b. Noyes CLERK EVENING STAR o1ice) tden-
| titled paper of December 18th, 1882.
MI Taggart read letter of Bauman to John W.
Ihoinpson OF the citizens committee, in THE STAR
OF that date, detailing the loss of the watch and
what had occurred between McEIfresh and Finder
John G. Bristow testified that he interested him
sell In the recovery OF Baumans watch. Bauman
toi9 MIN That Finder knew something of the watch,
ana witness went to see Finder, who said Bauman
! had offered reward OF 500. but had offered him
the paitry sum OF s25 or $780, but he would see what
| he could do At the second interview Finder said
owing to the troubles raised by Mr. Thomson and the
clEens' comlntte he was afraid he could not get it,
! witness desired to state that sometimes his mind
| Was aC 1aut, owing to the use OF cnioroforn pre-
| scribed for him, as he was suffering with asthma
| witness could not remember that anything was
! KNOWLEDGE
he did not say anything about the letter Did NOT
remember that al. Finder said he would not get the
The court said the paper must be ruled out. as
also the testimony OF Bauman hearsay from Br1s-
toW only that In reference to BrStOW reporting to
Bauman was to be admitted.
| OBJECTION TO DoNAHUE's TESTIMONY
| Thomas DOnahue was called.
| Mr. Williams objected, because he had been con-
| vtcted of a felony.
Mr. Williams produced the record: 2G76-Frank
Iseman and Thomas DOnahue, larceny, pleaded
| guilty: sentenced for three years November 13tn
1865. 1t appeared however, that DOnahue was mar.
doned in December. 1867.
The court pronounced Donahue competent wit
| NJ. B. Gorman clerk at police headquarters, pro-
nlced the bl0tter of the detective Office, and read
tlle report OF the robbery under date OF December
ISL. ana the assignment OF the case to McEl-
Uross-examined.- Witness thinks he found the re-
port In the morning, and entered it.
TESTIMONY OF THOMAS DONAHUE
! Thomas Donohue testified that he lived at 1910
New York avenue in 1882; that he bought the watch
from man the day after the parade, who said he
! bought 1t from another man. The man who brought
him the watch was Eddy Smith, known as Smithy.
McElfresh asked witness the same day If he had the
watch, and he pr0ducedit. McElfresh said he would
take it to Finder, for the sucker' had offered 500
for it, and they would try to squeeze it out. He re-
turned the WATCH saying that Finder said the man
only offered $50 and tried to play MIN for sssuck-
| er." Witness told McElfresh who brought him the
WaIcn: anu unaC ne pad $50 Tor IT, Smith was here
| seven or eight months afterwards. Finder told
witness that Bauman wanted to squeeze him down
| to $50, and he [DOnahuel could do as he pleased
Witness kept the watch till about the time he went
| before the grand jury.
Cross examined by Mr. willlams-The conversa-
t1On with McElfreSh was at his place of business
1410 New York avenue. Nicholson and (WitnesS
thOughO Smith were in the shop. It was shoe
makers shop; no one heard the conversation that
he knew OF Witness bought the watch In the
morning, Knowing it to have been stolen. 1t was
the morning after the parade. Witness had been in
the habit OF buying stolen goods; made it business
for the detectives did not profit in it but very little
Mic cElfresh came to him about II O'clock for he had
had the watch but very short time McElfresh
asked II he had bought the watch and who from.
Witness told him he bought it from Eddy Smith,
| Witness left the amount to be paid him with Nc
EfreSh; that was his mode with all the detectives
with whom he had done business
Witness was proceeding to give names and had
got as far as Mliers, when the court said that he
would not permit man to be tried in his absence
| witness, continuing, said McElfresh kept the
watch three or four days when he returned it,
DON'T KNOW who were then present. McElfresh said
ne could not get the $780, and witness could do as
| he pleased with the watch. Witness did not then
let the watch go out Of his hands till he gave it to
Mr. Taggart Showed the watch to Mr.. Wood in
| Georgetown, and he thinks to Mr. Thompson
Mr. Thompson said he would see that he got paid for
| the watch. Witness had been arrested several
l times. detectives