National Republican., 1884-04-12
lug HANDLED.
The E1-Detectivcs' Trial Drawing 20 n
CIoss-Tho Court Again Makes Some
Romnrlts

The Ex- -Detectives' Trial Drawing 20 n
CIoss-Tho Court Again nInIses Some
Remarks.
All the evidence was submitted yesterday
in the case of eE-DeteCtives James A. Nc
Dewitt and Charles Il. Finder, charged with
receiving stolen property. The court room
was packed to its utmost capacity by specta-
tors Among the latter were several mem-
bers of the citizens committees the ex-detec-
tives, and n number of regular policemen.
Immediately after the court had convened
Mr.. Riley corrected the statement made by
him yesterday that Little Horace" had been
seen at the Ebbitt house at night in company
with certain lawyer. He said it was case
Of mistaken identity.
The first witnesses called were Messrs r.
s. Davis and Detective w. z. Smith, of Balti-
more who testified TO McDevitts good
character.
Mr. James A. McDevitt was then called to
the stand. lie recited his visit to tho
Metropolitan bank on tho occasion of the
robbery. He was told that package of
securities had been stolen from Mr. Whites
desk and pronounced the job "the work Of q
professional thief" Witness explained why
he did not keep the engagement with the
bank officials at the depot. He told
Mr.. Thompson at police headquarters that it
would be folly for him (Thompson) to go to
New York, as the thieves would have moth
ing to do with him. Witness had never
loaned Hovan $40 and shad never seen him
but once before, and that was when he ar
rested him on a train near Richmond for
robbing an express Office. Witness made
several efforts TO arrest Hovan and tho other
men engaged in tho government printing
office robbery, but failed.
On CrOss.examination Mr.. McDevitt said
tho lictriat iscinn had iaaunA ap
unheard Of order against an American
citizen. By this order he is not per-
mitted to go into police headquarters
IL prevents him from seeing n paper or from
speaking to policeman. Any member OF
the force seen conversing with him would be
dismissed 1.-THE whole matter" he said sis
a conspiracy against me, and l have the
papers in my pocket to prove it,"
| At this point witness was checked by the
court.
After the recess tho government put in
testimony in rebuttal. The witnesses were
Messrs. White, Thompson, and Middleton
This ended the evidence in the case.
Counsel for the defense then proceeded tc
| argue the demurrer to the evidence, and
claimed that it did not sustain the indict-
ment.
The prosecution claimed that If the accused
| could be convicted at all, it would be on the
| indictment as drawn up.
The court said there could be no doubt that
'McDevitt never saw the stolen property, and
the government had shown by its own wit.
nesses that McDevitt had told tho bank
officers that he could not take charge of the
case" His honor further said that he would
not allow verdict on such testimony to stand
a minute 1t would be outrageous to do so. ,
| After Further discussion the court said he
would be willing to instruct the jury tC
convict, if they believed from tho evidence
that the defendants were acting in collusion
with the thieves, and one of them had re-
ceived the stolen property from the thieves
for his own profit.
The defense expressed its willingness tc
submit the case without argument. 1t wa:
finally agreed that each side should be al
lowed two hours for argument to-day and an
adjournment was taken. The court will CON
vene at IL instead of 10 o'clock this morn
ing.