New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-05
THE SLOANE FLATS Robbery.
Defence OF THE CoLoRED PRISONERS.


the bar in the Court of General Sessions yesterday.
where the Witnesses were waiting to be called in
the case of Jesse Williams. accused OF assaulting
Miss Harvey in Sloane's fats, at Broadway and
Tbirtv-second-st on the night of March 8. The
light brown prisoner sat beside the still lighter
yonng woman Gertrude L. Ash, who is indicted
with him The witnesses were Of various COM
plexions-the women being blonde, the de-
tectives red-faced, and the servants black.
The prisoner Williams leaned eagerly forward and
watched tho witnesses while they testlhed. his
companion was less excited in manner. The rat
Ting windows of the courtroom had been tempo
rarily fixed by Superintendent McAvoy, so that the
testimony Of tho witnesses was more easily audi
bic than on the previous day.
Mrs. Sarah c. Sloane. the sister Of Miss Harvey.
who was on the witness stand when the
court adjourned ON Thursday, was first eross-exam-
med by the prisoners counsel. She said that her
memory as to the occurrences of the evening was
perfectly clear. When she and her husband re-
turned on the evening of the robbery her husband
unlocked the door aud when they were inside abe
kicked against something lying on the floor 1t
proved to be a bundle of silverware. Her sister
was lying on the floor and she thought her dead.
Her husband went for an officer The witness
described the position of the rooms occupied by the
80 wants on the fifth floor On the redirect exam
nation she identified the ovorshoes found in Ger
trudes room as par that belonged to her. She also
identified the cloth that had been used to gag Miss
Harvey as having been in Gertrude's room. The
plow-casc IN which the silver was tied was also
recognized as belOn ging in Gertrude's room.
WHAT DETECTIVE PRICE SAW AND FOUND.
Detective James X. Price Of Captain Williams's
precinct was then called TO the stand He said;
TO sloane's apartment house on tho evening OF
March :. ilrst went TO Miss Harveys room Mr. ana
Mrs sloane were there Miss Harvey was IN pea. Zap
tain Williams questioned her TO the size and appear
o her assailant Then went with Mrs Sloane INTO
the dining and ont the fire escape. saw that
the trap leading downward 10 the fire escape ladder was
covered with ice. went back into the dnlngToOm ana
OF the bed was toward the door, and as
passed by saw the heels OF mans boots sticking OUT
put the "nippers" the man and dragged him out II
the prisoner Jesse williams The first thing he said
make any answer. Then took him down stairs. The
prisoner said something and Miss Harvey said THAT Is
the voice OF tho man wno struck me- captain Williams
asked the child "who struck aunt Maggie e. The child
Mr. Keller. the prisoners council object what the
Recorder snyth-The child Two years and a half
old isn't she Well guess the child better be Kept
quiet.
The detective testified to finding pair of over
shoes which had apparently been torn in the effort
TO fit the prisoners feet, and several pieces of linen
that had been used as gags.
Captain Williams also gave evidence as to the ar
rest OF Jesse Williams.
Assistant pistrict-Auorney vncent-You examined the
trapdoor leading the fire escape in the fourth floor
to the lower floors. What was It, condition.
amincd and found marks that would indicate tho posi-
bhy ne entrance Of any one from the yard OF the ad
joining house.
"MY FLAT" And" GFRuE's FLAT"
Susan Whiting, OF a dark hue, was a servant for
another family in the Sloane fats. She testified
with memory for detail that sometimes
amusing. She said
AL wos going upstairs tho night OF the robbery
sne sad Give me piece Of that cake r. .sid: Il
Hayea got any NOR but What asye in my mouth
know was cake was eating r. she bad on one OF Nj.
eueseed the name was George Henry she carried pail
OF hot water, a. she said sue wanted TO take bath
The hat and the pail of water, which the detec-
tyes suppose used to free the fro escape from
ice were afterward found in Gertrude's room. The
witness continually spoke of the part of the
house where she worked as my fiat" and of Mr..
SlOsnc's apartments as " Gerties fiat"
GERTRUDE ASKS STORY.
With this testimony the prosecution closed. The
Recorder decided that Mr.. Vincent must choose one
Of the three crimes charged in the indictment as the
ono on which he intended to ask for a conviction.
The charge OF robbcryin the first degree chosen.
The counsel for the prisoner outlined the defence
which supposed the entire ignorance Of the prison.
ers OF any disturbance until they were aroused by
Mr.. Sloane.
Gertrude L.. ASH, VINO Is charged WITH cOWpllcHy
in vii amss guilt, was first placed on the witness
stand. She has a notified complexion of yellow
and white. She was far from neat in her dress,
but Is not Unlocking. She gave her answers
clearly and docsivey. She testified that she was
born in Philadelphia eighteen years ago.
Mr., Keer-what have you been doing Of late yearsl
myself ever since | twelve thirteen years old.
worked in laundry in Morrsania for "A few years Then
was in a laundry in West Twenty -sixthst. have
worked out since worked at Mrs. Sloanes about five
Mr.. Keler-Tell us about the night OF March g.
The wtness-Mr and Mrs. Sloane went out about half
Tor Miss Harvey Jesse williams had been in my room
Wednesday evening. have kno%n him almost
went to bed AT about hapast nine was just taking
bath when Jesse and heard noise outside the door
Jesse thought there was hre IN Inc house went 70 me
door and heard voices put on wrapper aad when the
bell rang went down stairs. was IN Miss Haryoys
room about halt hQur sndtO MISS ,'arVeyi II was
strange the rlbber did not take your diamond rings"
know that Jesse not ont Of the room that night
On crosse Examination the witness described how
Jesse had been provided with food during the three
days that lac was in her room. She said that she |
always locked him into he room She went up in |
the morning about 10 o'clock, in the afternoon and
in the evening to take HIM his food.
Mr. vinccnt-what did you give him to eat on that |
The wimess-I taken mp chicken that night
Mr.. Vncrnt-Hs had fondness FOR chcken
the wtuess-Ile told me so.
MI yncent-What did you give him to eat at other |
finest
him three meals day regular
She sad that the prisoner had passed many nights
I'm her ROOM She declared that tho pieces of linen
found in the sloane apartments had not been in |
her room. She said that Williams had not been out |
of her room for three days and that he always |
lying in bed when she went to the room.
WILLIAMS on THE STAND.
Williams then testified In his own behalf. He |
said his name was Jesse Franklin Williams His |
mother was Ianitress in Ninety sixth-st. and he |
had lived with her since he lost his position as |
ooachman in last July He said he had once been ar
rested ION account of Young LADY, but was DIS |
charged. lie gave exactly the same story Of the |
occurrences Of Saturday night and the days pre- |
ceding as the young woman had done. He said |
that he had previously occupied the room from q |
Thursday evening to sunday morning He pro-