The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-01-04
A SURPRISING VERDICT.
Three Men Convicted of Robbery On
the UncOrroborated Testimony Of
nm Accomplish.

Three Men Convicted of Robbery ON
the UncOrroborated Testimony Of
nm Accomplish.
The trial OF Robert Dent, Abraham W. Smith
and Pleasant White, indicted for committing
highway robbery on George Emmert, IT,, on
last Thanksgiving night, was resumed this
morning before Justice wyllo in the Criminal
Court.
Wash Meredith, who was with the party, was
accepted as states evidence. lilo testified that
they started out with the Intention OF robblnR
some ono on that night. Ho took no part In
robbing Mr.. Emmert as he had known him
for years, but stood by and saw the others do
~ and afterward accepted $3.50 OF the money
Police 0ifncer Slater testified to arresting
Meredith and calling attention to q missing
button on his coat aud thut Meredith after bo-
Ing locked up In cell cut the remaining but
tons from on tho coat and threw them into tue
water closet basin from which they were sub.
sequenily recovered. Upon comparison they
were found Identical with tho button found NJ
the place where the robbery was committed.
Policeman West made the arrest OF Smith
md Dent, ana from what Mr.. Emmort had told
MIN Tho witness suspicioned that they aud
Meredith had committed the crime. Ar. En-.
inert went with tho witness 10 Madlgan's
place, where the three mon had gone. Smith
was the only one In the place at the timo, aud
Mr.. Emmert said he was one OF tho mon
eSmith was placed under arrest. He asserted
his Innocence, but said he would go with tho
of1lcer. Dent then camo In, ana was arrested.
He also denied having anything TO do with tho
robbery; said 1t was hard to be arrested, but
would go.
This closed tho Governments case
The defense OF Pleasant White was frat put
In, and was TO tho effect that the defendant
was home oil OF Thanksgiving night, having
been out cunning all day.
"oara Henderson," called Attorney Moss.
elim.bullt pper.colored woman was seen
to move In her chair, but not rise.
"Clara Henderson" again the lawyer called.
"That is not my name and you know It,"
fired back the woman, with some warmth.
well, CLARA Henderson, aliao Meredith,
them" said tho lawyer.
"No, that Is not Il either" replied the wo.
man.
"You knew what my name was In the first
place as well as anybody" said tho woman,
and for the frat time rising and going to tho
witness stand.
She testified that Meredith sent for hor to
como down to Madigan's. She went and saw
him, and asked what was tho matter; II he
had been lighting. He said, "Iturned white
the witness said, "what IL thnt?" "why," he
answered, 81 robbed young fellow, like
fool, last night end got $50 from him, and tho
police arc after me-" He also told hor that
Smith and tho others had been arrested, but
they had nothing to do with Il. He had to put
up the Job on them to clear himself.
She further testified that she married Mere.
dlth in July last, but they had been separated
for the last three months. He beat nor and
she had him arrested. and he got sixty days In
jail. The defense OF Robert Dent was taken
up and an abb set up for him.
George McUauley testified that on Thanks
giving night no met Meredith with two other
colored men, about 10 80 O'Clock, at the cor.
ner OF Seventh street and Pennsylvania ayo.
nue., and neither OF the men on trial was with
him.
The defense OF Smith was an allbl, and the
testimony showed that he was ut the ball at
81. Luke's Hall ut tho time the robbery was
said TO have been committed.
The caso was submitted without argument
upon the charge OF the Court. The Judge said
that 1t was not safe to convict n party or par
ties on the uncoIrOborated testimony OF an nc.
complete. There was not much to recommend
itself In the testimony OF Meredith, we'll
known thief. Then there was the button found
corresponding with those on Meredith's coat,
coat on Dent before tho robbery ana re OK
changed,aftcrward showed his ability to do.
vse means to deceive. That was u pretty
strong story, and the Judge said 1t taxed
ones credulity 10 believe IL. The Jury
should recOllect that the story was not cor
roborated, and, besides, the Inducements
Meredith had to get rid OF tho coat after the
loss OF the button was discovered. 1t would
be n great benefit 10 society and the commu.
nifty II the guilty parties could be punished,
but the crime must be brought homo to them,
and he did not think the Jury should really
convict these men as the law must be fairly ad-
ministered, even 10 the worst criminals. The
jury retired.
After being out two hours and a.halt tho
Jury retured with n verdict or guilty which
surprised everybody In the courtroom as one
OF acquittal was confidently expected.
Notice was given OF motion for Il new trial
In each case.