National Republican., 1884-04-11
ON THE RACK.
The Trial Of Ex-DetectiveS MCDevitt and
Finder Drawing to Close.
The Government Rests and the De-
tense Is Begun,
Judge Wylie Enlivens the Proceedings With Few
Observations
Several Citizens Testify 60 the Good
vharactcr OF the Defendants.

Finder, charged with receiving stolen prop
erty, was resumed yesterday morning in tho
criminal court A large crowd was in attend
ance. Mr.. G.. II. B. White was recalled and
produced the kilograms received by him from
Mr. Thompson on July 8 and o, 1880, while
the latter was in Now York. The first tolo-
gram read, mo less than five acceptable.
Finder will deliver package to you to-mor-
row morning Hope Wood will get Mosoly
off to-day" The second telegram said,
"Flinder detained until afternoon train.
Will see you tonight"
Mr.. Frank Middleton was recalled and
testified that he made record of having
paid Finder $1,000 on July 7, 1880.
Mr.. White described the manner in which
the package was put together when ho lost II.
Francis ii. Smith, real estate and insur-
ance agent, detailed q conversation he had
with Finder about the robbery, in which
the latter told him that he was engaged by
Mr. Thompson to go to New York and get the
bonds lie went TO o saloon where crooked
people congregated. He looked them ovor
and picked out his man. Had talk with
him. and said he was authorized to offer
$500 for the return of the bonds. Nothing
was done that night, but on the next day i.
was accepted. He said that afterward he
told Mr. Thompson that he could get the
parties who stole the package. Mr.. Thomp-
son replied that it would cost money, and he
did not care to make any further invest
ments.
II. J. Hanford was recalled. and said the
record failed to show that Mr.. Finder re-
ceived registered letter during July, 1880.
Mr.. j. w. Thompson, on being recalled,
said that there was but one robbery at the
bank, and no dealing with Finder of $500.
The witness was only too anxious TO have
the parties arrested. Finder had told him,
while in New York, that tho parties had
tried to cheat him out of $500 bond.
Finder had never given him the name of
the party connected with the robbery.
Warren A. Hebbard, formerly bookkeeper
for Fadeley, tho livery man, testified that he
was bookkeeper for that firm on July 2, 1880.
Three men came to the stable on that
morning and hired buggy. One was Nc
Dewitt, the second Nicholson, and tho third
was introduced as Finder The two latter
went away in the buggy together. When
the buggy came back there was trowel in
it. Witness heard of the Metropolitan bank
robbery two or three days after it occurred.
L. b. Fadely corroborat@ the former wit
ness and with this testimony the govern
ment closed.
Col. Robert Christy made the opening ad-
dress for the defense. He said the course Of
the government in this case was the most re-
markable ever known in any court in the
country. The indictments carried the names
of Nicholson, Donohue, and Barret, whose
testimony could not be had. The defense
proposed to show that tho accused were men
of good reputation and excellent character,
and that the witness, Hovan, had grievance
against one of them of ten years standing :,
having been arrested by McDevitt on
information furnished by :, Finder
Col. Christy dwelt upon the char
acter of Hovan and his testimony,
which he proclaimed false and malicious.
The defense would show that the stolen pack
age did not really leave the city, and that
the visit to Mr. Whites residence was not on
the night of the robbery, but the following
night.
Judge Wylie said now that the government
had closed and the defense had made their
opening he had ono or two suggestions to
make. The indictment charged tho defend
ants with having received stolen property.
He had failed to see any evidence showing
that any of tho property went into the hands
of McDevitt, and he would like to hear the
government on that point.
Then, again, it was charged that Finder
was in the scheme to rob the bank. He might
have been, but it was also shown that the
property he recovered was all returned to
the bank. The man Hovan said that Finder
divided only $4,000 OF the $1,000 with them,
and that was an intuition that ~, geo of the
money was appropriated by himself Even if
that was SO that would not be receiving stolen
property, for it would bo $4,000 out Of the
5000 given to Finder by the bank to re-
cover Lno package from Une CnleVoS.
He would not ask argument on the two
points, which were really tho only points in
the case ut that time, because the defendants
reputation had been assailed and he would
give them an opportunity to clear it. If he
should decide now and against the govern
ment it might not relieve the defendants of
the aspersions put upon thcm. So he would
merely throw out the suggestions that the
government might see the rocks it was likely
to run against. When tho proper time came
he would expect to hear that side on the
question.
After recess Mr. Riley said it had come to
his knowledge that Little Horace was out of
Jail last night at certain rooms in the Ebbitt
house. Judge Wylie made request that
the facts be furnished him, and Mr.. Riley
promised to produce them this morning.
Mai. A. q. Richards, Maj. William g. Brock,
Charles l.. James, James L. Barbour. John Lar
combe, aud DIR. ID. b. Clark, Adolph A. Eek
LOFT, and DR.. p. j. Murphy testified to the good
character of the defendants.
Ex-Detective George W. MGElfresh testified
to being detective at the time of the gov
ernment printing office robbery. Witness
and Mr. Finder watched the trains. He
knew the reputation of Horace Hovan. He
also knew that McDevitt went to New York
in connection with the printing office rob-
berry.
The indictment found by the grand jury at
the Juno term, 1879, against Little Horace,
- Byrne, ana george IOrSOn lor Ine lar
ceny OF 50, 900 FROM the government printing
office to show that McDevitt was II witness
against Little Horace and the others In that
case was admitted in evidence.
The counsel for defense stated at this poin t
that they had six more witnesses as TO char
acter and two as to special circumstances, but
that none of them were present
Judge Wylie said in a disdainful tone,
"This is all in the clouds"
Detective Wren, of Richmond Va, was
then called and testified that he knew Little
Horace" and had known him for nineteen
years. met him first when tho latter was about
10 years of age, at which time his occupation
was that of thief, and he has since enjoyed
pretty bad reputation, and witness would
not believe him under oath. Knew McDevitt
and Finder for five or ten years and in
speaking OF the former said "ho had Il splendid
reputation"
EUpon motion of tho counsel for the defense,
Judge Wylie ordered that tho expenses of tho
witnesses for the defonso be betrayed
The court then adjourned until this morn
ing.