The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-09-18
HAMMONDS ARRAIGNED.
Mail Robbery Case-The Accused Dis
charged.

Mail Robbery Case-The Accused Dis
charged.
The case of Sam Hammonds, charg-
ed with robbing the United States
mail between Burnet and Button,
September 1, was further examined
yesterday before United States Com
missioner Ruggles. United States
Attorney Evans represents the prose-
cution and r. II. Ward, Esq, the de-
Tense.
The substance of the testimony
taken is given
Theodore Ebers: My business is
carrying United States mail from
Burnett to LIano; left Burnet at 1
o'clock p. M; had two passengers
(men), the United States mail and
some express with me; had two
leather and 507 paper sacks; one Of
the passengers was named WinsloW,
the other Sarthon.
1 was stopped by masked man
about nine miles from Burnet; was
driving briskly along curve in the
road when a man with handkerchief
over his face jumped out in the road,
stopped, and then jumped behind a
big tree and drew his gun down on
me, when 1 pulled up to walk and
listened for him to say ''halt," but the
first thing heard was the report of a
shot. L Immediately told him to "hold
up, that 1 would stop, and not to
shoot any more" He told one of the
men who was looking out of the stage
to "get out" which the man did, and
then he told me to get down." l told
him the team would run away. "Get
down." he said, cor L will pull you
Il iob nd hold fh O loodnr.
(horSeS.)
After got in front of my team the
man came up to the stage, and about
that time an old gentleman, Mr.. Fry,
came along in his buggy and the man
ordered him to get out and hold his
(the robber's) horse, which Mr.. Fry
did. He then came up to the passen-
gers and demanded their money. They
money, don't know how much. He
then ordered them to walk up the road
and stay there, which they did. Then
ne told me to get up and throw the
sacks down. 1 said l couldn't leave
get them himself, which he did, throw
Ing them upon the ground, and cut
I ting the packages open with a knife,
w d1hCu Oll w 1Ol1 DO111O 4SOOOAO, cAAA Va
dered the passengers to come back and
put the mail back in the sacks, and
STAY there till he told them to go. The
team was frightened SO l could not
see what he took out of the letters.
The passengers threw the sacks
upon the stage box as ordered, and
when they got in l rolled out and
drove on to Button, where / delivered
the way sack, which had been cut, to
the 2. NJ, DR.. Carlton. The robbery
was committed about 8 o'clock p. m,
in Burnet county. The robber shot
through a curtain of the stage before
/ spoke and told him not to shoot. /
was about twenty yards from him
when he fired Winchester rifle or
carbine at us. He had besides what
appeared to be a nickel plated pistol.
NV team was so excited could not
tell much about it. The robber fol-
lowed on towards Button. The Win
chester went off accidentally, and
when this happened the robber dis
PLAYED his pistol. One of the passen-
gers (Winslow) said the robbers got
SO from him, and that he thought the
old man in the stage (Sarthon) had
about $50. The old man said the
robber got nothing from him.
never knew old man Fry before
the robbery. l know him now as
one of the witnesses. He: was trav.
cling, pretty fast, in the same direc
!, ton l was going. passed him twice
once when he stopped to get some
water. The robber said for the ole
man to hold up, and stop there, that
didn't want to bother him. He die
| not call the name, but simply called
him "old man." The old man wa!
about fifteen steps off from the rob.
berry; it was daylight.
l Witness described the dress and ap
pearance of the robber somewhat mi
!. nutely. He was short man, not a
{ tall as / am, apparently young man
l could not tell whether Ire had beard
or not. The only time / got a goo,
/ look at him was when he jumpe,
upon the stage wheel. He came from
the direction of Burnett.
Fry might have been robbed with
M out my knowing it. Fry appeare
scared when the robber spoke to hin
# The robbers gun was drawn upo
n Fry. knew Fry abouta as well as
" did HammondS. The country wheI
!. the robbery was committed
IS woody. 1 don't know tn
le man (the prisoner) before me. hay
ne seen him at Button. The mail we
he taken without my consent. The rol
er berry was on Monday, September
Id The stage was robbed at that plat
e. once before. 1t was the Scurlock re
" berry. had heard of it but felt I
of alarm in carrying the mail. If kne
ne who the robber was would tell b
n. name without fear.
al When / first saw Hammonds W
on not personally acquainted with hin
10 saw him few times around Blufto
d. well enough to recognize him; won
know his face; judge HIM to be abo