The record-union., 1891-11-11
JEFF ROBERTS HELD.
He Must Stand Trial for the Colfax
Train Wrecking,
What was Developed During the Sixth
Day of the Examination-Work
of the Detectives.

-Oic . uSt1ce NNynn ne eAdulIIdLlOn
was the most complete ever held in Placer
County, and it brought to light the secret
and determined work of a corps of able
detectives, untiring in their efforts to
bring the criminal to justice, Attorneys
Robinson and Tabor for the prosecution
were not able to be present yesterday,
and Messrs. Jones and Craig conducted
the case for that side.
Joe Campbell was recalled yesterday
by the prosecution, and asked what he
did with the monkey-wrench after he re-
turned from Iowa Hill and found it
under the pillow Of his bed. He said he
put it in his wagon and left it in his
trunk, which was on the ranch of "a man
named Smith, about five miles from
Colfax He atterward told the officers
where it was, and they went and got it.
George +. Lamphrey, Captain Of the
second watch at Folsom Prison, testified
that he was one of the officers who went
20 the Smith place to get the monkey
wrench belonging to Joe Campbell,
Thomas Ahern was recalled to the wit
ness chair and asked by the prosecution
TO examine the monkey-wrench and say
whether or not the bolts of an angle
plate could be unscrewed with the aid Of
the wrench? He said nuts of a very
large size could be locsened, and those
on the fish plates were not unusually
large nuts.
st this juncture Attorney Jones offered
IN evidence the monkey-wrench, the
spikes, the angle plate and the pieces Of
clawbar, and they were admitted.
Mrs. Roberts was then recalled to the
stand, and she said the bed which was in
The yard was not tar away from-t fence,
but close to il.
Attorney Jones then called little Viola
Roberts, but she began to cry so vio-
Iently that she was excused, Mr.. Jones
explaining that he did not want TO
1righten her and that he would not insist
on questioning her.
The prosecution here rested its case.
a MOTION TO DISMISS JEFF.
Attorney Chamberlain then arose and
said he had thought that the prosecution,
before resting its case, should have told
the court at least that they did not insist
chat jeff Roberts be held to answer, in
the face of the the testimony there was
against him; but, as the prosecuting at
torneyS did not do so, the defense pro-
posed to present a motion asking that
the defendant Jeff be discharged, and
atterward that Albert also be discharged
Mr.. Chamberlain reminded the court
that the cases were probably the most i'm
pOrtant that had ever been examined in
Placer County, and the court should feel
the responsibility of rendering a decision.
He reviewed some of the testimony, and
again asked that the defendant jeff be
discharged.
Attorney Jones replied to. the motion
OF Mr. Chamberlain and first argued the
point as to whether or not q public Offense
was committed. He said he would be.
brief in that regard, as he thought it
would be an insult to the courts inteIli-
gence to make any extended remarks.
1t was true that rail had been removed
on the main line of the Central Pacific
railroad, and the testimony showed con-
clusively that it was not an accident, but
an attempt to wreck a train and after
ward rob the passengers. Spikes were
drawn, the end of the rail was pushed
aside and fish-plate was forced under
meath it. Everything tended to show
That traln-W rockers did the work, and
now the question to be argued was as to
whether or not the Roberts boys commit
Ted this offense.
Now, l admit said Mr.. Jones in his
argument, that this case is made up for
The most part OF circumstantial evidence,
out 1t IS an exceedingly strong one.
There was evidence that jeff did partici-
pate IN this work, and
HIS OWN STATEMENTS
Were almost sufficient to convict him.
What did he tell Mrs. Brees =? He told
her that he knew who wrecked the train.
He knew the two who did it, and he
could lay his hands on them at any time.
He knew also what tools We're used in
doing the work. He said a wrench,
crow bar and a clawbar were the TOOLS
and who would know this unless he was
implicated in the work. The detectives
even found a piece of this clawbar right
under the rail that had been removed,
and they also discovered the crOWbar
which had been thrown in the brush on
the side Of the road leading to the home
of the Roberts family. Again. this man
jeff is accused twice by his brother of
wrecklng the train, and no man would
point to his brother and say, There is
one OF the guilty men, If it were not So
Concluding his argument Mr.. Jones
asked the court 10 hold the defendant to
answer, and he was confident that if held
jury Of true men could certainly be got
ten In Placer County who would, after
nearing the testimony, and weighing it
ThOughUully, render verdict of guilty
The oHense was worse than an ordinary
murder. The guilty ones were willing
that tens and possibly hundreds of peo-
pie should be killed outright that thev
might gain some paltry amount. 1t
would be an outrage TO justice to dismiss
JEFF.
ATTORNEY FUTILE,
For defense, made his argument in sup
port of the motion TO dismiss JEFF after
Mr.. Jones had finished. He claimed that
the conduct and actions of the Roberts
boys after the wreck could be looked at
in an entirely different way from the
view Mr. Jones and the horde of detect
ives depicted. jeff might have said he
knew who the guilty parties were. Did
that prove him guilty? He might have
said he knew what tools were used.
Would this statement show that he was
guilty? Albert might have identified the
crOwbar as his fathers. But was.it not
reasonable that he should? He saw the
know how it came there.
After the attorney had finished Justice
Gwynn denied the motion to dismiss, and
the defense submitted both cases
Accordingly the court held JEFF Rob
erts to answer and ordered him given
into the custody of the Sheriff.
The Justice was about to pass upon the
case of Al Roberts, when Attorney Jones
interrupted him and asked permission to
make an argument.
Mr.. Jones reminded the court that AL
had a motive for committing the crime.
He was about to eiope with Mabel Inper-
sol and he wanted money. He told her
he had some in an Auburn bank, so that
when he should wreck the train and rob
the passengers she would not wonder
where he got his money. She would re-
member that he had told her he had
money at Auburn.
Mr.. Jones said he believed that Al was
the most tender-hearted of the two, but
JEFF was the schemer. JET proposed 10
wreck the train.
AL WANTED MONEY
And the two planned the work. They
waited until the first section of the train
had passed. Then they went to work
and had but partly finished when the
overland carrying its precious freight
came numbering along. II struck the
proken rail, left the track and the sleeper