Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-27
MORE PROOF OFFERED
In Miller's Defense, Because Of a
Story Circulated Yesterday.
AN EX-POLICEMAN TELLS A STORY,
But Investigation Shows That He Was Bad
ly Mixed on Facts.
THE SPHINX SCORES HIS ENEMIES

IT was attacked to-day by an afternoon
paper, and have been subject to other
attacks through the newspapers because
THE DISPATCH had the best of my story, I"
said James W. Miller last evening. 81 am
willing that the papers should publish any
facts that they can get against me in con-
nection the Catfish robbery, with which I
had no connection, but I certainly object to
slurs through anonymous interviews with
people who are unknown and cannot be
produced. We offer affidavits, let them do
the same or shut up.
81 defy them to give the name of the man
who was interviewed. Let him come for
ward, and 1 dare him to pick me out of q
crowd of dozen men, let alone one thou
sand as he says, or to prove that L was in
anyway connected with the Ravenna rob-
berry. Why 1 was in the penitentiary at
the time that crime was committed and
Warden Wright could hardly be expected
to give me vacation to go on such mis-
sion. Investigate that whole story and you
will find it as fiimsy as the Ravenna robbery
part 1t is full of misstatements and incon-
sistencies. My advice to such people is to
be sure of their facts. The man who told
that story was sure of nothing"
LONG ANONYMOUS INTERVIEW.
The story referred to was that on the night
before the Connors robbery a gang COM
posed of Miller, Tony Warden, AN Ohio street
saloon keeper, Charles Ames, Jimmy Robin
son, a bricklayer now employed by Booth &,
Finn, known as "Bob,' an employe of the
Allegheny city governments, and a present
labor leader met in place on Federal street,
Allegheny, on the night of March22, ISLAND
laid plans to rob the Pleasant Valley offices.
The "officer" says he was offered money to
keep quiet, but refused. He claims he ' ent
to headquarters to get assistance and found
in on the job. He then went to Chief Murphy,
who assisted him in breaking up the gang.
The officers on the inside gave 1t away, and
the robbers escaped. But they were not go
proceeded to go to Connors' house and rob
him. The man who tolls the story says he
ms positive Miller was in the party and is
He declared he could pick Miller out
of crowd of a thousand men, and
says when Miller or Ames meet him they
cross the street.
This is the gist Of an anonymous inter-
view printed yesterday, to show that Miller
is guilty of the Catfish crime. The man who
tells the story is said to have been police
stood in with the gang he went to the May
or's Clerk, and, throwing his keys and badge
in his face, demanded his discharg". He is
said to be at present special officer for a
corporation.
WARDEN WRIGHT sPoILS THE TALE.
Fearing that the special officers memory
might have failed him in some of the minor |
details of the story, it was thoroughly inves-
tigated last night. The first man seen on |
he rnnf ftar Wor re
asked as to the penitentiary record of |
Charles Ames, one of the men said to have |
been in the gang Of the night of March %, |
1881
Warden Wright was found in his resi- |
dence, and kindly volunteered to go to the |
office to secure the information required. |
His search through the penitentiary records |
revealed the facts that Charley Ames was |
located in that institution from September |
H. 1851 to December 19 1881, having been dis
charged just three DAYS before Miller made |
his famous escape. Thus it is shown that |
Charley Ames could not possibly have been
In the Federal street saloon on the night of |
March o. 1881. The anonymous talker |
agrees to swear that he was, notwithstand-
ing the penitenti tiary record g Infallibility.
Chief Murphy, of Allegheny, is mentioned |
as the man who stopped the robbery of the
Pleasant Valley offices, but investigation
proved that while he doubtless would pre-
vent any such scheme at present, he was
not in position to do so at that time.
THERE WAS THEN NO CHIEF MURPHY.
Chief Murphy could not be found in Ale
yheny last evening, but Detective Steele
now acting superintendent of police, volun-
eered the information on the subject
Murphy cid not enter the police depart
nent until seven years ago. said he. '.His
;he latter's first term. At the time men,
Toned in the story Chief Murphy was mar
set constable and could hardly have had
.nything to do with breaking up that gang.
don't know much about the police business
It that time and never heard of any such
Iffatr. If there was anything in 1t 1 would
have heard it as such stories are
)ften told by the boys"
Mr.. Steele mentioned several names of Off |
,ers of that day who are now employed by
corporations, but none of them could be
Iound last evening to verify the story.
In 1851 Mr.. Peterson was Mayor of Allie
.heny and his clerk was AL X. Scandrett,
low Secretary of the Pittsburg Baseball
Company. Last evening he attended the
)uquesne Theater with party of baseball
men, and sitting in a box was interviewed
bout the story of policeman throwing
ead the story, but after being given q brief
ynopsis of it he said:
BROADLY BRANDED AS A LIE.
1T is q lie! l was Mayors CLERK under
during his administration, and
uch a thing never occurred. 1 would be
ure to remember such an occurrence, and
s don't, can only call it lie.''
This is as far as the story could be investi-
ated last night, and after the facts were
earned Miller was shown the result. "That
5 just the way the bottom will fall out of
he majority Of these stories gotten up to
njure me, ;" said he. 81 should think had
nough to do to prove my innocence after
eing compelled to serve seven years in the
for n crime committed by
thers. But that does not suit some people |
rho seem anxious to prevent my rising
bove their level. They harass me with a
OF of fake stuff which 1 must refute by
facts and even affidavits. Their
limsiest stories carry more weight with
ONE people than sworn testimony on my
ide of the case. But l am glad to say that
he honorable people believe my story as
hey are the men want to associate with In
reference to the contemplate persons who
make every endeavor to ruin my story. That
5 the reason am now furnishing the sworn