Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-20
FIVE YEARS TO THINK OF II.
Two Old White Men Who swindled . COL
ored Man Sent to the Penitentinry.

In the Criminal Court Judge Hagner, today
Joseph Thomas and Joseph Brown. two aged
white men, were charged with false pretenses.
Peter Pettis, a colored man from Beaver
county, Pa, testified that he was passing through
the city on January 10; that he was at the Balti-
more and Ohio railroad in the smoking room.
One of the defendants accosted him and left
then the other came in and engaged him in
conversation, stating that he owned a pottery
at Liverpool on the Ohio river, and asked him
to go with him for his baggage and he did.
After going Q short distance the other came
up saying: mister, have taken your
baggage to the depot and the lady didn't pay
me" Brown said he had a check and handed
II to the other, who said il was as good a. gold
but he had no change, and then he (Pettis) was
asked If he had some money and gave Brown
$50. They then walked toward the depot,
Thomas saying that was not the way of doing
business. Brown said he would go and sign
the book and asked witness to meet him at the
depot Brown, however, did not come 10 the
depot.
On cross-examination witness said Brown
asked witness to give him as much rs he could
spare and they would TX il when they got &c
the baggage room, and be loaned him So, re-
said he wanted to pay the charges on the bag
gage.
Oficer Harlow testified to seeing Pettis and
Thomas In the smoking room at the depot.
THE DETECTIVES STORY.
Detective Raft testified that he caused the
arrest of the parties on january IA; that on the
night before theDreceived information of the
robbery, with description of the men. and be tele
phoned to No station and they were brought
In. He had a conversation with Thomas, who
said that be was a farmer from Virginia.
Detective Carter testified that he first saw
the man at the fourth precinct.
Mr.. Clagett asked what conversation he had
''Old Joe" the witness began, lis a notorious
confidence man"
Here the court raped, saying: THAT won,
do"
Witness continued. saying that Brown said
he did not know the other man, having me,
him for the first time that morning.
Detective Raft recalled and asked il he
knew of the check game. but was not allowed
to describe il. He testified that the satchei,
were found at Clark's restaurant.
George X. Webster. baggage master. Baltimore
and Ohio depot, testified that neither of the
accused brought any baggage January H. He
never saw them before this morning, but re-
membered checking the hand satchel
The case was submitted without argnmen,
and the court instructed the jury stating tina,
the point was raised that this was a case OF
borrowing, but the Indictment sets forth each
step alleging the pretenses to be false, and /,
was for them to decide whether the evidences
sustained these allegations beyond a reasonable
doubt
The jury found verde. Of guilty.
THEIR PREVIOUS RECORD.
Mr.. Clagett said he desired TO Let the court
know who the persons are, and called Detective
Seibo,d OF Baltimore.
Mr.. Seibold said they had been arrested in
baltimore for swindling colored man out OF
IS. and they plead guilty and were sentenced &c
one year each in the house of correction.
The court said il was q matter of congratula
ton that they had been arrested. 1t would ap
pea that they had made up their minds to re
main members of the criminal class. He imposed
the highest sentence provided for this offense
five years at labor in the Albany penitentiary.