The morning news., 1891-02-20
FINALLY TURNED LOOSE.
THE ALLEGED WAYCEoss ROB
B-R GIVEN his FREEDOM.

B1R GIVEN HIS FREEDOM.
WilliamsKeaton Retracts His Trumped
Up Ccarge Against Albert Robertson
Connecting Him With the Robbery OF
the Waycaoss e-Robertson's
Innocence Proven = fter He sas Ssent
Six Months In Jail-Keaton Sent to
tie Penitentiary for Five Years.
Albert Robertson, a colored man who
has been q prisoner in the county jail for
several months awaiting trial on the charge
Of robbing the Wayeross postofiiee last
April, was released yesterday by Judge
spesr OF the United States court after the
prosecution had made out its case.
Robertson was employed at the depot In
May, at the time the robbery was commit
ted. He and another negro, William Kea-
ton, occupied the same house, Keaton being
tenant OF Robertson. There was . woman
in the case, who was also living in Ehe
house.
A number Of robberies were committed in
and around Waycross last spring, several
churches being ROBBED Of their communion
silver. Then the postoffice was robbed and
about $50 and quantity OF stamps were
stolen. Some time after the postoffice rob-
berry Keaton and Robertson fell out about
the woman and Keaton caused Robertson to
be brought before the town council aud
fined for fighting and disorderly conduct.
linen Robertson put the officers ON to
keaton, whose room was searched by the
officers and a lot of stolen goods we're found,
including quantity of stamps and other
things taken from the postoffice.
ROBERTSON IMPLICATED.
Keaton was arrested, tried in the state
court, and sentenced to the chain-gang for
roboinR the churches. When Keatoa was
arrested he told a story i'm mplicating Robert
son in the postoffice robbery. He said that
he and Robertson committed the robbery
together. that he being the smaller man,
pried open the transom over the Office door
and climbed in, after which he opened the
door and admitted Robertson, who broke
open the safe aud secured the contents.
The day after Keatons arrest and con~
fession Robertson was discharged from the
depot, on account Of some difference with
the ehief clerk about work he was ordered
to do. Immediately after being discharged
Robertson left Waycross and made tour
OF Sou Invest Georgia. The United States
authorities heard of Keaton's statement,
arrested him for robbing the postoff1ce, and
started on the trail OF Robertson. A few
weeks after his departure Robertson came
back to Waycross, and hunted the police offi-
cers, saying that he had heard there was a
warrant out for him, and he wanted to
know what it was about he explained his
absence from Waycross by saying he had
gone In search OF work, aud gave a straight
forward account Of himself during his ABB
sence. he was Immediately taken in Gus
tody on the charge Of robbug the post
office, was turned over to the United States
authorities. and lodged in Jail at Savannah.
Robertson protested his innocence through
out.
A FALSE CHARGE.
Some time after Robertson was lodged in
Jail here, Kearon was brought to Savannah
and given hearing before United States
Commissioner Gille pie on the same charge.
He again told his story, making Robertson
the principal in the crime. An account of
Keaton's hearing was published in the
MORNING News. A few days after its pub
lication a MORNING NEws reporter was
| informed OF the fact that one Of the pri5-
oners etthe Jail was very anxious to see him
| With the jailer's permission the prisoner was
| seen. 1t was Robertson, who mad seen the
| account of Keaton's statement in the paper,
aud who YVES anxious to tell the story
! OF the case. as he wanted
to be set right before the public. He gave
his story at length, but substantially, as
previously ma rated, being that Keatou,
when discovered implicated him in the
matter in revenge for the difficulty about
the woman. Robertson told his story with
| great oarhestness.
DID 1T FOR REVENGE.
| As the story of in jured innocence is al
ways interesting. Robertson's story was
| published in full the next day. 1t attracted
considerable attention aud secured Robert
| son number of friends, who interested
themselves in his behalf. Some time after
ward Robertson sent word that he wanted TO
see MORNING News reporter. He waited
to say that Keaton had confessed that he
had made false statement 10 duplicating
him in the robbery, on account of spite
against him, and WAS willing to
clear him of the charge. Keaton was
| brought up and corroborated Robert on's
statement very willingly. He and Robert
son met in the jail it seems and patched up
their differences. Keaton saw he was in
for it anyhow, and there was no use of car
rying Robertson with him to the peni-
| tentiary.
Keaton's statement clearing Robertson
was published, much to the latter's gratifi-
cation. He thought he would be released
at once, but be knew nothing of the laws
delay. Acquitted by the man who had i'm
piicased him i'll the crime. he has spent
several monJhs in jail awaiting this present
| Seootph VA tne - utVeO OOAUes cOuFb.
keaton pleaded guilty to the charge. and
was sen e1ced to five years in the peni en-
| tiary. Robertsons trial came up yesterday.
| United States Attorney Erwin did not
| introduce Keaton, but eadeavored to make
case against Robertson on circumstantial
evidence, which, however, was nothing
more than supposition. A. H. MacDonell.
Esq, defended Robertson. AS the prosecute
ing attorney did not introduce Keaton's
/ testimony IN the prosecution the defense
could not introduce it In re outtal The case
of the prosecution was so flimsy, however,
| that it was not needed.
| After hearing all the evidence in the
case and Attorney Erwin's argument
Judge Spesr reviewed the case and de-
clared that there was no grounds whatever,
beyond mere supposition, to prove that
| Robertson had any connection with the
burglary of the Waycross postoffice, and
he instructed the jury to return verdict
of not guilty. Robertson is a free man once
| more.
ABOUT READY FOR CARS