Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-07
ONE LINK. FINISHED.
Fred c. FitZSimmOnS Found Guilty
Of the Skelly Robbery.
he TREMBLED FOR THE FIRSTTIME.
Secrets of the Schmitt Burglary Now Be-
ing Made Public.
CORA WYATT AND THE CLARKS ON TRIAL
he TREMBLED FOR THE FIRSTTIME.
CORA WYATT AND THE CLARKS ON TRIAL


After the lapse of about q week the famous
Fitzsimmons case which was stopped by
the death of District Attorney Johnston, was
taken up yesterday. On the Skelly robbery
Fitzsimmons and his accomplices were
found guilty. and now the court is fairly
into the meat of the Schmitt robbery. AL
though the attorneys protested Charles
and Cora Wyatt were placed on trial with
the famous robber.
The courtroom was crowded all day by
people anxious to hear the evidence and get
q look at the defendants Fitzsimmons, or
J}udd, was still as defiant as ever when
brought into court and nearly all day kept
up chatter and laugh In fact, his actions
are such as TO cause comment as to whether
his conduct is assumed or natural.
When the case opened in the morning
Laura Snowden, or, as she testifies, Mrs.
Hill, was placed on the stand for the contin-
uation of the crosse Examination that was in
progress when the ease was stopped a week
ago Thomas NJ. Marshall cross-eXamined
her, but did not shake her story. She said
the silk recovered by Detective Gilkinson
had been given her by Fitzsimmons. Her
husbands name is William Hill. She has
never been divorced but is known in Pitts
burg as Laura Snowden.
d. \. SktllN, OF MCheeSpOTI, leSilHeu W tle
rObbing of his store. o. p. II. Somerell and
James Wright, employees of Mr.. Skelly, told
the story of the robbery. Wright identified
the miners lamp as one found in the cellar
after the robbery Miss Dora Readle testi-
fed 10 the amount of silk stolen. Chas. Fos-
ter said he knew Budd and had seen him in
Mcheesport about a month before the rob-
berry.
The Commonwealth rested, and, after
short consultation, Major Montooth, for the
defence, said they had no evidence to offer.
Judge Slagles charge TO the jury was short
and direct, and at II o'clock the jury retired.
Fitzsmmons' Face Grew Pale.
Some of the other work of the court was
taken up until the hour for the noon recess.
When court reconvened at 1 o'clock the jury
was ready. 1t was brought in and the ver-
dict of guilty on both counts. burglary and
entering a building, was submitted AL
though this was expected the effect on the
prisoner was marked. His face paled and he
became very nervous.
The case based on the robbery of John f.
Schmitt S jewelry store, in Homestead, was
taken up next. In this case the grand jury
indicted A. G. Budd, alias Fred c. Fitzsim-
mons, Charles NJ. Clark, Emma Clark, Cora
Wyatt, Daniel 5. DeeVer and Laura Snow
den. Attorney Cox asked for separate trials
but the Court refused. Some little time
spent in securing jury, each side exhaust
ing their list of challenges. During the call
ing of the jury Fitzsimmons was not a little
amused and as juror was stood aside he
would look at the juror and laugh. When
the name of Henry Gallagher was called the
prisoner remarked loud enough to be heard
all around, That's a Frenchman," and then
INDUCED in a hearty laugh at his little joke.
After jury had been secured District At
tOrney Burleigh informed the Court that
they would only try Fttzsimmons, Charles
VI. Clark, Emma Clark and Cora Wyatt under
the Indictment. William Reardon, Esq, for
the defense, entered an objection to this, but
it was overruled by Judge Slagle, who said
that the District Attorney had right to do
as he pleased i'll such Il matter. The open
ing address was made by Assistant District
Attorney Martin, who said that the Com
mOnwealth expected to prove that the rob-
berry had been committed by FitzsimmoDs
and that he was aided and abetted by the
other defendants.
John f. Schmitt was the first witness
called. He testified that he was the proprie-
tor of jewelry store at No. 30 Eighth ave-
nue., Homestead. At 5:l5 o'clock on the
evening of January 81, 1891, he left his store,
first locking 1t, and then went home to sup
per. He was away from the store half an
hour, and on his return the gas was out and
the trays with watches, chains, rings, etc,
gone He then made a search of the place
and found a hole in the floor just under the
showcase.
He Found the Burglars Tools.
The piece of floor cut out was shown the
witness and identified by him. The witness
continued, that on going into the cellar he
found brace, chisel, a jimmy and a car
pentcr's chisel. The property taken was
valued at S29Sl, and consisted mostly of
watches, OF which l0l were taken and 46
movements. The witness here produced
list of the numbers of the watches taken.
lie saw one of his watches at Lynn, Susque-
hanna county, Pa, where he was taken by
Detective Murphy. The satchel full of
watches found in the trunk of a tree after
the murder of Detective Gilkinsou was
then presented and separately identified by
q
on it.
At this point Detective Murphy picked up
6 watch, of which the ring attached to the |
stem was broken, and tried in vain to fix it.
Fitzsimmons reached over the table and re-
marked, Let me have it," Detective
Murphy looked up in surprise and said, "0h,
no: you know too much about it already" at
which Fitzsimmons INDUCED in another
laugh.
The witness continued that he saw Mrs
Clark in his store on the day of the robbery
at AS o'clock. She stood at the showcase
containing the watches talked for 10 or Is
minutes over the purchase of comb.
Caught by Laura Snowden's Wiles.
Laura Snowden came in the store at 5
o'clock, stopped Is minutes and talked about
buying a watch or chain for a present for
her brother, but did not make any purchase.
The witness knew Fitzsimmons for ls months
and he wa in his store one week before the
robbery.
The cross-examination developed nothing
had gone out OF the jewelry business, at
which Fitzsimmons laughed heartily.
Detective 2. j. Murphy testified that after
the robbery he went with MI. Schmitt to Lynn,
Susquehanna county, on March land found |
q lady's gold watch, two studs, a ring and |
locket. These goods were at the house of |
DIR. Picker and were in the possession Of |
Mrs. Picker. The goods wero identified by |
Mr. Schmitt as some of the stolen property. |
Isaac Jury, a policeman at Homestead tes- |
titled that Mr. and Mrs. Clark live on Fourth |
avenue, Homestead He made a search of |
the Clark house after the murder and found |
buried under the house fruit jar which |
contained pieces of silk, lady's and gen. |
tlemans gold watches, silver watch, rings !
and lOcket. The fruit jar was buried about /
nine inches in the ground.
Court adjourned for the day with this wit
ness still on the stand
Other Work of the Criminal Court.
In the Criminal Court yesterday Albert
Smith was convicted of assault and battery
on George Jameson, March 81 Jameson, it
was stated, came here to work on the new
Davis Theater during the strike, and Smith
x1-oS of hp Stn.il-