The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-11-01

Detective w. G.. Baldwin and his ex-
cellent corps of assistants have added
new laurels to their already long list of
achievements. A little over q week
ago an attempt was made to wreck a
passenger train near Martinsville, on
the Wlnston-S Salem division OF the Nor
folk and Western. To-day the man
who attempted this distardly deed is
behind prison bars awaiting the action
OF the grand jury OF Henry county.
"A week ago last Friday the south.
bound passenger train on the Salem
Winston division ran into an obstruction
on trestie about five miles south of
Martinsville. Fortunately the obstruc-
ton was not strong enough to wreck
the train, although the pilot of the
engine was ruined. Upon examination
1t was found that two telegraph croea
arms had been placed on the trestle and
braced by cross tie. Had the attem ut
been successful the train would have
fallen about thirty feet.
week ago last Sunday Detective
Baldwin visited the place, and after
quietly investigating the matter became
satisfied that Joseph Miles. n young
white man who had been i'll the em-
ploy of the railroad company, was the
guilty party. After little more in
vestigating Baldwin arrested Miles and
brought him to Roanoke. While here
the man almost succeeded in breaking
jail and was taken by Baldwin to Blue
held, whore he was placed in jail in the
same cell with Thos. Feltz, one of Bald
wins mon.
That night tho two men bribed the
In
escaped to the mountains. Feltz told
Miles that he had wrecked a train on
the New River Division. Miles then
confessed to Feltz that he had placed
the obstruction on the trestle his object
being to wreck the train and thus get
even with tho Norfolk and Western
railroad Company, against whom he
had grudge.
Tho couple were again arrested and
while on the train bouLd for Roanoke
Miles confessed to Baldwin in tho pres
once Of several witnesses that he was
the guilty man. Miles was brought to
Roanoke and lodged in Jail. Sunday
evening, in the presence of Chief Terry
and Mr.. Baldwin, Miles told TINES
reporter that no had placed tho obstruc-
ton on the trestle, but did hot wish to
wreck the passenger train. He had q
grudgo aguinst Section Master Thomp-
son aud wanted to wreck his hand car.
During this interview Miles was very
much affected and wept like a baby.
Yesterday morning he was taken to
Martinsville for preliminary hearing.
The party that accompanied him was
composed OF w. G.. Baldwin, Thomas
Feltz, Chas. Gale, Conductor Montgom-
cry, G. r. Halter, j. Allen Watts, the
company's attorney, and The TIMES
man.
A large number of tho prisoners
friends were at Martinsville awaiting
his srrlval, among them being his
father. The meeting between father
and son was very affecting The hear
Ing took place in the courtroom, which
was crowded with spe ctators. At tho
beginning OF the trial the sympathy of
the crowd was with Miles, but as they
heard the evidence against him the
feeling changed.
There is no doubt but what the pris-
oner's friends had things all arranged
to prove an alibi, for when Miles stepped
Off the train his father whispered to
him.
Never fear, my son; we have twenty
witnesses to provo you did not d. this"
but pa, have done told all, an
swered the prisoner in heart. broken
tono.
After the witnesses for tho common
wealth had given in their testimony
tho defense announced that they would
Introduce no testimony and the case
was sent to the grand jury, which
meets in two weeks. Miles, in the
meantime, will be kept in custody. The
feeling is very high among the best cit
liens in that neighborhood and Miles
will undoubtedly got q long sentence in
the penitentiary
Discriminating 4 against the Republicans.
NORFOLK, Oct. 3i.-l Special Naval
Constructor Francis 7. Bowles, OF the
Norfolk navy yard, has been under in.
vestigation for the past two weeks by
the law officer OF the Navy Department.
(Paymaster Allen) for alleged discrimi-
nation against the Republicans and in
favor OF the Democrats, in the employ
ment OF mon in the yard, charges hay-
ing been preferred by local Republican
politicians. beaded by Collector Banks
aud ex'Congressman Bowden. During
the last administration Democratic pol
iticians made a similar complaint with
politics reversed. The present investi-
CATION is secret.
Big Fire In Now Orleans.