Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-06-23

burn If he had any questions to ask the
witness. Chief Blackburn said he had
not heard the first part of the witness
testimony. He said he did not desire to
contradlc. the witness, who was under
oath,
Mr.. Curtis-"Iow long had you this
information previous to the arrest of
Stroud 7"
McVey-"I must decline to answer
that question"
Detective Witsil was the next wit
ness. During McVey's testimony he
stayed outside of the room, by request.
lie said that he and McVey had received
information that the chief had opened
an account on April 25th, in Philadel-
phia, and that he had then turned the
book over to Stroud. From information
received the warrant was sworn out for
Stroud and when he was arrested a
book with the name of VIM. ]. Black
burn was found on Stroud. The latter
asked permission to go into a saloon for
a few moments. He said he had been
sold out. ''lf l had time to go in and
get a glass of beer you people would
never have received this book" con
tinued Stroud. Detective Witsil then
continued:
"On tine following Wednesday went
to Philadelphia and saw the signature
on the signature book. They would not
allow me to trace the signature until
telegraphed to the chief. Shortly after
this Blackburn came in. We asked the
chief if that was his handwriting on the
book. He denied il. The chief hest
tated when | asked him to allow me to
trace the signature. He said he didn't
think it was necessary, but he didn't
object. Finally, when we came out of
the bank, the chief said If had found
book of yours l wouldh'thave treated
you that way. Detective Hatton also
said No, we wouldn't have. treated
you that way
we went 10 the bank on the follow
ing Monday. The clerk who took the
| signature said he could not identify the
man who placed the signature on the
book. The clerk said there were too
many depositors to distinguish their
faces. When we came out of the bank
Wednesday Chief Blackburn said,
| We'll | see you are still hunting me
down. 1t looks very much that way,
and, has looked so all along The
chief said Monday that he had seen the
clerk and that the latter had said he
1.-THE chief was not the man who made
the deposit. Witness asked him to &c
down TO the bank and see the clerk
again. He refused. Witness then went
back to see the clerk and the latter
denied that he had made the remark to
Chief Blackburn"
Mayor Willey-"That sums up all
you know about it, does it, Mr.. Wiisil ?'
Mr.. Lawson-"Do you object to stat.
ing who that man was whom Stroud
accused of giving him away"
After some reflection witness said the
man was Charles Reynolds, but thai
the witness had received no intimatior
OF the affair from Reynolds.
Witness was shown photograph OF
the Blackburn signature on the sigma
ture book and said the comparison wa:
similar to the tracing of the signature
in his possession.
Chief Blackburn was then asked if h,
had any questions to ask the witness
The chief wanted TO know if he 9TH,
chief objected when permission to trac,
the signature was asked for Witness
said his objection was So noticeable tina
the officials in the bank said he haC
better make clean breast OF it," Chic
Blackburn wanted TO know if the othe
writing in the book was in his hand
writing. The witness replied that it wa
not.
Blackburn-"Did / refuse to go befor
that bank clerk with your"
You did, replied the witness.
Blackburn-"l had no occasion t
hesitate. did not positively refuse"
Mayor Wiley stated that he went u
to Philadelphia and had photograph
taken OF the signature. The mayor ais
stated that the board had an affidav
from the clerk of the bank about tn
matter.
Mayor Wiley then asked Blackburn
! III he preferred to make statemer
| under oath or Voluntarily.
, Blackburn-"Haye the other wi
nesses been sworngn
, Mayor Willey-"Yes, the other wi
nesses have been sworn
/ BLACKBURN then handed Mayor Willie
a letter from Levi C. Bird, his counse
and following his instructions, refuse
10 testify before the commissioners,
MIR. Lawson-"I don't think il
i hardly right, Mr. Mayor, for the chi
q TO come up here and examine witness
Q if he don't propose to testify himself
;. Mayor Willey-"I don't see an
!. special objection to that and don
n think the witnesses will object TO it.
am extremely Obliged to the witness
!. for coming here"
n Mayor Wiley then asked Detect,
McVey if lie thought the attorne
/ general proposed to take action in ii
matter. Detective McVey replied tn
n he could not answer for the attorne
/ general. This closed the investigate
ii Tor the day and the board adjourned.
Detective McVey, when asked /
\ Mayor Wiley as 10 the source of i
d information, positively refused to I