Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-02-10
Trial of Eugene Keys, (CoIored,
Charged with stealing S84O,

| The trial of Eugene Keys, (colored), charged
with having stolen $40, on the night of jan
uary 4th, from c. T. Hammodd Agent of the
U. S. Express Company of this city, was COM
meneed in the Hastings Court, Judge Chas
Grattan presiding on last Saturday.
The prosecution is conducted by A. G. Cor
don, Commonwealth Attorney for the city,
assisted by Meade F. White, Commonwealth S
Attorney for the county, aud the defense by
VIM E. Craig, U. s. Attorney for the Western
District of Va, James Bumgardner, formerly
Commonwealth's Attorney for the county,
and Thos c. Kinney. The trial ELECTS great
interest, and keeps the courthouse filled, not
only from the amount stolen, but the former
good character of the prisoner The stolen
package contained $40 of National Valley
Bank notes, sent from the U. S. Treasury to
the National Valley Bank of this city. 1t was
received and receipted for at the depot by c. 7.
Hammond, Agent of the U. S. Express Com
pany in this city, and he supposed he had put
it in the pouch IN which he carried such pack
ages. On getting at the Express Office, he
found that that package was missing. He in
formed Keys of the loss and sent him back
to look for it, supposing he had dropped it.
Keys returned in short time reporting that
he did not find it. Keys had been trusted
employe of the Express Company for many
years, and he rode that night behind Mr..
Hammond in the wagon from the depot to the
Express office-the pouch, containing the
package, hanging from Mr.. Hammond S
shoulder. The only other occupant of the
wagon was a colored man named Jim Strib-
ling, who rode on the seat beside Mr.. Ham
mond.
Saturday was consumed in the examination
and discrimination of the following wit
nesses on behalf of the Com monwealth:-
Miss Mary P. Renshaw, who counted the
money in the treasury department, sealed the
package, and addressed it to the National Val
ley Bank of this city.
H. M. Ewing, Assistant Teller in the Ma
tional Bank Note Bureau who received said
package from Miss Renshaw.
Thos. H. German, Assistant Shipping clerk
of the U. S. Express Company at Washington,
who received the package from Mr.. Ewing,
and shipped in sealed safe to Baltimore.
B. F. Sellman, night clerk of the Q. S. Ex-
press Company at Baltimore, who delivered
the safe sealed and locked to Chas. L. Golden,
Messenger between Baltimore and Staunton,
and had his receipt for it.
Chas. L. Golden, who testified that he open
ed the safe at Staunton and delivered the pack
age to Mr.. Hammond and had his receipt
therefor.
Robert H. Gillock, an express messenger,
testified that he saw Golden hand the package
to Mr.. Hammond, and heard him say to Ham
mond that it was valuable package.
c. T. Hammond testified as to the circum-
stances attending the loss of the package.
Henry A. Walker, Cashier of the National
Valley Bank, testified to having received a
letter from U. S. Treasurer that he had sent
him, Jan. 4th $40 in National Valley Bank
notes, but he had not received it. He Unidentified
the notes found in Keys house as of the char
acter of notes sent to him by the treasurer,
bearing his own signature.
The court then adjourned to Monday morn
ing
When the court met Monday morning, Mr..
Hammond was recalled for further examine
ton.
Percy Whalen, (colored), who learned from
Keys that he had the money alleged to hpve
been stolen, and by whom the guilt was fixed
On Keys, was then examined, and he was kept
On the stand till 1:3O o'clock when the court
took recess, for dinner, till 230 p. m. He
told the circumstances under which Keys had
betrayed his guilt to him. The counsel for
The defense seek to make the impression that
Whalen stole the money, and not Keys,
The afternoon session of Monday was con-
'umed in the examination of the following
witnesses for the Commonwealth
Capt. Jas. H. Waters Chief-of-Police of
and Mr. Bishop, special agent of the
j. S. Express Com pany, who testified as to
how they became convinced of Keys guilt,
secured his arrest, and recovered S720 of the
$40 lost, which was found concealed in the
cellar of Keys house, whose wife showed
hem where it was concealed as soon as they
demanded of her the money.
On Tuesday was commenced the examina-
lion of witnesses in behalf of the defense, and
The whole day was occupied in the examina-
ion of the following
Fanny Whalen, (colored), Eugene Keys,
colored) the prisoner; Gen" Banks, (coloredD,
and J c. Scheffer. The examination of other
witnesses will be commenced this morning.
The trial will occupy the balance of the week.