The Globe-republican., 1893-02-17
Railroad RObberies.

Railroad RObberies.
In the La Junta Watermelon of the
10th inst, we find an extended account
of preliminary examination of railroad
boys charged with stealing freight. The
accused have employed Judge Furman.
very able criminal lawyer of Colorado.
to defend them. and there are those who
doubt whether there can be a conviction
had before a jury. Conductor Crotty
and Detective Langdon are the Witness
es for the prosecution. The former
plead guilty of grand larceny aud turned
states evidence against his pals. Lang
don is professional detective who went
on as brakeman to secure evidence for
the prosecution. Their testimony seems
to have been the only evidence taken.
As soon as the prosecuting attorney
concluded his remarks. Judge Furnam
arose. For moment he looked square,
ly atCrotty, then turning to the court.
spoke substantially as follows:
ask to have the defendants discharged.
because we are anxious to have this mat
ter fully Investigated and tried before 4
jury. We are more than ready and will
ing to face an honest jury on these
charges. The only question is the
amount of bail. In determining this
question three things are to be consider
ed. 1st, the nature of the charge. End,
The ability of the defendants to give bail.
Sd, The character of the evidence against
them. The charge is an ordinary felony.
There is nothing in the accusation of
burglary even granting that the states
witness told the truth. If cars were
broken open, it was by order of the con-
ductor, who had charge of the train and
whose orders the men were bound to
obey. But let that 60. The men are
poor. This however is no disgrace
more men come honestly by poverty than
come honestly by riches. According to
the states own evidence if it be true
the defendants did not take anything of
value. The valuable property was all
stolen by the states witnesses-One of
them self-cOnfcssed thief-the other a
self-confessed liar,-both together being
the dirtiest pair of skunks of hell who
disgrace and pollute this earth by their
presence. That pretty man Langdon
swears that for months past he has been
acting lie; that for money he has in
duced other men to steal in order that he
might betray them. With the form of a
man he has the heart of a buzZard. He
is worse than than this, for these kings
of carrion do not feed and fatten on their
own kind. He says he is a detective.
What has he detected? He swears that
he committed theft-that he induced
others to join him in order that he might,
for money, betray them, and fatten on
their ruin and sorrow. A buzzard would
not be guilty of such conduct. If the
devil were to set on the nest egg of hell,
for forty thousand years, he could not
hatch out more infamous character !"
We
want these charges tried. We do not be-
lieve that an honest jury will convict
honest men, upon such rotten evidence
as this
Prosecuting Attorney Hoffmire said !:
1T is my opinion that Mr.. Crotty. who
has turned states evidence, is telling the
truth, and am in position to know
Bonds for appearance of defendants at
the next term of district court, were fix
ed as follows.
VIM. Morehead, $500; RObt. NJ. Stout.
81 600; w. II. Dunbar, $500; James
Smith. $500; VIM. Delaney, $500. Ny
ers and Segabiel were discharged from
custody for lack of evidence, but Myers
was re-arrested on requisition from
governor of New Mexico and transport
ed to Ration, where it is claimed his Of
lenses were committed.