The Russellville Democrat., 1893-02-23
HiIdebrand. Holden and Adams.

The examining trial of Joe HiIde-
 brand, J. E. Holden and Dick Adams, charged with burglarizing the money
 safes of Boggess kG Co. and Bell Bros at
 Potts Station, January 12, 1893, was be- gun before Magistrates J. II. Steltz and
 U. l.. Meade, at the courthouse, before the largest crowd seen there since cir cult court, last Monday morning, and after the examination of ten witnse.es on behalf the state and one for the de-
 fense, the examination was continued
 until Friday by consent of the State. The State was represented by Prosecut- ing Attorney Davis, the Defendants Ad- ans and Holden by Judge l.. ". Davis, and Hildebrand by himself The witness scs examined on the part Of the State were Arthur Boggess, Mrs. Martha Lee,
 Mrs. Martha Falls and Dr. Ragsdale of
 Potts Station, w. H. Taylor, chief of po- lice, and Tom OIL cary, saloonist, of Fort Smith, John Powers, sheriff and Ed At well, deputy sheriff. of Johnson county, R. B. Edwards of Chicago, and Alex Gardner, (col) of Russellville. The de- fense introduced James Brodie of Little Rock.
 For obvious reasons the DEMOCRAT is precluded from publishing the testimo- ny elicited from these witnesses in ad- vance of the circuit court, but it can be safely said that it is true that the state made a strong case against Hildebrand and Adams especially in that they were positively identified as being at and near Galla Creek the day before and on the day of the robbery. Holden is evident " one of the gang, though his con- nection with this particular ease llas not yet been made as clear as that of the others.
 K. B. Edwards of Chicago who was ar rested in Little Rock and brought here and kept apart from the other prisoners to testify on behalf of the State made one of the most interesting witnesses intro duced sby that side. When he took the stand Hil,lebrand objected and gave as his reason that Edwards was an ex-con- vict, having served timein the Michigan for theft, and now is going under an assumed name, his rightful name being Stiles. The court overruled the objection, and Edwards proceeded to testify, giving some very damaging evidence consisting of statements made to him by Hildebrand. At the cenclu- sion of his evidence he asked permission to say few words personal to himself Permission being granted he sad shis real name was Edwards, but he was sometimes called Stiles, because that was his mothers first husbands name. Pointing dramatically toward Hilde- brand he said there's man with aliases for you. He is known as Morris, Martin, etc, but his real name is Hildebrand He is q several times ex-convict, swindler and all round crook He served term in the Iowa State prison for stealing q watch and chain worth $500, and his record as criminal Is not confined to this country alone. Write the police or detectives of Chicago and find out about his Australian affair. He's nice fel- low to be calling other people crimi- nals." During this tragic recital Hide brands face was livid with rage, and he moved uneasily in his seat showing the effect of Edwards disclosures. It is safe to say that if the ex-pugilist had been per mitted to pursue the bent of his inclina- tions rare exhibition of modern pugil- ism would have been witnessed.
 At ten o'clock next Friday the exam ination will be resumed, and possibly witnesses for both the state and defense will be examined.