The herald., 1894-03-31
TWO BROTHERS AGAINST ONE.
Examination Of the Alleged
Roscoe Train Robbers.
An Exciting Day in Justice Bar
thOlUmew's Court.
The Chain ~ circumstances Revealed
Upon which yt Is Expected to
Convict Aiva Johnson and
George Smith.

0FDfhC lkOQ WIN viz AsOuCOp
train robbery on the night OF February
10Th. began in Justice Bartholomew
court yesterday morning.
The court room was packed with
spectators throughout the day, and
their interest in the proceedings fire.
qnently resulted in ebullitions Of un-
checked mirth over the csustic croes-
examinations OF @. O. Stephens OF coun-
sel fer the defense, which seemed some
what out of place in such a proceeding.
The remarkable spectacle was Wit
messed OF two brothers testiiving against
another brother in building up chain
vi circumstances that will cause him to
he hung If the chain is sufficiently
etrong
The prosecution WAS conduced by
Deputy District Attorney Conkling aud
he defence by q. @. Stephens and D.
h. Trask.
The prosecution put in all its testi
mony during the day, and upon an inti-
nation by the court that he would
like some evidence on the part of the
defense, they did not press for decision
upon motion to diemiss the charge
against the defendants, and it went
over until this morning.
The chain oil circumstances around
the defendants seemed to be somewhat
weak to the ordinary observer. unless
the prosecution has some evidence in
reserve which they did not put in.
The morning session was rendered
doubly interesting by the presence on
the table OF the district attorney of a
loaded dynamite bomb found few
days ago along the road leading towards
the Tejunga, where the Johusons live.
Owing TO objections on all sdes the
bomb was not brought into court In the
afternoon.
THE TESTIMONY.
Harry Edgar was called as the first
witness. He was Wells, Fargo &. Oo.'s
messenger who runs between Los An
geles and San Francisco, and wac on the
train the 10Th Of February, the night Of
the Roscoe robbery.
TIE train left Los Angeles at 10: 40
that night, he said. At Roscoe, q few
miles the other aide of Burbank, about
IL 20. the cars went in the ditch. A
bomb was exploded at the front door of
the express car. and the messenger
heard some one say to let them come in.
Il opened the back door" continued
Mr.. Edgar. They made me get out.
Then they made q dead-hesd fireman
and myself get in again. There were
only two robbers that saw. One was
5 feet 10 or IL and he weighed about 1876
pounds the other smaller, about feet
. inches tail. The big fellow had
on dark overcoat and q tweed
vest. | saw that when he
made me get a match out Of his pocket.
He had on mask that WAS a red ban
dana handkerchief could not tell the
color of his hair. His slouch hat was
pulled down 90 l could not see 1t. |
judged they were middle-agsd men from
their talk and actions.
"The smaller man had on q long, light
overcoat and a mask. He stood behind
me and would not let me look at him.
He was pretty heavy set. He had the
rifle, the other man pistol.
THE big fellow said, open up your
safe,' and l did it. He took some bags
OF silver. 1t was nearly ali Mexican
money. There was less than 500 in
American money; not over $40in gold,
think, that was in paper packages, and
put it all in a sack.
They told us to help them take the
sacks out, and we did it. We carried it
about 100 yards, and then they told us
to 90 and help dig out the wounded
fireman, and we did it,"
On cross-exsmination the witness said
that when the safe was opened the big
man dropped q sack and said: -!
Is this all you've got? Liable to be
caught for this little amount?" He also
said that the wagon was ON the opposite
side OF the car from the aide the men
got in. The wagon was about $50 or 200
yards from the track. The robbers
wouldn't let them get near it. 1t was a
double team they had, and dark team.
The witness could not tell whether it
was a blackboard or not. He did not
think there was any one on the wagon.
The coin was all in one sack. The big
man moved quick and spoke quick. He
had an ordinary voice, but it had kind
of twsng TO it. He said: .By cd,
partner, hate to do this, but I've got
to-"
He asked the witness whore his
''paid C. o. DE" were. There WAS moth
ing peculiar in the voice OF the small
man. There WAS through safe. The
big fellow said to the witness: "We
ought to have taken time and got the
through safe" The through safe was
made up in Los Angeles and the mes