The record-union., 1894-02-15
THAT RAID ON THE NEWS" OFFICE.
Examination of Those Charged With
the Theft of Type.
Charles Goldsmith Gives His Version
of the Affa1r-The Visit to
the Typeroom.

y
when the examination was commenced
OF Charles Goldsmith, Fred Stuart and
w. w. Rodehaver and - FitZsimmons,
publishers of the Placer Argus, for the
theft OF large quantity of type from the
office of the Neaos in this city last month.
The prosecution was represented by
District Attorney Ryan and District At
torney L. L. Chamberlain Of Placer.
Messrs. f. P. Tuttle and w. B. Lardner
appeared as counsel for Stuart, Rode
haVer and Fitzsirnmons, and Charles L.
Jones for Goldsmith.
There were several other persons pres
ent from Placer County, including Sher-
If w. G. Conroy, ]. A. Filcher of the
Herald, w. B. Thorpe OF the Republican,,
Il. f. Burns, Robert Wise and j. n.
Ward.
The reading of the complaints was
waived by the defense, and Charles Gold
smith called to the stand. He seemed TO
be very willing witness, and told his
story on direct examination Without hesl-
tation or questioning by the lawyers.
After relating where he had been en-
ployed in this city, he went on to tell OF
visit he made to the AelU5 Office one
night, after the paper had suspended pub
ication, and how he was suddenly seized
with the notion OF taking some OF the
type on which to realize funds.
he could not say what possessed him,
but he took the type out. He put the
stuff away and wrote to Dunkel OF the
Rocklin Representative that he had some
material. He took it up to RockIin, and
Dunkel met him at the train. The wit
ness told Dunkel he was going TO Au-
burn to see Rodehaver OF the 49.g@S III
relation to a job promised him. He told
81 q SdCra
mento, and came down here and took
away two cases of type. He got the type
from the NeaCS office and took it to Rock
lin. Dunkei was to pay him as soon as
he made some collections. He told Dun
kel he had been given the type in pay
ment for money owing 10 him.
Witness told Rodehaver OF having sold
the type TO Dunkel, and Rodehaver asked
him ii he got it from the Nei0S office, and
witness told him that he did, and that
there was more there. Rodehaver told
Fitzsimmons, his partner, about it, and
it was arranged with witness to come
here and get it, and how it was to be taken
out of the Ne10S Office. Witness said he
had key to the office. At FitZsimmons'
suggestion it was arranged to send wit
ness down on the following Saturday and
sort out the type and have it all ready.
That Saturday witness did not come to
Sacramento, but two weeks later he and
Office, came to the city. They came
down in a wagon procured by Rode
haver at livery stable.
Rodehaver gave Stuart 50 on starting
from Auburn, which place they left in
the afternoon. The witness gave a de-
tailed description of the journey hither,
relating several minor incidents, includ
ing the drinking of a couple of TASKS of
whisky.
Arriving in this city alter dark they
drove to Smiths stable on Seventh street
and left the team. They went to a
restaurant and got supper, and witness
went TO clothing store and bought a suit
OF clothes TO be forwarded to him c. O. d.
They went about town for awhile. and
finally to the NelDS office, where they
looked in the window. Stuart remarked
that it was very dark in there. and wit
ness replied, "Yes, it's just right"
Goldsmith then related how he got
candle, and procuring a ladder gained
entrance TO the office. He got out five
cases of type, several galleys of set mat
ter and other material, and then closed
the windows after him. He went out the
front door and to the stable, where Stuart
awaited him. They drove into the alley
in the rear of the office, and after some
difficulty got the type over the fence and
into the vehicle.
They covered the type over with
buggy-robe and started for Auburn. 1t
was then after IL o'clock. The witness
bought bottle of whisky, and they got
across the levee little before midnight.
At the American River they adjusted
their load and tied the cases together
firmly, putting the cotton-b batting be-
tween them, provided for the purpose by
Rodehaver.
The sun was just rising as they reached
Newcastle, and Stuart suggested that
they hide the type in the woods, lest
hon a ix-i1a TO
Auburn and suspect something wrong.
They did not hide the type, however, but
drove into Auburn by a roundabout way
and placed the type in the Argus Office.
Rodehaver was there when the witness
returned in the afternoon, and after in
specting the plunder objected to the poor
cases containing the nonpareil type.
Rodehaver wanted to know if there was
not more nonpareii to be had, and wit
uess said there was.
When Monday mornings RECORD
UNION arrived in Auburn announcing
the robbery, all parties became fright
ened, and Rodehaver, Fitzsimmons,
Stuart and witness held a consultation
aud decided to hide the type. Rodehaver
said FitZsimmonS was going to board up
place under the stone and secrete the
type there.
On Tuesday morning j. B. Harris of
the NeaUS, Sheriff Conroy and Ed Stanton
was certain the whole thing was up with
them. Subsequently the matetial was
found in the office by the Sheriff.
Goldsmith then told of the statement he
made to Sheriff Conroy after he had been
arrested. Rodehaver and FitZSimmons
had warned the witness about exposing
the whole affair, as they believed they
could bury the type and escape detection.
That was before the office was searched
and the type found. The witness had,
however, been advised by a lawyer to
tell the whole truth.
On cross-examination by Mr.. Tuttle
the witness admitted that he had made
two statements concerning the matter.
He had told District Attorney Chamber
lain that there was nobody in 1t, and to
Sheriff Conroy he said that no one but
himself was implicated. At another time,
in the ArgaS office. he said he himself
did the job.
Asked what he said to Mr.. Harris be-
fore ne made his statement, the witness
declined to answer, but under instruction
by the court said that Mr.. Harris told
him he could not do anything for him as
the matter was in the hands OF District
Attorney Ryan. The latter told him, IN
response to a plea for leniency, that ne
could make no promises, but ADVISED
him to tell the truth.
Asked under what circumstances he
was married, the witness declined to an
swer.
Mr.. Tuttle said he desired to show the
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