The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-03-15

WEPT FOR SADIE.
Terrible Testimony as to
Clarence Robinson's Con-
fession of Murder.
WoMAN's STARTLING COMMENT
Was She Accused of Infidelity-
A Fine Drawn Legal
Point.

or Court. Sadie and Clarence Robinson
changed seats, Clarence sitting directly
back of Mr.. Saperston. Deputy Sheriff
Abrams resumed the witness stand.
The proceedings started off with due
vigor, Mr.. Kenefick asking Abrams to
give the substance of the conversation he
had had with Clarence Robinson in the
Cleveland Jail on October 16.
Mr.. Sapertston objected and Judge
Hatch again called the attention of the
jury to- the fact that the present testi-
mony was merely against Clarence Rob-
inson and did not involve Sadie. The
objection was overruled and the witness
proceeded.
wv went-Mr. Doran. Mr.. Kenefck,
Cusack and myself-to the cell occupied
by Robinson in the Jail.
IT opened the cell door and said to
Robinson. Are you now willing to make
a statement He replied that he was,
and I got a table and chair, sat down
and got ready to write.
He then said thai he and Sadie were
in Buffalo in April. 1894, were without
money, and they decided to go out to
rob somebody. On that occasion-the
night Gibbs was killed-Sadie wore a
blue suit of mems clothes.
A LEGAL WRANGLE.
Here Judge Hardesty arose and made a
long and technical objection to the re-
ception of any testimony. holding that
the admission of the witness that they
had gone out to commit the highway
robbery and not to commit murder. would
prove generalization.
Judge Hardesty held that the indict-
ment was for murder in the first de-
gree-with malice observation-disclosures that
the admission made in the Cleveland Jail
as proof-if it was made-that it was
while attempting to commit another fell
ony. that the life of Gibbs was taken.
The attorneys quoted authority after
authority and INDUCED in a long and
complicated legal tilt
Judge Hatch admitted the testimony
and ave Judge Hardesty an exception.
WELL" continued Mr.. Abrams. "Clar-
ence said:-'We started up Delaware
avenue that night. Sadie had on a blue
sack suit and 1 had one also. We both
had guns and we carried them in our
coat pockets. We attempted to hold up
two or three people. but they didn't look
right. Then we met the big mar and J
said:-Here's a swell guy
THE MURDER.
Don't touch him, he's too big said
Sadie. I'm going to- I said, and then
! pulled my revolver and told him to
throw up his hands. He had a a n
or an umbrella. He struck at me and
caught my wrist. He got me down,
and was getting the best of me when I
fired. The first shot went wild. Then
he got me almost Gown, and / sent the
second shot through his arm. Then
Sadie sent the bullet through his head.
II I had fired that bullet he would have
fallen ON his back, but he fell forward
and rolled from my shoulder to his
back. ThenI started to go through his
pockets, but Sadie saw some figures and
said. Come on. we must get out of
here We ran between two houses,
back to Bryant street. Then we went
back, saw a crowd and a wagon and
some people a man in it."
The Clarence said that they went to
their rooms.
The next morning they borrowed a
nickel and bought a paper, and for the
first time found out the name of the
man they had shot, and the fact that
he was dead. Then they pawned some
things and Sadie was sent to Cleveland,
while Clarence worked his way to Dun
kirk.
Clarence further said," continued the
witness, that the clothes he then had
on were those Sadie wore in Buffalo. I
asked him to give me the trousers and
he did so. I gave him another pair in
their place. Those he gave me had a
triangular tear in the seat which Clarence
told me had been. caused by the barbed
wire fence through which Sadie crawled.
when Robinson had told his story"
witness continued, he asked where l got
ny interrogation and I told him from
der's cell and Snyder repeated the story
of the scene in Robinson's house. Clar-
ence admitted the absolute truth. of Sny-
der's story, and told the latter if he came
to Buffalo to testify to be sure and tell
the truth as he had then"
Witness told of Robinson crying Bit
terly after the confession, saying he
wouldn't mind if he could save Sadie.
CROSS-EXAMINATION.
This, concluded the direct examination,
and the witness was turned over to de-
fence for cross-examination. The court
room was filled to the point Of over
mony the Robinsons had watched him
They were not SO clipper as on previ-
of looking coyly about the room, sat
leaning forward with her face glaring
intently into the face of the witness.
tried hietTt to look ok n%o on & Raaf 7 The eii toiis we're are
,Mr. saperton put witness Abrams
through a scathing cross-examination.
slightest degree. Witness was asked II
he had not worked himself into Clar-
ence's confidence in order to get a con-
fession, and replied that he did not. He
treated Robinson in a friendly way and
bought meals for him In fact, he
thought he bought for him the glasses
SADIE's COMMENT.
At this Sadie flushed red, leaned for
ward and her lips formed the words.
Damn liar"
and she leaned back with an angry scowl
ibid you get a confession from him by
saying that Sadie was intimate with
Archie Cicaly and that they wanted to
get rid of him?"
II did. not. / never said ANYTHING Of
Mr.. saperston pressed the questions
saw that he or some of the officers of the
Cleveland force had told Robinson that
Sadie was untrue to him..
Such an admission was not forthcom-
For twenty minutes Mr.. Saperston
questioned the witness as to whether or
no Robinson had had eWspaper 10
read 80
This question was fought up and down
and across n under Until it became
wearisome. Finally Mr.. Abrams said
that he had a complaint from Hoplnson
on Monday because he had not had q
Sunday or Monday newspaper .+ar Nj,
have been on the stand for one hour You
were unable to say anythin g about 9
until now. when itsfsFto your
lit is not to my interest"