Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-02-28
THE TRAIN ROBBERY.
CLOSING ARGUMENT IN THE TRIAL
OF c. MoRGANFIELD.
Mr.. Thomas, for Prosecution, Con-
cIudes-senator Little Opens for
Def~nce-Colonel shay Follows
score the Express and Pinkertons.

night argument, which began on yester-
day. was still In progress. and will pro-
baly not be concluded before tomorrow
night. ON the opening OF the court this
morning Mr. Thomas, the assistant pros
ecutor. who at the close of court yester-
day was making the first argument. re-
sumed and spoke for about fifty minutes.
In his appeal TO the jury he said: Il
know that you will not be Influenced In
your verdict by the slanderous tongue OF
any attorney. and that 1t was the proud
est moment in the history of the Adams
Express Company that they were able
to aid the State in bringing to justice
these two noted criminals" He knew
that the attorneys for the defence would
endeavor 10 mystlfy the jury, and pre-
judce their minds both against the Adams
Express Company and the Pinkerton De-
tective Agency.
He then eulogized the agency and said
the difference between them and Colonel
Shay was that they were endeavoring to
put criminals behind the bars, while he
was striving TO keep them out and from
what he could see the attorneys for the
defence looked upon the jury as wea-
by the breath Of opinion In any direction
that the wind might blow the strongest.
Their procedure throughout the entire
trial he said. had been TO browbeat the
court, witnesses and jury. and to mis-
represent the law and evidence. They had
also. by base insinuations. endeavored to
aid their cause, but he did not believe that
the honest jury now before him would
for a moment be changed by such SLAM
derous procedure.
LITTLE IN DEFENCE.
Senator william 4. Little, Jr.. counsel
| for the defence. then followed. In OPEN
ing his argument he complmented both
the Judge and the jury for the patience
| and forbearance with which they have
| so attentively listened to this celebrated
case, and he, as well as them. was glad
that II was rapidly drawing to close.
The evidence and the manner In which
I II had been cross-examined, he knew
| was mystifying. but he had been taught
when he first took the oath OF lawyer
to always sift the evidence In case
! to the fullest extent. and he detied any
one to say that during his practice he had
misrepresented the evidence In any case
As to Mr. Thomas's insinuations, he would
! cast them from him like the whistling
winds or as a frog that would jump
I across his path on his way home. IL they
were Intended for his associate, the
roaring attorney from the West he
would saw that before that gentleman
! finished with him he would be the ''shorn
| lamb from Baltimore" The argument ot
| Mr.. Thomas. he said. II such II could be
| called, was Misrepresentation from .be-
/ ginning 10 end, and clearly indicated pri-
| yate malice He CThomas) was paid
! hrelng Of corporation, who. without
soul. had been, and was now. by the eX-
travagant use OF money. bounding down
| poor crippled man. but. all honor 10
the old Commonwealth and 10 the honest
| Jury before him, money could not change
! their verdict. ''It was not" continued the
! speaker, the State OF Virginia who was
| prosecuting this case. IL was the Adams
| Express Company and the Pinkerton De-
J tective Agency. The express company has
/ the State By the throat. and holds them
down in a vice. They called themselves
| co-partnership, because they were after
| beating the State out OF taxes, when II Is
well known that they are a corporation.
and every member Of the concern mil
lionaire. Their wealth Is obtained from
gouging the people. They had no soul
! and, with the same characteristics OF the
| Pinkertons, they were ready ana Wiling
! TO swear away the life OF any man by
| purchasing evidence In order that some
| one might be convicted.
1T SEEMED STRANGE.
His associate counsel. Ir. Shay. had
| received letter from well-known ana
| prominent lady of the county. In which
| II Is stated that TO her IL did seem strange,
| that a 5000 reward should be offered for
| the Arrest and conviction OF the train rob
bers, when only $50 reward was offered
for the horrible murder OF the late Peter
! Schooler He then deliberately and fOrci-
| bly, reviewed the evidence. and also MI
nutely discussed the instructions and law
appertainlng thereto. At the conclusion
OF his argument. which occupied four
| hours he was warmly congratulated by
many friends.
FLAY THEM ALIVE.
| Colonel Shay followed. and on opening
he paid a high and well-deserved compli-
| ment to Judge Ashton. and also 10 Mr..
| white. the Commonwealth's Attorney, and
| 10 the Junior prosecutor he said that the
| lack OF experience and the prejudlced
condition of his mind would at this time
| prevent him from further comment. AS
| TO the Adams Express Company and the
| Pinkerton agency. he intended TO fay
them alive. They knew him. and he knew
them The prosecution had said II the
| prisoner was innocent why did they not
| produce an alibi. II was for the reason
7
| run his arm 10 the shoulder and draw
| forth what was necessary. All his client
| had was taken from him In Cincinnati.
I Had they been given that. with which to
| produce witnesses to testify as TO the
! character Of those they have had. the
case would assume a different aspect.
| The Adams Express Company. as has
| been proven. paid from five to ten dollars
day for witnesses. They were million
aires and could afford II. His client was
! not. All he had was taken away. and
we'll knowing this. II was impudence on
| the part OF the prosecution to ask why
| they had no alibi. The old adage is that
| ID takes "A thief TO catch n thief So II
| does, and the Pinkertons have the con-
demnation Of all honest men. There are
| women to-day in their homesteads who,
| having been deprived OF those from whom
they received their daily bread by the
| the sweat OF their brow. were praying
that these men would no longer be allow
| ed to trample on their way in such a
| career.
| LIVED ON CRIME.
| The Pinkertons were fostered and led
| by thieves. They lived on crimes, and so
| long as they could continue this course.
| so long would there be a retarding OF
| justice. The express company were living
| vultures. They were n soulless corpora
| ton. They would take man money
and, after paying witnesses to testify
| for them, would have the audacity TO ask
| him prove an alibi. when they know
| that all their evidence was obtained by
money and that without II his client had
no show 10 obtain witnesses.
The associate counsel for the prosecu-
ton was even paid hireling of this
wealthy corporation; and that for years
the Pinkertons had lived upon them. and
they had no more regard FOR the soIemni'y
| OF an oath than hog knows OF Sun
day. They would invite you to a duel,
| steal your gun. and then shoot you In
| the back. Mr.. Shay then closed his re-
! marks for the evening. the hour of ad-
| journment having arrived.
MAY GO TO THE JURY TO-DAY.
| He will resume tomorrow. and unless
something Unforeseen should occur the
case will so 10 the jury tomorrow night.
| Attorney General Scott was present du-
| ring the argument. and occupied a seat
| in the judicial circle.
| As on yesterday. quite a number CT
ladies were in court, and 1t was very
| evident that their sympathies were In
| favor Of the prisoner.