Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-06-28
Both of the Williamses Testify in
Safe Blowing Case.
GOVERNMENT EVIDENCE ALL IN
Drawing the Cords Around Auffort
and Desmond.
SENSATIONAL TESTIMONY

When the trial of Charles, alias Buck.
Auffort, and Edward. alias Eddie, Des-
mord, the alleged safe blowers, was re-
sumed before Judge Cole in Criminal Court
No. this morning the court room was
again crowded and SO great was the pres
sure for admission that Marshal Wilson
directed that the general public should be
excluded.
After The Stars report of the case closed
yesterday the cross-exarination Of Billy
Williams was suspended at Mr.. Lipscomb's
request until this morning.
Mr.. Birney then called Detective Edward
Horne to the stand. Detective Horne tes-
t'fied to finding at Harry Gamblers place,
at Jackson City, a quantity Of cord re-
sembling that used In binding Watchman
Folnshell and the cord found by him had.
he said, been freshly cut He also testified
as to the arrest of Desmond at Gamblers
place. Desmond denied knowing Auffort
or Dempsey, and also inquired what chance
he had of getting away.
The detective stated that he brought
Auffort here from Orange county, Va.
Auffort said he knew what he was wanted
for, and admitted instructing a friend to
mslead the officers by telling them that
he was in Laurel, Nd. He also said that
he had $40 gold piece, which ne received
in payment for horse. Beyond that he
refused to talk about the case. Wednes-
day, the detective said. he accompanied
Williams to the river front, where Williams
located the place where the cash boxes
had been thrown overheard, and there
they were recovered
The testimony Of Detective Horne had
not been concluded when. at 800. the trial
was adjourned until this morning. When
he resumed the stand this morning, he
stated to Mr.. Lpscomb that AuffGrtS wife
was a native of Orange county and to
Mr.. Birney he stated that he went down
bar fhroo ~
Billy Williams Recalled.
At Mr.. Lipscomh's request Billy Williams
was then called back to the stand. Will
Jams denied telling one Flynn, horseman.
that If he would induce two big bettors to
take hack for the Virginia race track
he would hold them up and divide. He
also denied telling Joe Thomas that for
S25 he would burn Harry Gamblers place
or any other.
Mr.. Lipscomb then asked Williams II he
had not admitted in the presence OF ms
wife, VIM Calvin Chase and others at the
District Jail that he had stated any mum,
Der of lies in his various confessions. and
did SO to escape punishment.
what I said was the truth, and what 1
said then l say now
Williams admitted that Bailif James
Springman persuaded him to talk, but he
denied that he made his confession as the
result of promised immunity.
do you swear" inquired Mr.. 1Ipscomb,
that a man of your character voluntarily
made these confessions without being
promised immunity?'
Yes, before my God" exclaimed Will
liams, Il swear that 1 did. Mr.. Birney
made me no promises, and made my con-
fession voluntarily, and determined to tell
the truth
Wanted the Papers.
Williams denied positively that any one
promised him immunity, although, he said.
he had been told that he would receive
witness fees. He said he had been taken
across to Jackson City, and also to the
river front near the Long bridge, where
he pointed out to Detective Horne the place
where the cash boxes had been thrown
overheard. Williams denied that he had
offered one johnson, a colored prisoner
in Jail, $25 to secure admissions from Auf-
fort. He also denied that he expected any
immunity because of his confession, and
to confess, or had given him hope of i'm
munity.
At this point Mr. Lipscomb asked Mr..
Birney to allow him to see copy Of Will
Jams confession. Mr.. Birney however, de-
clined to show any such papers. and even
refused to admit that any of Williams
statements had been taken down. Judge
Cole declined to compel the district attor-
new TO show the papers, when Mr.. Lips
comb declared that he would secure them
by subpoena.
Orange County Witnesses.
The examination of Williams was then
closed, when Mr.. Birney called Benjamin
F. Gibson of Orange county. Virginia. He
stated that he met Auffort down there
shortly after the robbery, when Auffort
handed him three $40 gold pieces for paper
money.
Mr. Lipscomb asked the witness if Auf-
fort had not shown the gold pieces after
selling a horse, but the witness said Auf-
fort handed him the gold before he brought
the horse up.
Mrs. Lucy Bell, living near Orange Court
House, Va, was the next witness, and she
stated that early last spring Auffort came
into her store 10 purchase cigars He first
handed her $40 gold piece and then a IS
gold piece.
A. NJ. Waters of Orange Court House
terrified that he saw Auffort there in
April with a large roll of money. He no.
ticed that the outside bill was 81 bill.
Harry CnndIer Testifies.
The next witness called by Mr.. Birney
was Harry Gambler, the keeper of a we'll
known Jackson City resort. He stated that
about last Christmas Desmond accompa-
MED by Dempsey. came to his place. They
carried satchels, which he subsequently
handed to Inspector Hollinherger. On the
night of the robbery, about II o'clock, Can
dler said he saw both men at his place.
He next saw them about noon of the next
day asleep at his place. Jack Bolan, the
pugilist, stopped for a while at his place.
but previous to the robbery.
To Mr.. Lipscomb Gambler admitted that
one of his boats looked like q burglars
shop. because of the great number of vari-
GUS kinds of tools which he purchased
from TINA to time. Both Desmond and
Dempsey carried heavy revolvers, one a
Colts and one Smith & Wesson. Inspec-
tor Hollinberger was the next Witness and
he testified to arresting Desmond in a raid
on Gamblers place last April. The inspec-
tor stated that the satchels were handed to
him by Gambler.
Those Suspicious SntcheIs.
Mr.. Bendheim objected to the introduce
ton of testimony respecting the satchels,
On the ground that they had not been
shown to belong to Desmond. But Judge
Cole said that they were found in Des-
mond's room. and it would be for the jury
to say whether either of them belonged
to Desmond
The defense noted an exception, and then
Inspector Hollinberger opened the satchels
in the presence of the jury, showing that
they contained clothing, principally. But