Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-05-22
sEARCY IN THE PENITENTIARY.

Searcy, the Aqua Creek train rob
Der, is now in the penitentiary. He
came in this morning from Fredericks-
burg and by another coincidence he,
as we'll as Morganfeld, travelled to the
penitentiary with Captain Birdsong,
the conductor who was in charge of
the train when the robbery was COM
mitted. The same porter was also
aboard this morning, but the engineer
was different. Searcy and Captain
Birdsong had chat about the robbery
and the conductor still insisted that
there were more than two robbers pres
ent when the train was held up.
A State man went to the penitentiary
this moraing and through the courtesy
of superintendent Lynn had chat with
Searcy. Assistant Superintendent VIM
T. White did the honors ofthe occasion
and presented the reporter to the pris-
oner. Searcy was found in one of The
reception cells and was confined with
Modlin, the new prisoner from Dan
vile who had just been sent for wife
murder. Modlin was too busy read
ing his Bible to pay any attention to the
interview.
Searcy was clean-shaven and was
proud of the fact that he had anticipa
ted the action Of the prison authorities
in this little matter. He laughed
heartily at Captain White for having
"gotten ahead of him. in removing his
moustaches. He was solicitous to
know if he would be permitted
to attend Sunday school, and
when asked if he belonged to
the church said with dignity that
he still belonged to the church-'sthat
is" he added, Il did belong to it before
this affair."" He then explained that
he was baptized five years ago al Gle
burne, Texas, by Rev. 4. 81. Sims, pas
tor of the Baptist church Of that place.
who is native of Virginia, and that h
would renew his connection with the
church at the first opportunity.
Questioned as 10 ths sensational state
ment he had recently threatened 20
make, he replied that be had thought
better Of it and would not make . state
ment at this time. if at all He explain
back of this and to give anything away
now might be to de;cat the ends oi JUS
,ice. He knew the robbers and had
given names to some OF the detectives.
He insisted, however, that ne aad ll3r-
ganfeld were the only men directly eu-
gagged in the Aqua creeA; rob0ery.
though other men knew of it and 81
least TWO of then would have gotten
part of the swag, if he and his compan
ion had escaped. He insists, too, that
Morganfeld robbed him after they had
robbed the train and that the money in
dispute at Cincinnati is q part Of the
Aqua creek haul and that he could
identify at least two of the bills, If he
could see the pile.
He says that Morganfeld's real name
is Spear or Speer aud that he was rails, d
near Glasgow, KY, and educated at
Bowling Green. That his father is a
minister of the Disciples church and
stands well. That two of his brothers
live in Texas, one of them being
teacher in the High School at Austin.
Searcey was next asked if he had pc
titioned the governor for pardon. He
replied that he had not done so and
did not know that he should. No
promises were made to him by the
authorities, he said, and his confession
was his own affair. Naturally, he
added, he expected that clemency
would be shown him by reason of his
confession, but that was all. but
there are other robberies back of this"
he said Significantly, "and if l am turn
ed out, expect to act exactly right"
In winding up his talk he told an in
teresting story Of an attempt which
MorganGeld had made on his life. 1t
was when they were confined in jail at
Fredericksburg. He was up stains and
Morganfeld down stairs. The guard
left Morganfeld's cell open and the
prisoner seized larged paddock and
said that he was going up stairs to kill
Searcey. Somebody told Searcey about
it and he took out of his bed heavy
slat, "and for the first time in my
life,n he said, 81 made up my mind to
kill a man. Morgan6eld started up
the stairs and warned him that if he
came to my cell he would never go the
penitentiary, as should kill him. He
then went back"
"How did Morgan6eld go up the
steps without his crutches?" asked
Captain White.
II don't know about that" said
Searcey in some confusion.
Searcey will probably be assigned to
the shoe department.-Richmond State