The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-16
TRIAL OF FOOTPADS
TESTIMONY OF DETECTIVES IN THE
GIBBS MURDER CASE.
Sadie, ''Barn Stormcrs," Held Up
the .sSwelI Guy

BUFFALO, N. Y, March 15.-Ex-Deputy
Abrams, of Cleveland, resumed his testi-
mony to-day in the Montgomery Gibbs nlur-
der trial. He recited what Robinson told
him about his starting out with Sadie to
commit highway robbery on Delaware ave-
nue.. Attorney Hardesty offered objection
and argued that il the defendant started
out to commit robbery and murder was not
premeditated the indictment for murder in
the first degree was defective. The court
ruled that it was not necessary Cor the
Indictment to show that murder was pre-
meditated when the Robinsons started on
their expedition. Abrams then tald how
Clarence Robinson had confessed to select
ing Gibbs as a ''swell guy to tackle"
and that when Gibbs resisted and grappled
with him he fired twice. The first shot
went wild, the second lodged in Gibbs's
arm and was fired just as Clarence was
being overpcwered. Almost at the same in
stant Sadie shot Gibbs in the head. Both
fled from the scene and got out of Buffalo
as quickly as possible.
81 asked him. said the witness, ..if he
was sure Sadie fired the fatal shot He
said: Now, look here, if you don't believe
she fired that shot you get the cartridges
and look at them. If you know anything
about revolvers you'll see that the two I
fired are different from the one in her re-
volver.' I"
The most dramatic scene of the trial took
place when the next witness, Deputy
Sheriff Abbey. of Cleveland, took the stand
TO tell what Clarence had confessed to him
about the murder. Witness said that Clar-
eence, was crying, not because. of the crime,
said Abbey had just read to him her con-
fession as it was printed in the newspapers
at the time. Clarence said:
That's a - lie. I'll show you how it
.'And did he show your asked the dis
"Oh, yes, he was game He showed
Did he show you how he held up
Gibbs?''
Can you show the court how Gibbs got
Yes said the witness stepping before
the jury, with District Attorney Quacken-
bush facing him.
Put your pencil down and take a gun"
The lawyer did so, thrusting the weapon
in the witnesses face highwaymanlike. The
witness. enactins the part OF Gibbs, crashed
his arm. Quackenbush sank down with
twisting motion and the pistol muzzle came
respond with the bullet hole made in Gibbs's
coat aud shirt as shown to the jury yes
After this exhibition the attorney asked
the witness what Clarence said The wit
ness replied: HE said: I'm telling you
this SO you may be a witness in my behalf,
they won't hang me without Sadie. .
The next witness was Patrick Cusack,
cnlef or the BuHaiO delectIVes. IL was ne
who had been sent to Cleveland to work up
the case against the Robinsons on receipt
of a telegram from the Cleveland police CIV
ing the announcement of the strange con-
fesson made by Sadie. 1t was during the
cross-examination of this witness that the
defense showed It's hand by trying to prove
that Sadie was coerced into making her
confession by threats and intimidation.
Cusack, in answer to questioning, swore
that Sadie confessed to him in Cleveland
that she fired the shot that killed Iont-
gomery Gibbs. She confessed that her hus-
band held him up and that she went to
her husband TO his knees. She fired the
first shot just after Clarence shot Gibbs
in the arm. This confession by Sadie, so
Cusaek swears, was made voluntarily.
stand for rebuttal. Examined by Judge
Hardesty, she said: After left Cleveland
for Buffalo in charge of Superintendent Gu
sack l was crying BECAUSE he would not
You stop your snivelins. Then Cusack
said to me he is not your husband. You
are only his mistress. Clarence has another
wife and children and is supporting them
'and then Cusack said" if [ We're you
would get even with man who treated NE
in that manner and if you will say that
Clarence shot Montgomery. Gibbs / will get
avenged Then Cusack fold me Just what
to say to Kennefick Cthe district attorney
and 1 said it to him when / got to Buffalo.
My confession to Mr. kennehck Is just
Sadie, turning full on Cusaek as she spoke
and shrieking at the top of her voice,
.sYou know that it is.
Superintendent Cusack was then recalled
He positiyeIy denied having held out any
inducements to Sadie to obtain her con-
fession. At $50 p. m. an adjournment was
taken till tomorrow, the defense asking
more time 10 prepare its examination Of