Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-22
.SEARCEY IN STRIPES.
The Sslf.COnlessed Tfaln-RObber Nov
Wears the Convict Galb.
Is GLAD HE WAS CAUGHT.
uad lie Not Been Detected He Might
Have Done something worse-His
LIES History and That of Morgan
GrId-secrets 10 Tell.


am the curtain has been rung down.
Charles Jasper searcey. the last Of The
two robbers to be convicted. Is a prisoner
IN the penitentlary. lie arrived there
from Fredericksburg yesterday morning
and is now arrayed in stripes. his hair Is
shaved of close to his head, and he Is
an occupant OF dark cell. which Is
termed solitude"
Searcey is a tall, heavy~built man. win
Hght-bue eyes, which have a washed
out appearance, and prison garb does not
M become him. lie seems 70 be per
fectly au fat with his prison life' ana
SAYS he Is delighted 10 be there out OF
the way Of temptation. The bandit iei'
Fredericksburg at A. II. IN cheiss
Of sheriff Kennedy and Deputy Wooaiora'
ana upon his arrival here he was I'M
r,edlately driven 10 the prison. where he
WAS shaved up and given new suit.
4 peculiar coincidence Of the trip was
that Captain Blrdsong, the conductor OF
the train held up at Aqua creek, was
also in charge yesterday morning. 1t
will be remembered that when Morgan
neld. searceys partner in crime, was
brought TO the penitentiary a few weeks
ago. he too happened 10 strike Captain
Birdsong's train.
The conductor greeted Searcey warmly
and INDUCED IN several pleasantries at
his expense. Among other things he
told him that he hated for two men to
hold his train up. and he expressed the
hope that the next time Searcey con
templated such a raid he would bring
more than two men, If for nothing more
than TO lend respeciability 70 the incident.
A CHAT WITH sEARCEY.
Dispatch reporter visited the penl-
tertiary yesterday, and. through the
courtesy Of Superintendent Lynn ana ms
assistant. Captain William ]. White was
Permitted 10 visit the tfain-robber in his
cell Searcey appeared to be In excellent
humor, and was I'm a very loquacious
mood. He laughingly replied, when asked
how he liked the prison, that ne would
no doubt get on swimmingly with the
powers that be- lie seemed rather 10
enjoy his situation than 10 be troubled
and he gave one the impression perhaps
uncOusci0usly) that he was not unused to
such experiences. lie answered all ques-
lions propOunded 10 him freely and Win
out reserve when they related to himself
OF MOT AiAItAAf UuA ANAtAAt'A IN1iNAfNta ~
give any information concerning several
with which he protested TO be
COnyersant, because OF the danger, he
said. Of duplicating others.
Questioned as to the sensational state
ment he had recently threatened 10
make. he replied that he had thought
better Of IL and would not make a state
ment al this time. II at all lie ex-
planned that there were other traiu-rob-
berries back Of this. and 20 give anything
away now might be to defeat the ends Of
Justice lie knew the robbers and had
given names 10 some Of the detectives.
be insisted, however, that he and Nor
garfield were the only men directly en-
gagged I'm the Aquia-creek robbery. though
other men knew Of IL. and at least two
Of them would have gotten part of the
money If he and his companion had
escaped.
WHERE THE TWO WENT.
lie said. when asked TO give an account |
OF his movements subsequent to the rob |
berry and prior 10 the arrest, that both |
he and Morganheld walked 10 '-atletts |
station. on the Southern railway, after /
the robbery, and arriving there little |
after sun-up. hid themselves In a ciump |
1f trees and divided the stolen money
The amount OF the haul as has already |
been published was about $1,000. In the
division Searcey says he only got S,501
and that Morganheld held out $iJO on him.
This he said. was one OF tho .'eas1ns
that led him 10 peach on Morgalheld
The two then went TO Front Royal, Where
they took the train for Shenandoah juno
iion whence they went TO Cumberland,
Nd. where they separated and Searcey
was arrested.
searcay gave a short biographical sketch
of no Ter
he said he was born in Palo Pinto
county. Texas. the 12th Of January, ls5S.
His father was Killed in the last year
n the war IN either Alabama or Georgia.
lis mother then married Colonel j. Is.
Barry. of the Confederate army, and
hey live now at Walnut, in Bosque coun-
81 Texas. He was an only child, and
vas taught the carpenters trade in early
'0uth He said he had no idea what
cd him TO enter into a deal with Morgan
ield. He claims 80 have previously led
In honorable life, and the only reason he
AN assign for his criminal action was
he fact that he needed money, and was
ed to believe that he would make HIM
ELF rich by holding up the train and
obbing the express-car. He had been
linking for some time OF doing some
hing desperate and the idea OF rohbing
train was first presented 10 him by Nor
,anneld
WAS CONSCIENCE-STRIC
searcey was asked why he ever made
confession, and his explanation was
hat ne was conscience-stricken. As soon
S the full realization OF his crime swept
yer him he became very penitent, and,
aid he, 81 am stiil sorry. l am truly
lad that / was arrested when | was, for
might have done something worse. As
is 1 will never forget the lesson have
earned. IL the Governor pardons me
m going to give up all I know and Will
ia the authorities in bringing to justice
Their criminals whom / can connect with
ertain crimes" lie said he had already
ID nwealth's-Attorney White. Of
tafford. Of these crimes. and had put him
n the track Of the criminals. II mean
/, DO right hereafter" he said. Il was
aptized five years ago by Rev A. Nj.
inns. pastor OF the Baptist church at
leburne Tex. and / am still member
{ that church; and although l have
alien from grace j intend to renew my
)nnection with the Church at the first
Dportunity.
Searcey says Morganleld's real name
Spear or Speer. and that he was raised
ear Glasgow, KY, and educated at
owing Green. His father Is minister
( the Disciples Church, and stands well.
wo OF his brothers live in Texas, one
them being a teacher in the high school
Austin. Morganheld, he said further,
is been a criminal for years past. and
. knows he robbed a train on the Cot
n Belt Line. In Arkansas. and was in
rested in the robbery Of county trea-
.rer In Arkansas. He also said that
e Pinkertons had positive proof that
organized Is the man who killed Conduc-
r McNulty, in Arkansas. about eighteen
orths ago.
searcey said he had not yet petitloned
e Governor for pardon. and he did not
now that he would do so.
lie viii probably be assigned 10 work In
II shoe department in a day or 10.
Mr.. EIHom's Work in Georgetown.