The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1896-05-13
HELD FOR TRIAL.
Charles Noble May BE One of the Robbers
of the Surdams.

of the Surdams.
The examination of Charles Noble,
alias Frank Edwards, before Justice
Shrine on the charge of having been
concerned in the Surdam robbery, which
occurred on the evening of March 25,
resulted in the accused being held for
trial at the next September term of the
circuit court.
Noble first made his appearance in
this county about the first day of March,
1895, at which time he was lodged in
Jail over night as tramp, in company
with two other parties of the same
genus.
A few days later he again became an
inmate of the county jail, this time TO
serve ten days sentence for stealing
pair of rubbers at Decatur. He then
gave his name as Frank Edwards. A
search of his person showed that at that
time he was penniless and, of course,
he had no money when he was dis
charged.
AS soon as his term in jail expired he
went to work for Frank Osmer, on
Sheriff Lamberson's farm in Almena,
for his board, clothes and tobacco. he
remained there until June 4, and re-
aceived less than one dollar in money.
1t was not until after he began work
for Osmer that he claimed the name of
Charles Noble.
He then entered the employ of Rolla
White on similar terms, remaining UNI
til about the middle of August. White
paid him no money at all
From Whites he went TO Decatur
Downing's, where he remained until
about December 22d. Downing gave
him his board and about fifteen dollars
worth of tobacco and clothing but no
money.
From Downing's he went to work for
w. b. Stone at So month and board .
He worked for Stone month and a
half and received $50 in cash, and
then went back to Downings and work
ed for his board until April 9TH, twelve
days after the Surdam robbery, at
which date he went To- Kalamazoo in
company with Rolla White and stopped
at the residence of Sylvester Slyke, a
brother.in-law of Whites. While on
his way to Kalamazoo, he told White
that he had but sixty.hve cents in
money, being what he had left of the
cash he received from Stone.
That same day, Thos. Warren, an eX-
policeman and professional detective,
of Kalamazoo was at Sykes and, having
his attention directed TO Noble, exam
ined his overcOat hanging on the wall,
and discovered sack or pocket con-
tanning quite quantity of coin. The
Surdam robbery being fresh in his
mind, he caused Sheriff Henderson TO
be notified and that same evening Lam
berson arrested Noble just as he was
leaving the opera house in company
with two women.
A revolver with two chambers load
ed, and S6l 81 in money was found on
his person. The money consisted of
81 silver dollars, "a halves, 10 quarters,
% dimes, II nickels, 6 pennies and two
five dollar gold pieces. While search
ing him at Kalamazoo, Noble said to
Lamberson, Il might as well hand up,
you are onto me" He was brought
back to the county jail where he has
since remained
Lamberson went to Downing's and
in closet, adjoining Mobiles sleeping
room, found an old pair of pants with
the right hand pocket missing On the
examination, w. l.. Miller, the tailor,
testified that, in his opinion, the pocket
in which the money was found is the
identical pocket taken from the pants
above mentioned.
The old man, n l.. Surdam, 93 years
of age, testified To the circumstances OF
the crime, the robbers being armed and
masked, the binding of himself and son
and the search of the premises, substan.
italy as heretofore published in the
NoRTHERNER. The money taken, he
said, was about $4,000 and they took
it all except single penny which they
dropped. 1t consisted largely of silver
dollars and halves; there were two gold
pieces and $4,000 in bills. The money
was in a trunk under his bed. 81 kept
it there" he said, "to have it handy
whenever ] wanted a little change"
Fred Surdam, the son, also related
the circumstances of the robbery He
had nineteen dollars in coat peck
ct which the thieves appropriated
Part of this consisted of two five dollar
gold pieces. He identified Noble as be-
ing one of the robbers by his voice. He
was very positive about this and rigid
cross-eXamination failed TO shake his
confidence i'm his iudompnt