New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-07
HE FOUND HIS BICYCLE.
CO1,WEI,L DID NOT KNOW 1T HAD BEEN
STOLEN UNTIL HE SAW 1T.
THE ALLEGED THIEF TAKEN INTO COURT. BUT
JURORS QUEER STATEMENT LED

TO A M1sTR1ArA
A somewhat remarkable discovery OF a stolen
bicycle was described in the County Court yester-
day the trial of Algernon Tenney, OF NO 100
Tompkins-ave for the theft Of the machine. Al
gernon Is pale-faced and has white hair. although
he says he Is only twenty years old He explained
a seeming discrepancy in the names he gave by
saying that he has stepfather who Is named
George Z. Pratt and sometimes he is called
"Pratty"
The complainant In the case and the man who
so luckily recovered his wheel is Carlisle NJ Col
we'll. OF No. 7s3 Jefferson-ave. Mr.. ColweIl test-
fled that the morning OF June last he was
crossing Twenty-thrd-st ferry on his way to New
York when ne bicycle standing a few feet
away from the entrance TO the. womens cabin that
looked Strangely familiar. He went up to II, and
after examination he was surprised to discover
that Il his wheel AS he supposed his bi-
cycle to be safe at home in the cellar, he was much
surprised and asked the boy who had charge OF the
wheel what he doing with It and where he
got It, The boy who was the defendant In the
case on trial yesterday, told him that he bought
the wheel from young fellow called Jack
Lucky" Colwell told him the machine was stolen
and demanded its return. Tenney demurred at
first but finally offered TO return the wheel IL the
owner would pay him S. which he said he had paid
for IT, Colwell refused to do this. and Tenney told
him he would give up the wheel II the complain
ant would give him his address Things were In
that state when the ferry boat reached the New
York side, and Colwell handed Tenney over TO
policeman. Then he returned to Brooklyn, entered
a complaint in the Fourteenth Precinct station and
Tenney was taken to Brooklyn and locked up.
Detective Myers said that as Tenney declared he
had bought the wheel from Jack Lucky. who lived
at No 10 Elery-st.. he went to all the houses In
that neighborhood but could find no one OF that
name.
When the defendant called 70 the stand in
his own behalf he said that 1t was true that he
bought the wheel from Lucky for IS. and that he
was going TO pay him 81 a week for II until
he had paid SIS. When he was met on the ferry by
plainant would give him his address. so that he
might at least get back the money he PAID FOR the
machine. Colwell refused, however, and hai MIN
arrested. The defendant admitted that ne had been
arrested two or three times before. but declared
that he had never been convicted Of any crime
When Assistant District-Attorney Niles was sum-
ming up the for the prosecution ne was much
surprised interruption by one OF the Jurymen
named Hauck. who had worn a puzzled expression
throughout the greater part OF the trial Mr. Hauck
wanted know whether Tenney had not given the
bicycle back to the and when that was ad-
mitted ne said he did any reason for prose
cutting him. The who owned the wheel mad IL
back and the person who had had II In his posses
sion had given il up and lost IS besides He did not
why there should be any further prosecution OF
the prisoner .. -
Judge Aspinal said that in view OF the rather re-
markable state Of the jurors mind II was only
proper 10 declare that there had been mlstrial,
and he so declared The jury was discharged, ana
the case will be tried again.