The record-union., 1896-04-21
KNOX, THE STRIKE LEADER.
Townsend Says He Was in the Plot to
Rob a Train.
How Callendine Engineered the Rob-
berry Of the Street Railway
Office.

When the case of L. L. Callendine,
Harry w. Baker and Fred w. Town
send, charged with having robbed the
street-car office at Twenty eighth and
N streets, in November last, was called
before Justice Davis yesterday morning
the capacity of the courtroom was test
ed to it's utmost.
Townsend was on the scene early and
sat quietly in his corner looking a pic
ture Of good health.
Mrs. Baker was also early in her seat
Great dark circles trimmed her eyes, and
she had evidently spent a sleepless
night Mrs. Callendine, too, was pres
ent, and she smiled indiscriminately at
everything in sight.
Callendine and Baker sat beside their
respective attorneys, General A. L. Hart
and Hiram w. Johnson.
General Hart asked that the rule be
enforced and the witnesses excluded
from the room during the taking of tes-
timony, which was ordered by Justice
Davis.
Townsend was the first witness called
time was lost by City Attorney Brown
Townsend was instructed by the
court that he need answer no questions
which might tend to criminate himself,
but he was out to tell the whole story,
and he told it.
Fred W. Townsend was as cool as a
SNOWFALL when he took the stand. He
testified that he had known L. L. CAL
lendine five years and Harry w. Baker
four years. He had worked in the
mountains for the Towle Company, and
had received a letter from Walter Bas-
sett in August last stating that his ap-
plication for a position on the street
railway company had been favorably
received.
AT this point he was stopped by City
Attorney Brown and told to confine
himself to the case in question.
Townsend then said that after he had
lost his position with the street-car
company he felt sore about it. Callen-
dine came to him one day and asked
him why he didn't get even with the
company for having bounced him.
Townsend replied that he did not know
how that could be DONE and Callendine
told him to take guns along and make
those in the office hold UP their
hands," The witness did not want to
think about the matter, and told Cal
1endine the risks were too great.
SvENGALI CALLENDINE.
CaIlendine then induced the witness
to promise to hold his tongue in case a
robbery was committed and said that
two other nervier men had promised to
go into the job with him.
About three weeks before the robbery
Callendine came back to the witness
and said the other two "nervy" men
had gone back on him, and that one or
them was Melvin Hatch He SAID,
however, that he had "piped' the place
off and found out where the money was
kept. and that there would be no danger
whatever in the undertaking. and that
everything would go off as smooth as
glass. He had found out that the
money was kept in a safe in closer,
and that the safe was not unlocked to
receive the conductors money bags. but
that they were thrown in through
tube In the back.
Callendine proposed to do the work on
Christmas Eve, when everyone would
be down town, and as there would have
been considerable traffic during the day
there should be S400 or $500 in the safe.
The witness said he was '1eary'' about
going into the business, and wanted to
withdraw but that Callendine accused
him of being a coward, and Townsend
could not allow his bravery to be called
into question, so he acceded to the
wishes of Callendine.
On the evening of the robbery the men
gathered at Ca1lendine's quarters in the
rear of Smith & Bassett's office, on
Sixth street, near ]. Baker first ap-
peared on the scene. The witness was
surprised to see Baker, as he had al
ways considered him model man, and
asked Callendine if he was the third
man Callendine replied:
Yes, he's the boy, and we can rely
on him, tool"
The witness expressed his surprise to
Baker, who said that he never expected
to come to such a pass, but that his
wages had been cut down, and he was
desperate and would do anything for
money.
THEY BRACED UP.
Callendine then went out and bought
a bottle Of whisky. and he and Baker
drank Townsend does not drink
Then Callendine brought out three
masks, and each of the men appropri-
ated one The mask given to the wit
ness was Dig affair, pul eaiSho1iS
told him the street railway people would
know the back of his head as well as
his face, as he had been employed by
them. and 1t was necessary to conceal
It.
Then Callendine went across the
street and hitched horse to cart
into which the three men scrambled
carrying guns and a pinch-bar, and in
which they drove near to the street.
car office at Twenty-eighth and n
streets. There the horse was hitched to
an old wagon, and the men secured a
position across the street and watched
affairs at the street-car Office, and
waited until the men should have gone
home.
There seemed to be two men in the
office, and the witness began to grumble
and told Callendine he did not like the
business he thought there would be
only one man to contend with
But Callendine once more resorted to
EA EEa