The San Francisco call., 1896-04-21
Be ETRAYED BY TOWNSEND,
Raid on the Sacramento Street
Railway Carshops Described
in Court.
Callandine and Baker Accused by
Their Accomplice-Harry Knox
Implicated.

SACRAMENTO, CAL, April 20.-The
hundreds of people who gathered in Judge
Davis courtroom to-day as spectators at
the examination of L. l.. Callandine, 81.
w. Barker and Fred w. Townsend on the
charge of having robbed the safe in the
Office of the Electric Streetcar Company
on Christmas night were amply repaid,
for full confession OF the crime was made
by Fred w. Townsend when that worthy
was called TO the stand by City Attorney
Brown and told to state what he knew of
the robbery.
Townsend began his story in q low,
broken tone, which gradually gathered
strength as he proceeded, until at last there
came rapid flow of words that seemed
to prove that the prisoner had forgotten
the crowded courtroom with its sea of up
turned faces-had forgotten that every
word he uttered tended not only to land
his companions within the walls of State
prison, but would likewise serve to con-
vict himself.
He described the robbery as though, in
fancy, he was again participating in the
raid; every trivial incident in the COM
mission of the crime was recalled in a
manner that carried the conviction of the
listeners that he was telling the truth.
Townsend told of his discharge from the
street railway company's employ; of how
Callandine had come to him and tempted
him to help rob the company; how, for a
reason, he had resisted the tempter, but
eventually succumbed.
He described the meeting with his ac-
completes and vividly detailed each in
cident that occurred until they covered
the watchman in charge with their
weapons, nor did he hesitate to relate how
his limbs trent bled with fear as he stood
on guard with Winchester rife while his
comrades robbed the safe.
The stealthy, roundabout return through
the city to their apartments and the di-
vision of the money was recounted Sc
dramatically that in fancy his hearers
could almost see the three men crouched
on the floor, in the dim light of the lantern,
quarreling over their loot. Then Town
send told of the secretion of his share OF
the proceeds in an adjoining barn.
Afterward his comrades borrowed GER
tain sums and neglected to repay them,
and his ire had been aroused. He had told
Callandine that, although the latter posed
as bad man because he had killed "Jack"
Harris, the son of Len Harris, the old de-
tective, he feared him not. Later the
breach between them was healed.
The attorneys for Townsend's two COM
panions attacked him rigid cross-exam-
ination, which failed to shake his story in
the slightest, but only brought out infer
ences that even stronger proof of their
clients guilt was yet to be produced.
Townsend had stated that when he first
refused to take part in the robbery Cal
landine told him that he had two other
men to help him, and later on came to
him and said the men had backed out.
"Did he state who the men were?" asked
the attorney for the defense.
"Be did,
"What were their names2'
".Well. one was Melvin Hatch"
"And who was the other?"
81 refuse to answer"
Judge Davis instructed Townsend to
answer the question, and with evident
reluctance he said:
''It was Harry Knox; wanted to keep
his name out" and then he continued
"Callandine said that although the men
had backed out, they would not betray the
perpetrators, no matter how large a re-
ward was offered"
The mention OF Harry Knox has created
great sensation in this city. Knox has
hosts of friends, and they are all united in
declaring that if Callandine made any
such statement he willfully prevaricated.
On the other hand, Knoxs enemies, who
are mainly friends of the Southern Pacific
Railroad Company, are iubilant, and are
loud in his denunciation.
The cross-examination was continued
until o'clock, when the case went over
until tomorrow. The hearing created
groat excitement in the city and hundreds
were unable to gain access to the court.