The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-12-24
A NOTED SAFE-BLOWER
TWO IMPORTANT DECISIONS BY
SUPREME COURT.
APPEALS FROM THE CRIMINAL COURTS
The kb9minable School Chart Eobs Up in the
Courts. Judge Clark Writes the
Decision Declaring the
Voucher Invalid.


examination before United States Com
missioner John Nichols yesterday morn.
ing. 1t was that of Charles A. Miller.
charged with robbery of the postoffice
at Murfreesboro y. c., on April &, 1898.
Thomas DevereuX, Esq, appeared for
Miller while Postoffice Inspector III. T.
Gregory conducted the prosecution. Sew
eral witnesses from Murfreesboro and VI
cinity were examined for the prosecution;
and while no witnesses were introduced
for Miller his case was well presented
in a strong argument in his behalf, by
his attorney. Mr. Devereux. The ex-
animation resulted in Miller being held
for trial at the May term of the United
States court, and in default of 81 900
bond he was committed to jail to await
trial.
Together with Harry Wright and Jo-
seph L. Reid, alias Il. y. Thomas, alias
Tip Thomas, alias Macon Tip Mil
Ter was locked up on suspicion on April
~, 1898, at Winton, y. G., by direction
of DR.. $. s. Daniel, mayor of Winton.
After committing the men on suspicion
Dr. Daniel wired Postoffice Inspector
Ii. Il. Gregory, who arrived shortly
afterwards and pronounced certain EN-
tries upon n memorandum book in the
possession Of Reid, to be an inventory
of 1888. 40 in postage stamps and S264.Io
in currency, secured from the postoftice
safe at Aberdeen, \. c.. which safe was
blown open on the night of April 4, 1898.
Reid also had in his possession a pocket
map of North Carolina, With pencil trac-
Shnx-inV ms ipad for tho
raid into eastern North Carolina, upon
which the men had entered A warrant
was sworn out charging the three men
with robbery of the postoffice ut Aber
deem on April 4, after which Inspector
Gregory traced their movements near
Aberdeen, just prior to the robbery, and
into the town ON the night of the rob
berry. an account of which appeared in
the News and Observer of December II.
On December 16 the case came up in
the United States court here. Reid and
Wright plead guilty and were given the
maximum punishment by Judge Purnell.
five years each at hard labor in the North
Carolina State penitentiary. A mol pros"
was entered as to Miller, who was dis
charged His freedom, however, was
very brief. for upon stepping from the.
Government building he was arrested
upon 4 warrant charging him with rob-
berry at the postoffce at MurfreesboFo on
April Z. having been identified as being
in Murfreesboro on the night of the rob
berry. On this charge Miller was com
mitted for examination on December 23.
From information obtained it develop
cd that Miller was seep at Boykins, Va.
about April =. and left with a pretended
crippled beggar, walking along the Tar
River Railroad in the direction of Pendle-
ton. On the morning of April Miller
appeared, with two other men. in a field
on the suburbs Of Mnrfreesboro, where
he built fire. while his two companions
went into the town. One proceeded to
limp about the streets. soliciting aid from
various citizens. putting up the plea that
his leg was injured in a saw mill in Nir-
ginia and he was endeavoring to make
his way TO his old mother ut Wilmington.
Miller and his friends We're going back
and forth between the field and the town
all day, but they left before sunset and
We're seen at Conway that night
On the night of April Constable Il.
i. Sumner was approached by Miller
and q companion, Mailer asking the way
TO the postoffice and drug store But
he was not seen to enter either. although
he was seen at three different times with
in two hours in few feet of the office
Once he was Immediately in front of the
Office on same side of street and on the
other two occasions just across the street.
He had also been seen that afternoon
approaching Murfreesboro. After mid
night quite a racket was heard at the
postoffice. The noise was caused by
the explosion in blowing the safe
door off its hinges and about ten
feet from the safe. Several citizens
were aroused. One saw man standing
in front of the office. while another heard
ii man run down the side street from
the office and past his door; but before
any pursuit could be made the safe blow
ers had fled with the contents of the
safe--over 5000 in stamps and money.
A few days after the robbery Miller,
with Il companion entered the store Of
w. l.. Stainback, at Weldon and pur~
chased some beef. paying for it with post
ag. stamps He was also seen to have
i'm his inside coat pocket whole sheets
of stamps. After leaving the store, they
disappeared completely and could not
be found.
4 few days after their appearance at
Weldon. Miller and his companion en-
tered the store of ID. j. Brock at Neal.
y. c.. and made a small purchase of
canned goods, giving III payment twenty
six cent stamps.
On April %, when Reid. Wright and
Miller Were on route from Boykins. Va.
to Winton, \. c.. and while Reid and
Wright passed through Murfreesboro.
Miller avoided the town and joined his
companions beyond and out of sight Of
the town, from whence they proceeded
on to Winton, " c.. where they We're
locked up.
Perhaps of the dozen decisions hand
ed down yesterday by the Supreme court
those Of most general interest are: State
VS. Hinson from Mecklenburg: and
Wright vs.. Kinney. from Davidson
The first is, as to appeals from crimi-
nal courts; the second as TO the validity
Of the county school orders for charts.
In the Hinson ease the defendant 81.
Hinson) was indicted in the Circuit
Criminal court OF Mecklenlurg county