Evening star., 1898-10-27
Sudden Closing Of Both Sides in the
Price Case.
PRISONER POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED
Counsel for Defense Offered Little
Evidence to Clear the Accused.
DOUBT ABOUT SATCHEL

| A large crowd was in Criminal Court No.
| J this morning when the trial of John Price
| charged with the larceny of 81 $50 from the
| metropolitan Railroad Company, was re-
| sumed. Close attention to the proceedings
| was paid by all, the positive Identification
| of Price by several witnesses yesterday as
the man who ordered sandwiches at the
Vatoldi cafe the day of the robbery having
tended to increase the general interest in
| the trial. The defendant seemed to be more
concerned in the contents of a newspaper
| than he was in the examination of wit
| nesses, but frequently glanced up from the
| paper when the testimony was of more
than ordinary import
After The Stars report of the trial yes
| terday closed, Stewart L. Minor a waiter
at the Vatoldi, was called by the govern
ment. He testified to hearing the order
for sandwiches March 30 1897 He saw
the man who gave the order leave the din
ing room with a satchel i'll his hand. The
Satchel closely reSembled the one shown
IN court. The witness identified Price.
MI. Babendrier was recalled by the dis
trict attorney this morning. He testified
yesterday that the satchel shown in court
was not the one containing the stolen
money. Mr.. Wilson, treasurer of the railroad
company, made statements to the con-
trary. The object in recalling Mr.. Faben-
drier, so District Attorney Davis explained.
was " SHOW l0dl Immediately after the
robbery Mr.. Wilson furnished Mr. Baber-
drler with another satchel very much like
the one stolen, in appearance. This second
satchel tended to confuse Mr.. Babendrier
In his testimony yesterday. Mr.. Baben-
drier so testified
Mr.. Robert f. Miller, paying teller of the
Washington Loan and Trust Company, was
recalled and examined at length as to the
denomination and class of money raid out
by him the day Mr.. Babendrier drew from
him the amount afterward stolen.
Surprised by "a Witness.
Mr.. William j. Wilson next took the
stand and occasioned some surprise by
denying any knowledge of the possession
by Mr.. Babendrier of a money satchel at
any time after the robbery.
The identification of the satchel, shown
in court, as the stolen from the Va
toldi, was then begun in detail. Robert
Johnson of the police department testified
that the satcEel was brought by him to the
court room from the property room at
police headquarters. ]. Arthur Kemp, chief
and also property clerk of the police de-
parsment told the jury that the satchel
vas turned over to headquarters by Albert
X. Lamb. station keeper of the first pre-
cinct. The latter stated that the satchel
was brought to the station by Policeman
John A. Royce
Policeman Boyce was called to the stand
ana SAID that March 30, 1897, he was on
duty at the intersection of 9th and f
streets. He was called by Mr. Charles S.
CamppeH' proprietor of a dining room at
Oh + street The witness, by request ac-
conpanied Mr.. Campbell to 4 toilet room
az the establishment conducted bv thu lat
ter and there found satchel with several
rubber bands and paper money bands in it,
Witness turned the property over to STA
ton Keeper Lamb.
Mr.. Campbell, the mkt witness detailed
TO the jury the finding of the satchal by
him, about pm, March 30 1897. He did
not touch the satchel, but at once called
Policeman Boyce
The trial took a decidedly Interesting
turn when Charles E. Finder for lnanv
years a private detective in this city, was
called by District Attorney Davis The lat
ter was Interrogaung the witness as to his
experience as a detective, when Attorney
Rose Interrupted to ask the relevancy of
such statements
II am going to identify this man." stated
Mr.. Davis, with emphasis, indicating Price
by this man. pointing to the witness.
Mr. Flinders Testimony.
Mr.. Flinder testified that he has known
Price for twenty years, seeing him and con-
versing with him at intervals during that
period. While crossing 9th street, at f
street, in vehicle. March 30, 1897, shortly
after 10 O'Clock in the morning, witness
saw Price. He was just stepping onto the
sidewalk from the roadway in front of the
Washington Loan and Trust Company's
building. Witness stopped the horse and
ahghted from the vehicle on the south
side of F street between 9th and 10Th
streets. He looked toward 9th street, ex-
pacting to see Price approaching, but saw
nothing of him
1t was not brought out in court, but is
stated on the best authority that Mr..
Finder is very well acquainted with Price
having gone to New York, and, it is alleged
secured from him certain bonds stolen in
connection with the Metropolitan Bank
robbery in 1889
Price was also seen in front of the Wash
iEgtOn Loan and Trust Company's building
March 30, 1891 by MIR. Chatam NJ Towers,
assistant superintendent of the city post
office, so Mr.. Towers testified. He was
crossing the street to make deposit at
the bank, when he noticed a man gazing
at him intently. The witness positively
identified Price as the one.
Price seemed deeply concerned in the tes-
timony of Messrs. Finder and Towers. At
the conclusion of Mr.. Towers statements
District Attorney Davis announced that the
case of the government was closed.
The defense did not make opening ad-
dress to the jury Attorney Rose, however,
read from the testimony adduced during
the removal proceedings in New York to
show that Mr.. Finder and others testified
there that Price had no beard when he
was seen here about the time of the rob-
berry. 1t has been testified during the pres
ent trial that Price at the time in question
wore a slight beard.
Evidence for Defendant.
Mr.. FRANCIS X. Weller, a student of civil
engineering was the first witness called by
the defense. He identified several plans
and measurements of the Vatoldi dining
room and surroundings made by him.
According to the witness, person stand
ing on the sidewalk could not see the por-
ton of the floor where it had been testified
Mr.. Babenbrier placed the satchel, and
rom which it was removed by the robber.
In order that the jury might visit the Va
toldi and inspect the premises for their en-
lightenment a recess was at this point
taken.
After recess nc ther surprise was sprung
by the dtfeLse announcing that it's case
was closed. Prayers for instructions to
the jury were then presented to Chief Jus
tice Bingham, and after they had been con-
sjGered by the court the arguments to the
jury were begun by Assistant District At
tcrrey John f. Laskey, who summed up
the evidence that had been submitted
Mr.. Laskey was followed by Attorney
Rose, who dwelt. at the outset, on the con-
Trajectory statements of certain of the gov
ernments witnesses. Mr. Rose had not con-
cluded when this report closed.
Capt. Niskern Ordered to St. Louis
Capt. A. D. Niskern, subsistence depart
ment, who has just returned from Cuba,