The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-03-26

the eleepers on the track, as before de-
tcribed. Haller told Ills story to the po-
lice officer and the railroad officials in an
unusually intelligent manner, and seemed
TO be sincere, but there was q certain
cunning about him that strengthened
the belief of the Investigators that he was
the only person involyeu in the attempt
TO hold up the srsin. He wanted free
ride TO New York and took this heroic
way OF securing the favor. Ii is believed
that he reasoned that the least she train
men could do would be TO take him along
for the great service he had performed.
and that there might be a.reward for say
ing the lives Of the helpless passengers.
Acting ON this conclusion, Chief of Po
lice bigboe placed handouts on Haller, re-
marking nt the same tirne ''Tou have
small wrists" Hallsr is above the aver
age height. slim built and apparently of
good education. He begged the officer to
let him go with him without the hand
cuffs. as there was no nesd of them. Look
Ing at them moment he said. What
would my por mother say" Turning 10
the newspaper reporters he said, "Tnis is
what get for trying to save human
life.
He was taken to the Eighth District
Court at Olnsyville and arraigned before
Judge Phillirs, under chapter 279, section
20, of the General Laws, which states
that every person who shall wilfully
place upon any railroad track any sub
stance UT thing with intent to hinder or
impede Che passage of any locomotive en-
iRpe or oar over such railroad, or shalt
wlilfully do any other aot, matter or
thing. with intent to hinder, imrede or
interrupt the passage of such locomotive
engine or car. shall be- imprisoned not ex-
cseiing. ten years. or be fined not exceed
fng $4,000.
Asller pleaded not guilty to such in
corruption ard was held ia the sum Of
$S000 TO appear for trial next Friday morn
ing. Not being able to furnish suoh
surety, he was taken to tie county jail at
Cranston to await trial.
A freight train had preceded tho ex-
press OH the main line less than nn hour
before, and the sleepers were not On the
track then. Two hours hau elapsed since
. passenger train hac passed. 4heye is
every reason TO believe that the obstruc-
tion was placed just before the express
train was due.
Heller told tho rspcrters that the rea-
son he did not pull the sleepers from thu
track ~ soon % he saw them WINS because
he was afraid Of the boys with the revol-
YER. He was walking aleng the track
and could see long distance ahend, for
tho moon was up in the west and the
tack was straight. be was of the opin-
parsntly 13 years OF age, had placed one
OF the sIeepers on the track. When, hs
saw them they were together and appear
ed to Ue dragging the sleepsr BY one end.
Their figures stood out sharply, but he
could not see their features He saw
them place the sls~per on the track and
then walk away. He ran to the place
ana was about to pull the sleepers OF
when the pistol was nred at him. judy
ing from the report, he should say that
the pistol was small one, ono of the toy
sort. He could not hear tho bullet ana
did not know whitaker tho weapon had
been discharged in his direction or not.
He didn't wait for the second shot, but
ran up the track about mile and sig
nailed the train In the manner already
described. After both trains had passed
he was nesr To the station at Lincoln
Park, where he went to sleep, and was
not moiested until picked up by the men
Of the incoming train.
Chief OF POLES Biabee, who was at the
spot about 80 minutes after the sleepers
had been removed, said that lie could not
see the moon and that the night was
dark. Hs thinks it was an elaborate
scheme to get free ride. but it failed.
Had Haller's plans gone awry and the
train struck the slsepers there woud have
bean fearful loss Of life.