The evening times., 1898-10-26
THE PRICE ROBBERY TRIAL
Courtroom Crowded and Deep
Interest Shown.
DEFENDANT GETS ANXIOUS
Exhibits Much Concern Over Mr..
Laskcy's Statement of the Govern
ment's Side OF the Case-Hcaring
of Witnesses Observation-Disclosures
dent BRbcndrier Tells of the Theft.

The trial OF John Price, who is accused
Of robbing Arthur o. Babendrier of 81 6S-
at the Natoldi Cafe on Marcl 81 1897, was
resumed this morning in Criminal Court
No. ], Chief Justice Bingham. Of the Su-
preme Court for the District Of Colum-
bia, presiding The jury was completed
early by the addition of William McKin-
ley, a mechanic.
When the court convened the room was
already crowded with spectators who paid
close attention TO the proceedings. The
counsel on both sides were early in at
tendance as was also Price and his bonds
man, Menair.
The apparent lack of interest In the
PROCEEDINGS which Price assumed yester-
day and even this morning suddenly dis
appeared when Assistant District AttoT-
ney John e. Laskey rose to state the
Government side Of the case. II was
plain 10 an who were near him that John
Price was the one man in the whole au-
G.ence who was most deeply interested IN
The proceedings. He riyetted his gaze on
Iaskey, and with the eXcep4oA OF an
occasional glance at the jury, watched
him closely. listening attentH ely 10 every
word he uttered
The Jury as completed is composed Of
the following gentlemen:
Elmer L. Dwyer, John L. Sehaiiert
Harry @. Dalton, Thomas Foley, behJa-
min +. Harper, Charles r. Murray, Doug
lass Thompson, John Curran, Charles
Merkie, Theodore f. McCauley, Phlllp A
Deiano and William Mckinley.
soon he jurors were sworn MI.
laskey presented the Government : case,
relating the circumstances Of the roo-
berry substantially as published IN Inc
Times at the time il occurred
The first witness called for the Gov
eminent was Arthur o. Babendrier, the
superintendent Of the Ninth Street branch
Of the Metropolitan Railway Company.
When sworn ne said that on the day ll
question March 81. 1881, he went TO 'he
Washington Loan and Trust company
and cashed a check for Sl,GS2, put the
money in a satchel and proceeded TO the
Natoldi Cafe for lunch. He then told OF
his leaving the satchel containing the
money at the cashiers desk in the lunch
room. When he had taken his lunch
Babendrier said he returned 10 the cash
ier and learned that the satchel had DIS
appeared.
A satchel similar to the one left by
Babendrier at the cashiers desk In the
Vatoldi was introduced, but the witness
did not identify ii as the one IN Whlch ne
carried the money the day II was solen
Babendrier stated that Jne handle on the
satchel in evidence was different from
the one he lost; the satchel he carried on
that day had only one Inside pocket,
while the one produced as an exhibit had
two pockets He also stated that al the
time he was at the Washington Loan and
Trust Company he noticed heaVy-set
man lettering at the counter.
When the witness was turned over he
was taken in hand by Mr.. Rose, the lead
ing attorney for the defense, who exam
ined him at length as TO the construction
of the Yatoldi dining room and the rela-
tive position Of the doors, windows, cash
ier's desk. tables, etc. Nothing bearing
directly on the robbery, however, was de-
yeloped during the cross-eXamination.
Continuing, Babendrier stated that he
went 10 the bank for the money about
O'Clock; that the money was handed 10
him in packages with the amounts and
denominations Of the money contained on
the outside: he did not count the money.
On redirect examination by Mr.. Davis
Babendrier states that the weather was
clear on March 81, 1897. when the robbery
vas committed. At that time, however
he said the storm doors Of the Washing
ton Loan ana trust bulldlhS were sAA
mp.
Robert F. Miller, paying teller OF the
Washington Loan and Trust Company
who testified next said he remembered
the occurrene Of the loss of money by
Babeudrier; he cashed the check pre-
sented by Babendrier, having previously
prepared the amount in the denomina'
fions required by the Metropolitan Rail
way Company He learned Of the loss oi
the money from Babendrier about
O'Clock or q little after