The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-05-20
CROOK GETS OFF
ON TECHNICALLY
Blunder Was Made In the Way
Charge Was Made Out.
BARTLETT WAS DISCHARGED
Alleged That He Attempted to Rob Col.
w. R. Dodson-Claimed He is a
Member of a Gang of
Pickpockets.
BARTLETT WAS DISCHARGED

j. A. Bartlett. who was arrested on the
charge of attempting to pick the pocket of
Colonel w. R. Dodson, of Tuscaloosa, on
AN Alabama Great Southern train shortly
before the carnival celebration has es-
capped punishment on technicality of law
which worked In his favor.
Bartlett was arrested at the Union pas
senger station on May at the instance of
Colonel Dodson, who claimed to have
caught him in the act of going through
his pocket near the outskirts of the city.
The prisoner was carried to police head
quarters, where a charge as assault with
intent to rob was docketed against him.
The case was tried before Judge Feagin
on the following morning and the prisoner
held to the grand jury under a heavy
bail.
The charge of assault with intent to rob
under the law of Alabama is felony. but
the evidence submitted by Bartlett showed
that there was no force used or attempted,
but that it was merely an attempt to COM
nit larceny by stealth and without vio-
lence, lacking that element of robbery
the putting in fear of bodily harm. Under
the general law an attempt to commit rob-
berry is a misdemeanor.
Bartlett being advised through his at
torney, B. NJ Allen, that his trial before
the judge of the inferior court was trial
before a court having final jurisdiction of
all misdemeanors committed in the city
of Birmingham, sued out writ of habeas
corpus before Judge S. e. Greene, of the
criminal court. The hearing was set for
yesterday and upon taking up the facts,
which were admitted by the solicitor, it
clearly appeared that he was not guilty
of the more serious offense, but that while
being tried on that charge was placed in
jeopardy, and could not, therefore, again
be placed on trial for the same offense.
Bartlett appeared very nervous in court,
and started to leave the room before he
was formally discharged.
Member CT Notorious Gang
The officers claim that Bartlett is a mem
Der of a notorious gang of pickpockets, ami
that several of his pals were with him In
| the city for the purpose of taking in the
| Carnival celebration. A note which was
written him by one of his pals shortly after
| he was transferred to the county Jail was
| intercepted by Sheriff O'Brien, in which the
writer Informed him that everything would
be well, telling him where to find his valse,
and also conveying the information that
we were going to Charleston.
The vaise was promptly taken in charge,
| in which, it is claimed, was found very
strong evidence tending to show that Bart
| lett was a member in good standing of the
association of light-fingered gentry. Among
| the strongest evidence was vest pocket
note book, in which was carefully entered
the dates of all big meetings in the United
| States, extending from Maine to California.
| Among this list was the entry, "Birming-
ham, Ala, May and g., Mardi Gras cele-
/ bration," and Immediately after Charles
ton. S. c. May 1912, Confederate Veterans
Reunion" The fact that the pals were
off for Charleston was an evidence that the
programme was being carried out to the
letter.
Bartlett is said to have ltf the city short
~ after his release, and will in the future
probably steer clear of Birmingham.