Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1899-09-14
Three More Arrests of Alleged Robbers.

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at Charlestown last Sunday, charged
with completely in the robbery o
Richard Morgan, the gate keeper o
the Maryland and Virginia bridge al
Shepherdstown, last May. Fletcher
Brown, the colored man for whom a
warrant had been out for month OF
two, was nabbed in Pittsburg. He
confessed, and on the strength Of his
confession Detective David c. Smart,
Deputy Sheriff Porterfeld and Consta-
bic John F. Maddox arrested Daniel
Shell and Edward Cornell in Shep-
herdstown and took them at once to
Charlestown, lodging them in the coun-
ty jail'to await hearing.
1t will be remembered that this rob-
berry occurred last May. The bridge
company quietly employed detectives
on the case, and the first week in Au-
gust George Winebrenner and Thomas
Garrison were arrested for the crime
and lodged in jail to await the action
of the grand jury. The cOlOred man,
Fletcher Brown, had skipped the town,
and was believed to be in PittsbuIg.
Monday of last week Detective Smart
went to Pittsburg to locate Brown.
He had a difficult case to work up,
but Friday he picked up his man on
the street, although he had never seen
him. He brought Brown back to
Charlestown, the latter agreeing to
come without requisition papers. On
the way east Brown told Smart all
about the affair. When they got to
Charlestown, he repeated the confess
ion in the presence of Prosecuting At
torney Brown, Jailer Young, Mr.. J.
D. Billmyer, Smart and others.
The story that Brown told was about
as follows On the night Of the rob-
berry Brown met Winebrenner, CARR
son and Shell, who invited him to go
along with them to chicken fight.
They proceeded to the river, where
they met Cornell, who was on guard
at the toll-keeper's house. He told
them that the old man was asleep IN
side and that the coast was clear.
Cornell kept watch at the bridge and
Shell at the old paper mill. Garrison
and Winebrenner broke into the house,
and Brown says they compelled him,
by threatening to shoot him, to partl-
cipate in the robbery. The three
bound the aged couple and little Susie
Stevens, and then ransacked the house.
Browns shirt, saturated with coaloil,
was used as torch. They made the
fire in the front yard to destroy some
of the evidence of the crime, but this
was poor job When the robbery
was completed the five men came up
town. Brown says he had already
arranged to go to Pittsburg, and the
same night he jumped freight train
and made his way to that city. He
says he didn't get cent of the stolen
money. He gave what he declared
were the full details Of the robbery.
On Tuesday Shell waived hearing
and was released on bail, to await the
action of the grand jury in November.
The detectives who have run down
the five men alleged to be guilty Of
the dastardly crime were David Z.
Smart, Charles Kinsley and O. J. Mil
Ter, of the Maryland Detective Service,
2O8 n. Liberty street, Baltimore. Mr..
Smart is the head of the firm, and he
and Mr.. Kinsley did the bulk of the
work. 1t was this firm that jailed a
gang of incendiaries and thieves at
Smithsburg, Md, the past summer,
and broke up band of robbers in
Frederick county, Nd, few years
ago. They have also done some other
very creditable work, in the city and
in the country. The complete success
of their efforts in the bridge robbery
case is high recommendation for
them. 1t is intimated that there are
some other sensations to be sprung IN
this county as a result Of their labors,
and evil-doers are in a tremble.
Too much credit cannot be given to
the bridge company for their perse-
verance in following up this case. Mr..
J. D. BilImyer has been indefatigable
in hunting out the guilty persons, and
he has the appreciation of the good
citizens for the way III which he has
followed up the matter. 1t has been
a very costly thing for the company,
but the result justifes the expense.
Council Meeting.
The regular meeting of the town
council was held Monday evening. All
the members present. In the matter