The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-02-25
JESSE'S VOICE.
Is the Same as That of the
Leader of the Gang,
stated Hills, the Express Mes
senger, on the Stand.
He WAS POSITIVE.
Telegraph Operator Thinks
James Was Present.
Defendant Remains Cool, and
Shows No Nervousness

played some of it's best cards yesterday
in the Jesse James case and Prosecutor
Reed made every effort to get some OF
his witnesses who were present when
the train was held up to positively iden-
tify Jesse James as the leader or the
bandits. But not one of the several per-
sons who testified yesterday that they
had seen the bandits at close range
could identify Jesse James in appear
ance E. NJ. HiSey, the operator VINO
was in charge of the telegraph office
near the scene of the hold-up, was con-
WINGED that the robber who entered the
office and destroyed the instruments
was Jesse, but he could not positively
identify him.
E. NJ Hills. the express messenger,
declared that Jesse'S voice was the same
were strong witnesses for the prosecu-
ton, but failed to come up to the ex-
pectatfons of the states attorneys.
Throughout the cross-examination un-
usual stress is placed upon the meth
DDS practiced by the state to secure It's
witnesses. Nearly all the witnesses ad-
NIT that they have been in frequent
consultation with Detective Harbaugh
and the prosecutor Mr.. Walsh takes
extreme delight in compelling a witness
to swear that he has been in communi-
cation with Detective Harbaugh, ana
witness stated on the stand yesterday
that he had seen and talked with the
detective but a few minutes before he
was called to the stand. Some OF the
witnesses for the prosecution stated
Yesterday that they had been brought
to this city from points in Colorado,
New Mexico and Arkansas to testify
against Jesse James. They were all
provided with railroad passes and one
said that his board was being paid
while he was in the city.
The morning session opened with the
continuation of the cross examination
of Confessor Lowe by Mr.. Walsh. How
ever, Lowe was not shaken a particle
from his original story, and, though he
was given most severe cross-exanin-
alton, he rarely failed to respond to all
questions satisfactorily and without
hesitation.
Prosecuting Attorney Reed offered in
evidence the following letter, said to
have been written by Kennedy to Lowe:
'S-15-9S. K. c. Mo. Mr. Wilum lowe
dear frind bill thought would write
you a few lines once for the first time
Say bill when you get this please cum
down if you can. Yours as ever
-. F. KENNEDY"
Mr. Reed then asked:
did you see Miss Mary James when
you visited the jail2''
Mr.. Walsh objected vigorously and
Judge Shackleford sustained his con-
tention, so the question was ruled out.
Mr.. Reed produced a card and when
Lowe looked at it he declared that he
had seen the same card at Ryan's place
on the Wednesday night preceding the
robbery.
Jesse pulled it out of his pocket
said Lowe
The writing on the card was as fol-
lows:
I'VE, the masked knights of the road,
robbed the NJ. P. at the B. ]. tonight;
the supply of quails was poor; with
JOHN KENNEDY.
BILL RYAN,
BILL ANDERSON,
SAM BROWN,
Jim REDMOND.
I'VE are ex com specter."
cd a a
having been on the witness stand for
five hours and thirty-five minutes.
MESSENGER HILLS STORY
Edwin Hills, the express messenger
on the train that was held up, was a
valuable witness for the prosecution. He
related the story of the affair near
Leeds, with dramatic effect. His teStf-
mony emitting the details connected
with the first part of the proceeding,
was as follows:
when I discovered what had happen
ed, 1 got my shotgun and put out the
damp and hid my personal valuables. By
that time the train had come to a stop.
Somebody knocked on the door and
said: open it or We'll blow the car to
- Then somebody said: Get the
dynamite and Wen blow him up
81 said: Never mind, I'll open up
Then they made me throw up my hands
and get out of the car. I was searched
when down on the ground, and was then
ordered to go back into the car. After
we got inside they searched for the safe
saw them put two or three sticks of
dynamite on the through safe and
placed my small safe on top of this.
Somebody struck a match, suppose
to light the fuse. All the men but one
left the car, and 1 started to go, but
the man who was in the car said: Stay
in there and blow up with the car.
But I protested and was finally per-
mitted to leave the car.
Under guard 1 was taken about fifty
yards down the track, under the glare
% he 1irrI1T I,fe 7
looked at one of the robbers and for my
curiosity was cracked over the head.
Somebody called out from the direction
of the engine:
a. Bring him down hereP So we went
back and they ordered me to cut the en-
CINE from the baggage car. I stepped
out from between the engine and the
car 1 said:
Il can't cut it off without giving me
some slack
"'Give him some slack a man yelled.
The explosion occurred just at this time
and / was knocked down. When the
debris had ceased to fall we approach
ed the wrecked car and the leader said:
want you to go into that safe
But he changed his mind and said:
Stay out, I'll go in myself "
After relating parts of the conversa-
ton between the robbers and the de-
tails connected with the searching of
the express car, the witness continued:
After the robbers had left, 1 went to
the Pittsburg e Gulf telegraph office
found no one there and saw things were
torn up pretty bad. I found within
few minutes Engineer Slocum, the tele-
graph operator, train porter and, be-
1ieVe, the fireman and a stranger stand
ing in consultation. I went with the
operator to the telegraph office and
then went with the gang Of men to the
wreck"
Mr.. Reed asked about the stranger.
Eyes, he went with me to the wreck
and helped me to gather up baggage"
Mr.. Reed then examined the witness:
DO you remember any of the men
who held up the train?" was asked.