The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-10-26
Constituted the Principal Evi.
dence In Court Against
August Hahn.
SENSATIONAL EVIDENCE IN.
Detective Testified to a Big "HOld-Up'
That Was Planned
IN A SAXTON STREET SALOON,
Trial of Well Known Canton Man In
Judge Tayior's Court Case Was
Fought stubbornly BY
the Defense.

Fought stubborniy BY
the Defense.
The case of Ohio against August
Hahn, charging him with having bur-
glar tools in his possession, is attracting
considerable attention in court room
No. 2.
The case occupied part of Monday
afternoon and all of Tuesday. At 2:30 p.
m. Hahn left the stand after an hovr's
cross examination. The state concluded.
to put no witnesses on the stand in re-
buttal and the arguments begun 1t was
thought the case would go to the jury
before supper.
Sergeant Rinehart was the first wit
ness called. He testified that on March
I'd last, he, with Officers McCloud,
Lehnis and Sergeant Riblet, went to
Hahn's saloon in Saxton street with a
search warrant to try to recover a watch
and an overcoat.
That while there he went back Of the
counter and in drawer found a pack
age wrapped up in a piece of cloth con-
tanning several skeleton keys and pair
of nippers or pliers. which are used for
turning keys in locks.
Sergeant Rinehart said he put the
package in his pocket and went up
stairs with two of the other officers.
While they were up there Hahn came up
and asked him if he had that bundle.
Rinehart replied that he had and
would take care Of 1t.
They did not find the coat or watch,
and the patrol wagon was called and
Hahn placed under arrest and taken TO
police headquarters.
ATTORNEYS CLASH.
An effort was made by Prosecutor Day
to adduce some information from Mr..
Rinehart showing the character of the
place Hahn conducted, and the char
acter Of the people with whom he as
ISOLATED.
During the argument of this question
the jury was sent out, and the prosecu-
tor stated that he expected to show that
Hahns place was a rendezvouse for
thieves, blacklegs, crooks, burglars and
all sorts of criminals, and that Hahn
himself had helped plan a robbery of
great dimensions, which, however, never
occurred.
The court would not allow much of
this matter presented to the jury and
eventually it was all stricken out.
An effort was made also to show that
nippers were used to turn kew in an
inside lock in the Saxton home which
was robbed a short time before the ar
rest.
Marshal Rinehart was shown the key. |
1t had marks upon it that the marshal
thought were made by some such in
strument, but he would nor say that 1t |
was by this particular pair cf nipv ERA |
The matter was not competent ttsti- |
mony, and WAS ruled oni.
In the cross examination, c. C. Up
ham. attorney for Hahn, tried to show |
that the defendant had been perfectly |
willing for the sear&u, and had even |
aided the officers; that when Rinehart |
said he had the buaIle, he said: "All
right-a fellow eft it here and just 50
know where 1t ,s'-.but the sersea 1T |
denied anv sucI statement as coming |
from Hahn.
1t became evident that Attorney Up
ham meant to fight every inch of the
ground.
OTHER WITNESSES.
officer William Leh:is was next
placed on the stand. His testimony was
substantially the same as that of Rine-
hart. He said he took no part in the
search, but was guarding the place.
Hahn was not at the saloon when the
officers arrived. He came in after the
others had gone up stairs. The first
thing he did when informed that officers
were in the house with a search wac-
rant was to rush behind the bar and
look into the drawers where Rinehart
had got the bundle Of skeleton keys.
What did he do when he saw they
We're gomez" was asked.
He wanted to know what had be-
come Of the bundle. He asked his bar
keeper where the bundle was. The bar
keeper said that Rinehart had it."
What was his appearance when he
saw that the bundle was gomez" asked
the prosecutor.
He turned pale and seemed very
much excited" replied the witness.
On cross-examination 1t was sought
to show that Hahn went up stairs be-
fore he went to the drawer, but the
officer insisted that he hurried to the
drawer the first thing after he learned
that the place was being searched.
Officer McCloud and Sergeant Riblet
testified substantially as their chief had
before them. and the cross-examination
had no effect toward breaking down the
testimony.
At 4:S0 court adjourned until Tuesday
morning.
Mayor Robertson was in court during
the taking OF the testimony. and re-
marked the set of skeleton keys was the
finest that had ever been seen in the
city.
The case was resumed at $3.50 Tues
day morning. II
49,. - ~ II
VIM. Duerr. an empIoye Of the Adams
Express company, said he had known
Hahn or years. He shipped and re-
ceaved goods. About the 1st Of Tebru-
nrE. 1ooo, Hahn shipped box to Thos.
pexR1tt q 0irprds Pas That Nas not