The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-09-26
5RICHNER HELD
FOR COLUMBUS
GRAND JURY.
ION, the Charge Of Robbing PostofIlce
at Drill, Ohio, on the Night
Of August IA.
AN ALIBI IS ATTEMPTED
In Behalf of the Defendant-Alexan-
der's Testimony Was the
Most Important.

Yesterday afternoon before United
States Commissioner G. E. Boyd, IT,,
occurred the hearing of John w. Rich-
ner, OF the Island, recently arrested in
this city on the charge of robblng the
post office at Drill, Ohio. near Bridge
port, in Belmont county. Richner and
his sister swore to an alibi. but he
commissioner held the man for the
grand jury at Columbus. Richner was
trying to secure bond. but without sue
cess, last night.
The following witnesses were sum-
moned for the government: Frank Hill
yer, postmaster at Drill. Ohio; Chief of
Police ,Clemans. Of Wheeling; Police
Lieutenant ]. E. Michaels. of Wheeling;
Marshal Sol. Dauds, of Bridgeport;
Ohio; John C. Alexander Of Bridgeport;
Ross Fowler, of Martins Ferry. AMI
Post Office Inspectors A. P. Owens and
Sam Hooten.
For the prisoner, n plea Of not guilty
was entered by Attorney John F.
oBrien.
The first witness was Frank Hillycr,
postmaster at Drill. He testified that
he was appointed In July. 1897. and was
in charge August IA. this year. The Of
fee was locked up that night, but il
the morning he found the front door
open, having been opened from the in
side: the bay window had been broken.
and the thief forced an entrance in that
manner. Papers were strewn all over
the floor. and the money box had been
taken from the room, but no money was
taken. He could not say that any of
the letters were taken. The mail pouch
key was missing, also his overcoat. the
latter found later a mile or two away.
The witness identified the key shown
him as the one that was taken. After
the robbery the witness wired the Sup
erintendent OF Mail Service. and also
wrote to the officials. Some money-he
did not know the exact amount-was
taken. He could not find the record of
the number Of the key.
The Key Identified.
Inspector Hooten testified that he had
heard OF the arrest of Richner by Chief
Clemans. visited the chief. and saw The
key. He wired the post office depart
ment as to where the key No. 1851 be-
longed, and In an hour received 4 tele-
gram in answer that this key belonged
to the post office at Drill. Ohio. There
was squabble as to the introduction
as evidence OF copies of the kilograms
exchanged between the post office de-
partment and the Inspector, but Mr..
O'BrIen finally withdrew his objection,
and copies were sent for to the Western
Union telegraph Office.
Chief OF Police Clcmans testified rs to
the arrest of Richner. Lieut.. Michanls
brought Richner to police headquarters.
| Richner was searched and the post Of
| flee key was found. Richner claimed
he found the key the day before his ar
rest at McMechen. The witness IdentI-
fled the key us the one found upon
| Richner.
Inspector Hooten said he had CONVEX
sed with Richner since his arrest, and
the latter had claimed to have found
It at McMcchen. Richner said he had
offered 1t to n letter carrier, and claimed
he was not In Ohio the night of the rob-
berry.
John c. Alexander, of Bridgeport, tes-
| tilted that he was mill man. On the
night. OF August II he was between
| Drill post Office and Bridgeport. on the
line Of the C. L. 6; W. railway; this was
| about or 10 o'clock. He met Richner
and n colored man going toward Drill
| post office that night. The witness was
| In company with Ross Fowler and three
ladies'. who were Kate Walls. Lizzie
Harris and Lucy Miller. He did not
| talk With Richner, though passing with
| In n foot of him. He had known Rich
ner five or six years. The point where
fourth miles from Drill. Both parties
were going In the same direction, and
Richncr and his companion passed the
witnesses party. Witness denied that
the night was especially dark. He did
not know who the colorcd man was.
His last previous meeting with Richncr
wns at the Aetna Standard mill. three
or four weeks before. The women in
his party, he believed, recognized Rich
ner. He remarked ut the time. there
goes'Twln' Richncr."
Police Lieut.. Mlchaels was put on the
stand aud testified as to the arrest OF
Richncr In this city: He recognized
| Richncr as the man he arrested on Sep
TENDER A. on Water street. as he was
coming out OF the St. Charles hotel. He
assisted In searching Rchucr and found
the post office key on his person. Lieut..
Michnels said Rlchner claimed he had
found the key the day before, and could
prove 1t II necessary; that he found 1t
near the Riverside Tube Works.
e. Richncr Testifies.
John w. nichncr the defendant. testi-
ned that he ,waa arrested September 4
by Llcut. Mlchaels: that he was search
etT atdpolice headquarters aud II key
found on:him.t Asked where he got the
key, he sdld he found It near the tube