The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-01-07
FICKLER's CASE ON TRIAL.
Man Accused of Mail Robbery
Faces Jury a Second Time.

John Ffckler was placed on trial for the
second time in the United States District
Court yesterday to answer a charge OF
robbing United States registered mail. At
the first trial last November the Jury dis
agreed.
Inc indictment alleges that Flicker, Hugh
ONeiIl. Walter Mcnamara and John Dur
ney. on December II, 1901, assaulted Mes
senger Oscar Koelling at the Post Office
Annex. Third and Olive streets, and stole
from him 4 mail pouch full Of registered
mail containing a largo sum of money; that
this money was divided in Jerry Kahler's
saloon. No. LIZ Clark avenue, between the
four men named. kahier and Jerry Creedon.
Durney was shot and killed a few months
later and Creedon died a few lays ago.
o,Neill and Mcnamara were sent to the
fenitentlary for seven years each on q
Sharse OF burglary and larceny in June.
1902. O'Neiu confessed the robbery to the
post office authorities last September. re-
sulting in the arrest and Indictment of the
accused men. He was pardoned By Gov
ernor Dockery on January 3. 1905.
f1ckier was an active ward worker in
eral and city offices. At one time he was
employed as fireman in the Post Office An
mex. At the time OF his arrest he was a
clerk in the Assessors office at the City
O'Neill. who, although pardoned. is in GUS
tody OF the United States authorities, and
Mcnamara were in court yesterday. the
former as 4 Government witness and the
latter as a witness for the defense. Jerry
kahler was also brought down from the
Jail.
The evidence offered by the Government
Yesterday was substantially the same as in
troduced at the first trial. Post Office en-
ployes testified TO the contents Of the mail
pouch and the manner Qf it's loss.
O'Nein repeated his story of the con.
spiracy to rob the messenger. which. he
said; originated with Fichler. and detailed
money.
In his direct testimony he volunteered
some new evidence not brought out at the
certed the defense. He said that while in
Jail in May. 1902. awaiting trial on the
charge of burglary. Ffckler called on
h h1m t With Greedon and asked him IL he
said he had not, and Fickler then said:
Don't tell any one. I've got a bad repu-
terms in the Penitentiarx. once for robbery
anu onse Tor murder: and If they connect
me with the mail robbery they'll give me
life imprisonment"
The Government at the former trial had
not shown by any testimony that Flicker
mad served two terms in the Penitentiary.
O'Neill said he had not testified to this con,
yersation at the previous. trial because he
nad forgotten 1t. Judge Krum asked O'Nein
former trial: with Hugh McTighe. a friend
or fIckler. in which he asked McTighe to
mony.. as by so doing he would assist
ONeill IN obtaining his release from prison.
proposition, but said he had urged McTighs
to tell what he knew about the robbery.
After the Government had rested, the de-
Tense introduced several witnesses to prove
Eiekler reputation. Among these was
Dennis Ryan. Assistant Custodian Of the
Federal building who said that after
Flicker had been appointed fireman in the
annex he learned that he was an ex-con-
Wet. He had not made any effort. upon
learning this. to have Flicker removed.
Convict Walter Mcnamara will be placed
on the stand to-day to combat the testimony
of O'Neill.
The case of Jerry Kahler will be taken up
as soon as the Ffck1er case is disposed of.