Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-04-15
RURNETT-wRENN CASE.

OF the case Oh hlCHdIu DuiheII AnV
Henry Wrenn, who were arrested Tues
day night by Officers Smith and Allen
for having in their possession goods
which had been stolen from railway
cars. Commonwealth Attorney Brent
conducted the prosecution and Mr.. l..
II. Machen appeared for the accused.
The testimony brought out but few
new facts, although many details were
added.
Officer Lvles first took the stand. He
told how he had become in possession OF
certain information which led him to
believe that Henry Brown, colored, had
disposed of shoes to Wrenn; his
appearance with Officer Clayton Ar
rington at Wrenn's place of business
Wrenn's promise to deliver the goods at
the station house on Tuesday night, &c.
Witness elso told of Lieutenant Smith
appearing on the scene later and search
ing the premises also Of Officer Smith
going to Wrenn's house and looking
around the premises. Upon cross-ex-
animation by Mr.. Brent he admitted
that he did not tell the lieutenant OF
Wrenn's admission, but allowed his
superior officer to search the place.
Witness said Wrenn told him he had
the stolen articles and would take them
TO the station house. Witness had faith
in his promise. Mr.. Lyles testified that
he had told Wrenn to keep quiet, as he
had not arrested the colored man Brown
from whom Wrenn said he had purchased
most of the goods. Wrenn had also
told the officer that he had procured
some of the articles from smooth faced
man.
Officer Smith followed. He said on
the night of the arrest Burnett had on
two coats. He said when the wagon
left Wrenn's yard it proceeded rapidly
east on Duke street, so fast that witness
had to run as fast as he could in at
tempts to intercept it. When the team
reached PAYNE street it turned nor
until it reached Prince, when it entered
Prince and started toward Fayette. A
freight train had stopped on the latter
street. and the two men in charge of the
team halted it in the centre ofthe square
and in the darkest place on it. 1t was
at this point that the officers made the
arrest and had it not been for the train
the team would have gotten away. Sew
eral minutes later, while proceeding to
the station house, Burnett said he and
his partner we're on the way to the police
station and had left Wrenn's place with
that objective point in view.
Lieutenant Smith was the next wit
ness. He told how he had become ap-
prised of the robbery and the fact that he
had obtained information to the effect
that Wrenn was endeavoring to hire
horse for the purpose of removing the
stolen goods from his premises. Ht
had also ascertained that Wrenn hat
sold two pairs of shoes to a secondhand
dealer. Late in the afternoon ne
went to Wrenn's place where he iouno
Officers Lyles and Arlington. Ofhcel
Smith was also there. The lleuten
ant said Officers Lyles and Arlington
never limited to him or Officer Smith
that Wrenn had confessed to having the
stolen goods. Had he been aware o
that fact he would have arrested tn
man then and there. The officers al
lowed him (the lieutenanD to make an
other search of the premises, keeping
him in the dark. Wrenn denied to the
lieutenant that he knew anything about
the stolen goods. The secondhand
dealer who had purchased two pairs o
shoes from Wrenn told the lieutenant h
had seen many pairs in the mans place
A shoemaker named Henry DeyoD
testified to Wrenn attempting to sell hir
new shoes. Wrenn had sold the witnes
leather at lower rate than he could pro
cure it from regular dealer
Chief Webster detailed to the coui
how he received information OF the rot
berry and had directed Officers Lyles an
Arlington, who were stationed in tha
beat. to make deligent investigation. ii
said the two officers made no report
him concerning Wrenn's admission unit
the morning following his arrest.
Officer Arlington was the last witness
His testimony threw no new light o
the case. He aided in arresting tn
} negro man Brown. Mr.. Brent desire
to know why he arrested the darby, wit
whom no stolen goods were found, an
failed to arrest Wrenn, who admitted /
had the articles in his possession. Oth'
questions followed as to his failure to r.
J mort material information to his superb
! officers.
a Burnett was finally put on Il
5 stand. Among other things he said
8 saw the stolen property on Wrenn
: premises in the morning preceding Il
n evening of the day when the office
visited the place. He also told no
Wrenn hired horse from man name
Rush, who lives in Fairfax, and explain'
j his appearance on the wagon by sayil
: Rush would not allow Wrenn to ha
: the horse without he (Burneto accor
II panied him in his trip to the state
y house. Rush knew witness, but W
: not intimate with Wrenn. The barga
/ concerning the horse was made In 7
morning before the police visited Il
place or Wrenn had promised to give
the goods. Those admissions We
J. broug out by the crOss-questionine
re Witness said he put on two coats becau
Us he did not want people to recognize hi
y, on the wagon.
III Mr.. Brent moved that the prison.
III be sent on to court. Mr.. Machen tn
a argued against this procedure, but j.