Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1905-03-10
Con Shorty Held for Court.

On Tuesday last James Bailey, alias Con
Shorty, was given hearing before Justice
Joseph Reading, in the Grand Jury room in
the Court House, here, on the charge of an
attempt to rob the Savings Institution Of
sandy Spring, this county, on the Srd Of
May, 1904. The prisoner had been brought
over from Baltimore city the same morning
BY Capt. A. ]. Pumphrey, the head of the
police oil that city, and Detective Peter B,
Bradley.
The first witness examined was MIss
Lydia Tucker, of Ednor, this county, who
Identified Bailey IS the man she met on the
road near her home day or so before the
attempt TO break the bank open.
Mr.. Jas. 8. Marlowe, of Ashton, this coun.
ty testified that In his own mind he was sat,
isfied that Bailey was the man he saw pass
his shop few days before the attempted
robbery. when asked by States Attorney
Robert b. Peter, If he could identify Bailey.
DE also stated that the tools that were TO be
used In the robbery and found on the bank
premises were taken from his blacksmith
shop, enumerated them, valued them Of %,
and that they were returned to him by the
authorities OF the bank. At this point case
containing pistols, jimmies, fuse, cartridges
&c, was opened to Mr.. Marlowe's view.
Replying, he stated that nothing lE the case
belonged 10 him.
Messrs. Rlch'd Lansdale, Sam'l B. Wealth
erald and ]. Hills Robinson were examined
in the order they are named. The Substance
OF their testimony was that they were the
Inst persons to hear the explosive noise
made in the attempt to rob the bank; that
they chased the robbers away and in the
chase fired at the robbers and in return we're
fired at that fifty shots were made in all;
that the two hats lost by the robbers were
found BY them and handed over to the law.
full authorities; and that they were unable
to identify any of the four robbers.
Justice Leonard Weer testified that he
took the hat "a black derby, It In size, with
the name of Geo. T. Cross, of Baltimore, on
the sweat band and here offered 10 eyidence)
to Baltimore to Mr.. Gross for Identification,
and left the hat with Capt. Humphrey.
Mr.. Geo. T. Gross, the Baltimore halter,
testified that the hat was returned to him
on Friday, just one week after the sale of it,
and recalled the circumstances of the sale.
He was standing In front Of his place of bust.
ness when two men, one tall and the other
snort, passed him. What attracted his ct.
tention TO them he could not tell. They
came back and said they would buy in here.
He went in and waited on them and sold
each hat. The old hats were left ct the
store, but were later called for. He posi-.
lively Identified Bailey as one of the men.
Detective Peter B. Bradley testified that
he Identified Bailey as a companion Of the
large number Of yeggmsn rounded up In
Baltimore last winter. He had thoroughly
become acquainted with him 10 his watch
upon the yeggmen going in and out of their
dens, under orders OF Captain Pumphrey.
de stated Bailey was taken from the Gin.
cInnau Work House, where he had been
committed for begging on the street.
Major Hooten, Postofice Inspector, stat
ed that he had been CO.. cooperating with Capt.
Humphrey TO capture this band Of thieves.
He opened Bailey's letter written to pal
while in the Cincinnati Work House and
found in it that Bailey was Con Shorty.
Capt. Pdmphrey stated that one Of the
robbers at sandy Spring had turaed States
evidence, and would testify at Court that
Bailey was one oil the robbers at SANDY
Sprlng Hecould not now divulge the name
TO the public, but would give it to Justice
Reading and States Attorney Peter in pri.
vate.
The Justice asked Bailey II he could give
bail after telling him he was held TO 5000.
He answered that he could not, and was
committed to jail. Sheriff Williams took
him back to the Baltimore jail, where he
could be confined with more safety until
March Court here, which convens on the
Goth instant, and at this term the prisoner
will also be indicted for assault with ct.
tempt TO murder the citizens who chased
him from Sandy Spring.
The prisoner Is man Of short statue,
light body and very large head. 10 the
course of the hearing he sat nervously
watching the proceedings. When Mr.. Gross
Identified Bailey as the man who bought the
hat from him, Bailey jumped TO his feel, much
excited, put the hat on his head IS II TO
make misht, and said "As God is my
Judge, you are prosecuting an innocent man;
| never was 10 your store"
The room was crowded with persons lis.
tening TO the hearing and were impressed
with the connected testimony.