The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-13

ter tne examinatf0n or three or Tour witnesses to show that the packages were missing from his car when it came into the Montgomery union raiI- way station. These packages are said to have contained about $3,00o. number of character witnesses were first introduced by the defen- dant. ]. T. Richardson of 17 Mobile street, Montgomery. who has for the past three years been a railway mall clerk was next placed on the stand. He is a man over whom counsel for the defendant and Inspector Thiele had a tilt Wednesday afternoon, while the latter was testifying.
 Yesterday Mir. Richardson testified to having appeared at the preliminary hearing. He reiterated a statement made at that time that under certain lconditions 1t would be possible for person to so conceal himself behind the sacks In mail car as to effec- tually hide himself. He testified that after the preliminary hearing MT. Thiele had told him that the part he had taken in 1t would cost him his lcommission.
 | The witness claimed that he was only retained in the service because Post- office Inspector Mccrea had said that his dismissal would ruin the case \ 8 lowed to retain his position on the lcondition that he would not talk about the case. He said he had obeyed this Injunction and had spoken to no one of the case until approached by coun- sel for the defendant He said that a I few days since he had gone to Birm- I ingham and had stayed longer than he had intended in order to keep from hav- ling to testify. The witness admitted l tnla ho A tAfH Iii haf did not object to his testifying pro- viding he confined himself to facts and I did not draw on his amigination Hester took the stand in his own be- half shortly before noon. He told in detail everything that happened when he claims he was held up He said that H just after the train left Wiley's shortly after dark on January [. 1905, white man about six feet tall and wearing a
 black mask held him up and took some
 twenty registered packages from him.
 He said he threw up his hands at the command of the robber who was
 standing behind him.
 Hester saaid he put both hands fl
 the air and faced the intruder. Th' car gave a lurch. according to the de I fendant, and the robbers pistol, whicf had been pointed at his face, wal thrown to one side. Hester swore h.
 made a grab for the weapon, but. in stead of catching the barrel as he in
 tended, his hand went over the muzzle
 A shot was fired and the ball passed through his hand He exhibited thu
 scars to the jury.
 He said that when he had been sho
 he said to the robber: T give up
 Don't shoot any more" The robbe
 gave him permisson, Hester testified
 to use a towel to stop the flow of blood
 He said that while the hold-up mai
 was engaged in placing some twent. I registered packages in a small valis
 the train stopped and that soon after !
 started again the robber went out or
 the platform, and that was the last h saw of him.
 Hester said that when he got t,
 Montgomery he told the Legro porte
 to take charge of his car as he ha, been shot and that he then went to . drug store In hack. had his wound
 dressed and went home.
 II The oss-examination brought ou that though bell cord and an emer lgency valve passed through Hester car he made no effort to stop the trasl I when the robber passed out of thu Il door. It was in the cross-examinatioi
 by the District Attorney also that th'
 details of the construction of the rail
 way mail car and of the duties of Hes I ter were given to the jury He brough the points out In such way as to show
 the improbabiIity of parts of Hester
 story.
 l Captain Lovick, B. Pearce, conducto of the train on which Hester was run ming. testified as to the reason fo
 stopping the train shortly after leavinl
 Wiieys He suid it was to put of negro who would not pay his fare. n negro had boarded the train at WI iey's It Is the purpose of the defens 1t is supposed: to claim that this ne
 gro was a confederate of the man wh lit Is claimed robbed Hester.
 A. S. Tombstone, the engineer wh had charge of the train, Jim Hawkins
 his negro fireman, William Hudson, tn
 negro porter of the train. and F. Burns, an agent of the Southern Ex press Company, who was sent iron Chattanooga to look into the case, Wer introduced ty the government, but m Important facts were brought out Il Fl their testimony. The three trainnei
 saw no white man board the train a I Wiley's.
 Once in the morning and anothe time in the afternoon Judge Jones di lrected tho marshal to telephone 10 tn
 street car company taat its cars whicl ss the coLrt room would be stoppe, | if they did not cease making so mucl noise It seems thaI several flat whee
 cars were on the line, and whel
 smoother running cars were placed ol the line the noise was stopped.
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