The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1907-03-12
INQUIRY INTO
SAFE ROBBERY
Prosecution Presents Its Witnesses
Against Wells, Accused
of the Job
SEEN GOING OVER HILL
Witnesses Testify to Having Seen Sus-
pect Walk Out Of Town
With Package

- A preliminary eNdHindIlOh "ao
given Charles Wells, the former bar
tender at Bassett's New Resort, yes
terday before Justice of the Peace
Cartwright. Wells, IS accused of
having opened and robbed the safe
in that place early Thursday morn
ing.
Wells was represented by Attor-
ney Clarence j. McFadden.
The evidence against the accused
man was entirely circumstantial.
The interesting witnesses were
George Mcclure and George Penz.
Mcclure, when placed on the stand
by District Attorney Eddy, testified
that on Sunday afternoon he saw
Wells walk into the hills north of
town and back of the Tenderloin with
a package under his arm, and that
Wells soon after returned from this
walk
Wells took the stand to deny that
he had gone into the hills.
George Penz was then called and
stated that he was with Mcclure and
also saw Wells trip out of camp.
The testimony of these two wit
nesses to fact which Is denied by
Wells was the most remarkable fea
ture of the hearing.
1t is stated that Wells was in Bas-
sett's place when the district attorney
called there Sunday to discuss the is
suing of a warrant, and that the sus-
pected man Immediately left to go
into the hills This fact was report
cd to the authorities and arrange
ments were made to follow him on
horseback, when he reappeared in
camp. He was soon afterward put
under arrest.
The first witness called by the
prosecution was W. r. Bassett. He
testified that he left his place about
1870 on Thursday morning, leaving
Wells in charge. He said that the
man had been bartender at his place
since November and that Wells
knew the combination of the safe
and had key to the saloon. There
was one other, however who knew
the combination and that was Joseph
Bassett, Mr.. Bassetj's nephew, who
is in charge of the place and was the
one who discovered the condition of
the safe after it had been rified.
Mr. Bassett said tlat after he had
been notified that the safe could not
be opened and after having person
ally tried to work the combination.
he suspected that something was the
matter, but did not call upon the
sheriff as he was not in possession of
any definite facts that robbery had
been committed.
When the safe was at last forced
open by Mr.. Miller of the Wheeler
company on Friday evening and it
was discovered that more than 300
had been stolen, hs at once notified
the sheriff that a robbery had been
committed.
District Attorney Eddy then start
Su W NILHCSSCo " PAC'S
that the door of the saloon had not
been forced open by the robber and
that entrance must have been eff
fected with a key.
John D. Doyle testified that early
Thursday morning he tried to enter
the place but found the door locked
and that he was unable to see any
one inside. A little later he called
and found that the Japanese porter
was inside cleaning up the place.
The Jap was then placed on the
stand but his testimony was object
ed to BY Attorney McFadden because
the man did not seem to understand
the solemnity of an oath. The Jap
was allowed to retire until an inter-
prefer was found He then, through
the interpreter informed the court
that he knew of the hot place to
which untruthful persons are sent,
and was allowed to testify. He said
that when he went to the saloon on
the morning of the robbery Wells
WAS in the place and unlocked the
door for him.
Joseph Bassett testified to having
gone to the saloon on Thursday NOR
ming and to having discovered that
the safe door could not be opened.
He said that three of the tumblers
fell as he turned the combination,
aT.Yt fbot tho fourth rnfurad IN work
d. f. Mahoney took the stand to
testify under the strong objection of
Attorney McFadden that he had seen
Wells short change the. cash regis
ter at Bassett's place while behind
the bar.
Mr.. Miller, who opened the safe,
said that he had forced the door
open with cold chisel. 1t took only