The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-07
RING WAS STOLEN
FROM MILLIONAIRE
Owner is F. X. Bull, of Racine
Wis, Who Will Be Summoned
as Witnes-Martin Con-
sents to Come With
out Requisition
Papers.

Detective a. Fl. Baldwin. OF the Baldwin
night for Huntington. w. Va, to bring
back Percy Martin, the young white man
who was arrested by the chief of police
there as suspicious character. and who
has confessed that he was one of the men
who held-up the passengers on the Sea-
board AIR Line train early last Monday
morning near La Crosse. Va
Detective Baldwin communicated with
Chief j.. j. Dawson. OF Huntington, last
night, and learned that Martin had con-
sented to come to Virginia without reuui-
sition papers, Chief Dawson also said
that the man had made complete con-
fession. and that this had been taken
down by a stenographer.
In the confession Martin states posi-
lively that Powley was the man who
went through the train and held up the
passengers. and that Powley gave him a
part OF the spoils after the robbery.
Owner Of Ring.
Martins share was diamond ring
that he says was stolen from Mr.. F. x.
Bull, millionaire. of Racine, Wis
Mr.. Bull, who occupied q lower berth
in the Pullman. was en- route to Camden,
Sc, when the ring was taken from his
finger by the robber who Is alleged to
be the man now In the Jail at Boydton
With Mr.. Baldwin last night was De-
tective j. F. Mills. OF the Savannah
agency. who is to go to Boydton to-day
in search Of evidence against the two
prisoners-Martin and Powley.
Mr.. Mills will go TO work at once upon
the Powley case. and will. so It is said.
establish beyond successful contradiction,
that the statement made that the two
man walked -trom-I-a Crosse to Norfolk.
Is without foundation. He claims that the,
distance could not have been covered in
the time the men said they covered 1t.
It Is 122 miles between the two places and
a man could hardly walk this far in two
days.
1T is my impression" said Detective
Baldwin. that the men boarded a South
ern train within an hour after the rob-
berry, and that they went to Norfolk or to
some station along the line. They, OF
course. separated. and when they were
caught they were, as you know, miles
apart.
I'VE will be able to prove that both
men were implicated. The confession Of
Martin helps US lot, and relieves us of
the necessity of proving that tho Wit
nesses who have volunteered In Powleys
behalf have made false statements The.
burden of proof has been shifted, and
now Powley will have to prove his inno-
cence, whereas before it was up to us to
show that he was guilty.
Told Him Where It Was.
Chief of Police Dawson did not tell Mr..
Baldwin the details of the recovery of
the diamond ring that was stolen from
Mr.. Bull. He simply SAID that .S4~ctin.
the man arrested, had confessed and had
told him where the ring could be found,
and that he DawsoD had gone TO this
place and located the ring.
Mr.. Bull will be summoned as a wit
ness against Martin and Powley and may
be in Boydton on Thursday. Meanwhile
the greatest interest is manifested here
and throughout the State over the out
come OF the trial Of the alleged train
robbers.
Mr.. H. NJ. Smith. OF Richmond, is coun-
sci for Powley. and Will leave on Tuesday
for Boydton to defend his client on Thurs
day.
Mr.. Baldwin expects to return from
Huntington. by way OF Richmond, either
Tuesday night or Wednesday morning,
with his prisoner. Martin.