The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-22
Postofice Robbers Plead
Guilty to Indictment
in Federal Court.
MADE OVERTU.RES
FOR LIGHT TER M
Fay, in Jail, Admits After Sen.
tence That He Is the Real Ed
die Fay, and Declares That
He Will Reform When He
Finds Freedom
Again.


ing faces, Eddie Fay and Little Dickt
Harris. charged with having robbed
the Richmond post-ofilcc of sss,2o5.5i
worth of stamps pleaded guilty yes.
terday in the United states District
Court, and. after a few of the usual
preliminaries. were sentenced. EACH Il
ten years imprisonment and to pay
fine of $4,000.
The plea of guilty came as an ante
climax to the greatest and most dars
ing post t-ofice robbery evor perpetratt
cd in the history of the United States
government As Harris afterwardf
stated in his cell In the Hcnrico Coun'
ty Jail, 1t was "Hohsons choice. 10
was the only alternative. ATTORNEY
| Harry NJ. smith. Jr.. had no defense
to make. not ghost of a show. and
Mr. Smith usually fights every case ir
his hands TO the bitter end.
Ready for Sentence.
After the voluminous indictment
had been read TO them. the two men,
with their counsel, retired to 1ndgs
Waddill's Office for a ten minutes
conference. They returned. trors
their faces the Inspiration Of hope
had fled. They had submitted to tht
unalterable decree of the law. and
were ready for conviction and sem
tence.
Clerk Joseph P. Brady comm. .s.es,mo,,mI.andds,3
ye?" he asked, as silence fell oYet
the crowded court room.
I'VE plead guilty replied
.eAnd what say ye?" again asked
Clerk Brady, addressing himself td
the men behind the bar.
Guilty" replied Fay, howins his
head.
Guilty echoed Little Dick, all
most inaudibly.
Judge Waddill proceeded to impose
sentence. There were five counts
against Fay and Harris. conviction on
all of which would have meant q
twenty four year term in the peniten-
tiary But as they had pleaded gull
ty to the whole Indictment and be-
cause three of the counts are inciud-
ed in the other two. Judge Waddtll
imposed sentence only on two counts
81 will impose sentence under tha
third and fifth counts said the conrt,
amid an almost audible silence, The
third count charges the prisoners with
forcibly breaking and entering the
Richmond post-ohice, and bears Will
1T a maximum penalty of FIVE years
and fine of $1,000 {
impose the full limit under tlliss
count.
Under the nth count of the in-
dictment. which CHARGES the prison.
ers with stealing stamps and cash
from the Richmond post-office. the
maximum punishment is five years inl-
prisonment IN the penitentiary and a
fine of $4,000. Under this count the
court imposes the maximum sentence.
Judge waddill then explained that
the other three counts We're included
in the two under which the men had
been convicted, and passed sentence.
Stay Here Forty-Eight Hours.
AS Is usual, they were asked II the"
had anything to say why they should
not be sentenced. and they stood mute,
The United States marshal was COM
manded to take them out, Mr.. Smith
interposed Il moment TO ask that his
clients he allowed to remain in Rich-
mond y-eight hours. so that they
might make all arrangements they
felt necessary before their departure
for Atlanta. The court acnuiesced. ant
the two men were then led from the
room.
The verdict was. it is said, a COM
promise between the government and
Fay and Harris. Attorney Melvin
was engaged in the
case last Friday to help effect conf
promise. when II was found that Fay
and Harris would have no chance in &
facing trial. Mr.. Flegenheimer went
10. Washington early Saturday morn
ng, and interviewed Postmaster-Gen-
sral Hitchcock ard Chief Harrison. of q
he Post-Ohlce Inspectors Department..
Ie had long conference with them,
t was learned, and notified Mr. Smith
over the long distance telephone OF 5
The results of his efforts, They were n
n. ,,,.i,
neimer returned saturday afternoon
or another conference With tho post
oiice authorities here,
Missing stamps Hurt.
His main difficulty lay in the fact
hat his clients could not produce the
$1,000 worth OF stamps now missing.
lad they been returned the sentence
night have been less. but neither Fay
nor Harris could aid in recovering
hem, stating that they had absolutely
10 idea whore they We're or by whom
hey are now possessed Inspectors
ire still trying to trace them. but with
little hope of success
Mr.. Flegonheimer's efforts Vera
probably the reason for the sentence
being limited to only two counts.
otherwise, Fay and Harris would have
oeen sent To the Atlanta prison for
.wenty-four years, In which case Har-
lis would have been seventy eight
years old when liberated
'srhat the two men were seen In
Richmond and could positively have
,een Identified could have been sworn & !.
% by several Witnesses" said Assis-
ant United States District Attorney
robert H. Talley yesterday afternoon.
WE had restaurant keeper who
you'd have sworn that Fay eaine into
lis restaurant twice, eaeh time az 4
,,clock in the potnins We SasH