The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-04-09
Accused Plunderers of Post Y
office Stand Mute" When
Arranged for Robbery
JUDGE WADDfEt SETS
TRIAL FOR APRIL 20
Large Crowds Again Throng
Court Room and Streets Atty.
Smith May Defend Men After
Hearing from Their Friends.

plead to the indictments charging
them with robbing the postofFice vault
of ss6,9So.54 In stamps. currency and
checks. after the lengthy documents
were read TO them before IL large
crowd in the building which they rob-
bed, Eddie Fay, alias Fred Cunning
ham. and Richard Harris alias
Frank Chester. made 1t necessary for
Judge Waddiil to enter pleas of not
guilty for them Saturday morning
Attorney Harry NJ Smith, who prob
ably will defend the accused men.
noted an exception to the courts or
der compelling the men to plead Sat
urday, and another exception to thu
plea of not guilty being entered ey
Judge WaddD.
Owing to tine fact that Attorney
Smith, as a member of tho boara OF
visitors of the Virginia Polytechlic
Institute. which recently investigated
charges against Or. Paul b. Barringer,
will be busy during the next week pre-
pairing the boards findings, and tho
additional fact that the settling basin
case, which has been set for hearing
next Tuesday, will probably consume
more than week, Judge Waddill set
the trial for Wednesday. April 20.
By that time Mr.. Smith probably will
have heard from fricnds>of the pris-
oners and decided whether or not he
viii enter the case, Judge Waddill
made 1t plain that the trial of the ace
cused men was OF great Importance.
and 1t was urgent that 1t begin ar
the earliest time. He intimated that
there would be no further continuance
after April 20, which lis a week from
next Wednesday.
Appear Not Concerned
Fay and Harris appeared in court
as dapper and placid as ever. They
seemed to have been much refreshed
by their meals and sleeping at the
jail. and looked as fresh as morning
dew. Although they did not arrive
at the Federal building until 1870
O'Clock, q great crowd began to form
in the court room and corridors lead-
ing to ii as early as $3.50 O'clock. Eve
cry minute brought its additional
score OF men and boys. There were
two women in the court room, Mar
shall Smithers and the deputy mar
shais struggled their way through tho
dense crowd with their prisoners and
landed them in the judges room .
few moments after Judge Waddih had
taken his seat on the bench.
| Ushered into the COURTROOM, Fay
and Harris Immediately became the
center of attraction. and all eyes were
riveted on them Both spoke pleas
antly and smilingly to the inspectors
who outwttted and outmuscled them
In New York. and spoke very few
words TO Mr.. Smith. Fay, AZ usual,
sat with his head erect and looking
straight into the faces or those be~
fore him. Surly and furtive-gianced.
Harris sat with bowed head, shyfng
took to the right and left ever and
anon.
They Sign AfIidavits.
Mr. Smith read to the court two
identical affidavits which the pris-
oners signed while in the judges
room-the door OF which was guard-
ed by Inspectors Harrison and koonab
incidentally.
In the affidavits both accused men
stated the facts connected with their
being in Richmond at this time, and
asked for continuance of their case
because they had not had time to
communicate with friends or employ
counsel
The atfidaSits contained the infor-
nation that the men We're arrested In
New York on March so. kept in close
confinement there and brought to
Richmond on April 7. Since arrtv-
ing here twenty-six hours ago. l have
been under the close guard OF mar
shals and inspectors and closely con-
fined the atfidavits read. II have
no counsel or funds with which -
employ counsel. all my money having
been taken from me by post Office
inspectors In New York. While feel
confident that If | could communicate
with my relatives and friends in dis-
tant States. they would assist me. I
have not even had pencil. pen. paper
or postage with which to communi-
cate with them ] respectfully res
quest the court to allow me time to 1
communicate with my relatives and
friends before pleading
Entitled to Time
In support oil the affidavit, Mr.. Il
Smith said the prisoners should be
allowed a reasonable time In which
to decide as to whether they w0uld
file pleas In abatement. demurrerx or
motions to quash the indictments
against them. He said he had ems
deavored 10 get into communication
with the man who called him up over
the long distance telephone and re- al
quested him to meet the prisoners ana
talk with them. but had failed. AZ
the man was out OF New York City
for the day, a
II have assurances from an In II
dividuai now in Richmond that tina
friends OF these prisoners will call III
me up Saturday afternoon" said Mr..
Smith.
IF these men are allowed rea-
sonabie time in which to communicates -
with their relatives and friends theV
feel sure they Will be assisted In eEa~ n /.
ploying counsel. As they have atat16 &
In their affidayits, they have talked
with me. and may enter the Co. II
after hear from their friends" ss
Judge WaddiIl seemed disinclinAd n @
10 grant a continuance fnr the heRilt&ss
Ming OF the trial from nAxt Mnnd n4z
morning which TINA he NJ Erfd6a n;
and was insistent that the Asen NJ - u