Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-04-30
FAY AND HARRIS GET TEN
YEARS EACH FOR THEFT
PostOfice Robbers I1eRd Guilty 20
Indictment in Federal Court.

PostOfioe Robbers F7ead Guilty TO
Indictment in Federal Court.
Richmond, Va, April 22.-Game'
20 the last and with unfiinching faces,
Eddie Fay and Little Dick" Harris.
charged With having robbed the Rich
mond post-office of $S6,29554 worth
OF stamps, pleaded guilty yesterday
in the United States District Court.
and. after few Of the usual pTelim-
inaries. were sentenced, each. to ten
yeats imprisonment and to pay a
fine OF $4,000.
The plea OF guilty came as an an
ticlimRx TO the greatest and most
daring post-ofice robbery ever per
petrated in the history of the United
States government. AS Harris after
wards stated In his cell in the Hen
rico County Jail. 1t was "HobsOn's
choice. ." and was the only alternative.
Attorney Harry NJ. Smith, Jr., had no
defense TO make, not a ghost of a
show. and MI. Smith usually fights
every case In his hands TO the bitter
end.
RHADY FOR SENTENCE.
After the voluminous indictment
had been read TO them. the two men.
with their counsel. retired TO Judge
Waddill's ONCE for a ten minutes
conference. They returned. From
their faces the inspiration Of hope
had fed. They had submitted 70 the
unaiterable decree OF the law, and
were ready for conviction and sen
tence.
Clerk Joseph p. Brady commanded
the prisoners TO stand. What say
ye?" he asked. as silence fell over
the crowded court room.
We plead guilty" replied Mr.
Smith.
And what say YET" again asked
Clerk Brady. addressing himself 20
the me1 behind the bar.
Guilty" replied Fay. bowling his
head.
Guilty" echoed Little Dick" al.
most tnsudibly.
5udge W0ddul proceeded to i'm.
pose sentence. There were five counts
against Fay and Harris. conviction
on ali OF which would have meant a
tweaty-four year term in the peniten.
tiary. But az they had pleaded guilty
20 the whole indictment and because
three OF the counts are included in
the other two. Judge Waddill i'm
posed sentence only on two counts.
4 will impose sentence under the
third ana nth counts" said the court
amid an almost audible silence. "The
third count charges the prisoners
with forcibly breaking and euterinL
the Richmond post-ofice. and bears
with Il maximum penalty OF five
years imprisonment and a ane OF
Sl.00e. impose the full limit un-
der this count.
Under the nth count OF the in.
dictment. Nhich charges the prison
ers with stealing stamps and cash
from the Richmond post-ofiice. the
maximum punishment is FIVE years.
imprisonment IN the penitentiary and
fine OF 5000. Under this count
the court imposes the maximum sen
tcnce."
Judge Waddill then explained that
the other three counts were included
In the two under which the men had
bees convicted, and passed sentence.
STAY HERE FORTY-EIGHT HOURS
A is usual. they were asked II
they had anything to say why they
shOhId not be sentenced. and they
stood mute. The United States Mar.
shat WAS commanded TO take them
out. Mr.. Smith interposed a moment
Co AK that HIS clients be allowed to
remain in Richmond forty-eight
hours. 80 that they might make air
arrangements they felt necessary
before tAeir departure for Atlanta.
The court acquiesced. and the two
mes we're then led from the room.
The verdict was, il is said, a com
promise between the government and
Fay and Harris. Attorney Melvin
E!eSSeuheimer was engaged in the
case last Friday 60 help effect a COM
promise. when IL was found that Fay
and Harris would have no chance in
facing trial Mr.. Flegenheimer went
20 Washington early Saturday morn.
ing. and interviewed Postmaster
General Hitchcock and Chief Har-
risoz. OF the Post Office Inspectors
Department. He had a long confer
ence with them, il was learned, and
notified Mr. Smith over the long-dis-
tance telephone OF the results of his
efforts. They were evidently re-as-
surfing. and Mr.. Flegenheimer re-
turned Saturday afternoon for anoth-
er conference with the post-office
authorities here.