Evening journal., 1913-10-08
COURT HEARS
AFTERMATH OF
/ WICGINS LOOT
Mother and Sister Of Bandit
Held on Charge Of ReCeiv-
J. ing Stolen Money
POLICE SAY WOMEN
AIDED IN RECOVERY

Mrs. Lillian McDermott and her
daughter. Mrs. Mary e. Colt. mother
and sister of Homer C. Virgins the
dead bandit. were before City Court
this morning, charged with receiving
money that had been stolen from the
car barn Office of the Wilmington City
Railway Company by Virgins. Aaron
Finger represented Mrs. McDermott
and Walter j. Willis appeared for
Mrs. Colt
Morris Council. cashier for the
trolley company, was the first witness
called by the State. He testified that
on the early morning of September
10 six bags Of money. aggregating
$1,000 was taken from the car barn
If the Wilmington and Philadelphia
Traction Company Councill said he
was held up At the point of a revolver
by the bandit, who carried of the
money.
Witness said he visited the police
station on the morning Of September
20 and identified four bags of money
as being part of what had been taken
rom the companys Office The
bags bore the stamp of the Whining
on Trust Company, such as he had
deposited the trolley cOnfpany's
money in. The box containing the
Jour bags was brought from the bank
Of the Security Trust and Safe De-
posit Company.
In cross-examination by Mr.. Willis,
Councill said he had used the bags
frequently. The four bags contained
s657 in coins wrapped in papers for
The different denominations. Coun-
ell said he had no private mark on
the bags or on the money Councill
said he had not seen the money In the
bags and therefore could not tell
whether 4 was the money that had
been stolen from the trolley company.
Upon being recalled, Councill was
asked II he had a special way of put
ting Up the nickels in packages OF 81
and stamped with a rubber stamp of
the Wilmington and Philadelphia
Traction Company He said he had,
and he then identified each package
wrapped as that Of the Wilmington
and Philadelphia Traction Company.
Mr. Council asked Mr.. Lynn, "you
saw the man who robbed the carbarn,
did you notf"
Yes. sir, qGite plainly"
Have you seen him SINGER
"Nes, sir
"Where ~
"At the police garage
"Did you learn who he wasi"
eyes, sir.'
"SSever mind" objected Mr.. Willie,
counsel for Mrs. Colt
After the robbery did YOU 60 any
where with Chief Blackg"
"Yes. sir ! went To the detective bu-
resu IN Philadelphia, where they gave
me q description OF man and showed
me a photograph. / identified it as the
man who robbed the car company
office"
In REORGANIZATION Mr. Willis got
the witness to admit that he could not
tell what was wrapped In money pack
ages,
Sergeant George W, Lyons testified
that he knew a man named Homer T.
Virgins, and pointed out Mrs, McDer.
mott a. the mother cf Virgins, and
Mrs. Colt as his sister, Lyons told Of
the finding Of the bags OF money In the
hen house at the Virgins home on sep
tember 20,
Ivons said Mrs. AlcDermott told him
that what she knew was what she had
heard "What she heard" she said, "was
that It was out In the chicken coop,
LYONS added eve went out there
and got a shove. and began 20 dig
where the earth sounded hollow, ana
uncovered that can, took on the cover
and pulled out these bags, and Captain
Evans took charge of them
Officer John r. Ward said he saw
Mrs. NicDermott at her hom0 on Sep
tenber with Mrs. Colt. Ward said
Mrs NcDermott at FIRST denied any
knowledge Of the stolen car company
money and later admitted that she had
heard it was in the chicken house in the
ward She also said the money was
thrown over the fence.
Officer John Purcell said Mrs. McDer
mott had given him $40, which she said
Inc officer would find under the carpet
In the house. Purcell said he recovered
the money and turned IT over to Chief
Black
Acting upon additional information
from Mrs. McDermott' the officer
said the bags of money we're found in
the hen house
Chief of Police George Black told Of
the bags OF money that we're turned
over to him. Il brought them to the
police station. and summoned the
representatives of the traction COM
pany. at which time the money was
counted.
Chief black said that later Mrs Nc
Dermott told him the money was
found in space between a hen house
and a closet
Witness said that Mrs MoDermott
said she did not bury the money, but
was present when her daughter, Mrs.
Colt, buried IT,"
Sergeant David Wardell testified
that Mrs. Colt admitted that she had
buried the money al her mothers re-
quest. and was so badly frightened
that she did not know what to do with
n.
Sergeant Wardell said that Mrs.
Colt frankly. and without threats, or
inducements, made the statements 20
him
Police Captain Evans testified that
he went TO the house Of Mrs. McDe-
mott and getting the woman ND out
Of bed. asked for the money Homer
had left there.
she declared there was no money
there and she did not know where
any was. ! began tearing out bureau
drawers. telling her that I knew that
the money had been there She asked
me not to tear up the bureau drawers
] told Ofcer Purcell TO take her out
as did not want her there. Purcell
took her out and later Purcell came
back and got the $40 note which she
said was given her by Homer and
that II vas ali the money there.
began anew 10 tear un mof'i~~ ~-r--