The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-09-16

immediately after the robbery the
three men escaped in the woods. The
alarm was spread and United States
Marshal e.. Z. Smith was called from
Fahrmont to handle the case. HIS
hastily organized posse, with blood
hounds, followed the trail of the men
until morning. At one time they were
within a mile Of the bandits, who, at
daylight, went into camp IN dense
woods and remained until the follow
ing night. But the officers took the
wrong turn, and for time the thieves
escaped. During the day they were IN
camp the three mon divided their maui
and that night again started on the
trail Soon after the second night the
three men separated. Diez hurried 10
Denver, where he was later arrested
in the Y. NJ. G. A. building by Secret
Service men of the government. Har-
riSnn went to his home in San An
tonic. and was arrested months later
Hidden under the cement floor OF MS
garage was found $2S,0n0 of the stolen
money. Some Of the stolen doodle WAS
found in the Denver y. NJ. {. a., while
Webb took his money 10 Denver also,
but has not. been traced further than
that city. AS yet he is at large.
Following his capture Diez confess
cd to the officers and made COM
plcie statement Of the crime. He is
held in the county Jail here, constant
ly under guard. awaiting final dls-
position Of his case. Jeff Harrison re-
fused absolutely 10 talk. He grew sui
len and vicious. Day by day his iron
constitution broke down under tho
strain and the close confinement. Fin
ho tro1 hnrn luc TnnS-
day. He was defended by attorneys
from San Antonio, the government
had some sixty witnesses here to tes-
tify against him. His beautiful south.
crn wife was here 10 aid him il pos
siblc.
The government began It's case with
employees of the treasury department
and the posloffice department at
Washington National banks. Twenty
six Of these men were to trace the
money step by step from the treasury
department TO the mail bags on the
train. Then the mail crew was 10 tell
of the actual robbery 10 be followed
by the testimony of the secret service
men and the postoffice inspectors.
But as the testimony proceeded Har
rison grew restless. One the second
day Of the trial be suddenly arose in
his seal and told Judge Dayton he
wished 10 confess. United States Dis
trict Attorney Walker asked the court
TO accept a confession TO the first
seven counts in the Indictment and
10 nolle the final Two counts. This
was done and on recommendation OF
Attorney Walker the sentence inn
posed was II years in the federal peni-
'tCntiary at Atlanta. ia.
Hoard Sentence In Tears
TrarS Slr"amcd from tn" eyes of the
aged bandit as II" stood trembling be-
fore Judg" Dayton and heard IN" SEN
icurr pronounced. lie removed his
heavy gold banded sp"rta"l"S. ran his
hand through his long curling black
hair which foil below his cnat collar.
aud getting, ! hanrNrrrhief from his
pocket wiped his eyes frequently as tn"
Indg" pronounced sentence.
Later at tho county Jail Harrison
showed better spirits than he had "NAIn-
tied sine" his arrest. He talked frrt-
~ then and added many details Ia HE
information already obtained by tho Of
ticrrS who have handled the r;S". That
Il" wanted to max" ON" big hnnl. then
uuit the game WAS III" way Jeff "N-
pressed the REASONS that brought him
tn the far cast for his last crime we
wanted Ia get the money sent the west
rrn banks before IL WAS Hll distributed,
We wanted to grab il right. out IF Wash
ingtun and then get away. W" thought
W.. could get away in III" 'hig stick III
the West Virginia mountains. but they
followed Ms ton long after W" got away
Rv tho big stick. the old mo'Intnn"""
referred In tho forest section Of the
West Virginia mountains through which
he and his companions passed while
escaping from tho immediate vicinity of
the crime
Postal inspectors and secret service
mrn Of tho government consider tn"
case OIL" If the most imrnrtan' ever
hundIcd hv their 1rTart nrniS. Jeff Har-
risen. they consider one nf tn" most
dangerous of the old tim" railroad ban.
dts. His operations covered Il half
dozen states. II score Of successful hold
ups. and only iwtr" in his l"m@ rnr""r
has he been anprrhrndcd for his many