The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-11-23
Anderson ON TRIAL
FOR ROBBING CARS
Great Pile of Merchandise
One of the Interesting
Bits of Evidence.

Just before the adjournment OF
court on Thursday afternoon the case
Of the State VS.. James Anderson,
charged with breaking into a B. & o.
freight car and feloniously taking
away goods from freight car that
was open, was attacked. The State
| presented the record showing that
Anderson was convicted in 1914 in
Marion county and sentenced to the
State penitentiary at Moundsyille for
two years. He was sentenced for
robbing the home of A. j. Burdett in
which 1t was alleged he stole gold
] ring, Jewel box, S25 diamond pin
and other articles.
The State contended that Captain
j. Wesley and Lieutenant w. G. Glib.
son, of the B..& o police force OF
Grafton were walking through the B.
& o. freight yards at Fairmont on
the night OF September Is at o'clock
when they spied Anderson along a
| freight car. They chased him ana
caught him. 1t was commended that
| Anderson broke into the car and dis
tributed box of chocolate valued at
$50. 1t was commended that Anderson
told the officers that he was looking
for shoes.
Attorney L. C. Musgrave, counsel
for the defendant, stated 1t would be
necessary for the fury to find the de-
PENDANT guilty beyond reasonable
doubt.
W. S. Black. clerk OF the circuit
court, was called and testified as to
the records of Anderson's former
conviction.
Lieutenant II. S. Gibson. of the B.
& o. police, of Grafton, was then call
ed and testified that on the night in
question he visited the B. & O..
freight yards near Johntown. where
merchandise cars were standing on
two tracks. He told Gibson and Cap.
| tain Wesley that he had the school
bag across his back for a purpose
! that of putting shoes in it. Gibson
testified that he put Anderson back
in the car. A package OF what Glib
son termed punch board candy was
found disturbed. The candy was val.
ued at s24.2S, according to Gibson
Lieutenant Gibson testified that
Anderson resisted, and that Ander.
son said. iii you have any charges
against me take me down and put
me in JAIL" Gibson said be struck
Anderson along the side of his head
with his hand. Gibson claimed that
fash light was found on Anderson's
person when he was searched.
Tho ,,,ffp
the Anderson case was Lieutenant
Gibson. He testified to recovering a
big batch Of goods at Andersons
home. Four suitcases and basketful
of merchandise were exhibited in
court by the B. 6; o. officers. The
goods included twenty-five pieces OF
ivory ware, probably a dozen pairs of
shoes, hats, cigarettes and other ar
ticles. When the gocd- were spread
ever the floor 1t was quite an array
of merchandise.
Gibson was then cross examined by
Attorney L. c. Musgrave. Gibson ties.
titled that he fixed Anderson as the
man who jumped out Of the box car
because he was the man whom they
captured some distance away from
the car after chase through the
yards. The man jumped through a
chain of cars. He admitted that he
placed Anderson as the man because
he was dressed Just like the fellow
that was later arrested He said An
derson had school bag, in his pos
session, flash light and cigar
lighter He was asked If it was I'M
usual for man to have these arti-
Giles on his person and he admitted
that it was not.
Gibson admitted that ne struck An
derson on the left side of the head
when he placed the accused under
arrest. Gibson testified that the car
in which Anderson had entered had
contained a shipment of candy from
Conellsvillie, Pa, to C. o. Parker, this
city. Gibson admitted that he did not
know who took the goods, but claim.
ed that those found at Anderson's
home correspondent with. those miss
ed from various consignments made
over the Baltimore & Ohio railroad.
The railroad officer testified that a
number of consignments had been
checked short
The next witness called was A. B.
Bartlett, of the B. & o. Company of
Clarksburg, who testified that mum.
Der of pieces were missing from a
consignment of ivory ware.
l.. T. Mercer. a retail druggist Of
Clarksburg, testified that his whole
line of ivory ware failed to show up
at his place of business. 1t was val.
ued at s12266. The consignment
came over the B. & o. railroad.
Captain ]. Veseley, of the B. & o.
police force, was called and testified
TO Anderson's apprehension in the
Fairmont freight yards Captain Yes.
eley felt sure that Anderson was the
man who dropped off a freight car.
The State produced the seal which it
Is claimed was found In Anderson's
pocket when he was arrested. Yes.
eley claimed that the seal was on a
car forwarded to Montana on Septem.
Der %.
Lieutenant W. S. Gibson was recall.
ed. He testified that some the ivory
ware was found secreted in a bed and
under the mattress in the Anderson
home.
Gibson said that It would not be
necessary for freipht oar from,