Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1921-09-27
LARCENY
CASE HARD FOUGHT
IN Federal COURT
Richard SigWart, Morgan
town, Defendant,

ments, charging administration an
distribution of large quantities Of
morphine and cocaine. with tress-
passing upon government property
Morgantown and with purloinng
certain government property. The in
dictmen : involved both Sigart and
Andy lghonick. the latter of whom
confessed to his share in the al
legged felony which, according To
his evidence. was the actual tress-
pass and larceny which was done
company with one Tommy"
l. IN. also of Morgantown, who
died a short time after the com
mission of the alleged crime. The
case was still being heard this aft
ernoon. and indictions were that it
would occupy the entire afternoon
session.
The jury hearing the case includes
Robert Lafeyre, Harrison Schley,
William p. Riner w. H Mcdonald,
Charles Bott. c. A. Suter, w. H.
Park, George II. Sperow. w. r. Cas-
key, Samuel Matthias, James b, Por-
terrified and Alexa Mason Assist
ont District Attorney Byrer presented
he case for the Government and At
'orney Charles n Campbell. assist
ed by Attorney Allen B Noll. repre-
scented the defendant.
Taking of testimony ever since
the opening for case has been pune
tuated with clashes between coun-
sci. sometimes so sharp that Judge
Baker has admonished the attorneys
to address their remarks to the
Court exclusively. Mr.. Byrer object
ed this morning to undertone re-
marks made between the opposing
counsel for the benefit and within
the hearing of the jury. as he al
legged, and Judge Baker asked that
his source Of complaint be correct
ed.
The first witness for the Govern
ment was put on yesterday after
noon in the person of Andy Lehonick,
indicted jointly with Sigwart. Le-
honick earlier in the term confessed
TO bis share of the crime, but sen
tence was not passed. Counsel for
the defense objected vigorously yesi
terday afternoon to the competency
Of Lahoniok as witness because he
was convicted Of a felony. The Gov.
eminent insisted that his case had
not been disposed of as yet. SEN
tence not having been pronounced,
and therefore he was competent
length, and finally Judge Baker adj
length, an dlinally Judge Baker adj
iourned court until this morning in
order to have an opportunity to look
into the authorities. This morning
he ruled that Lamonick's testimony
might 20 before the jury.
The Government charges that La
honick and the late Llewelyn enter
ed the Government arsenal and
drill hall at West Virginia Univcr-
sty early in August, stole a 45-cali-
bre revolver, set Of drawing ilfstru-
mcnts, a quantity of drugs and a
watch 1t also alleges that the two
thieves, the former of whom is only
twenty years Of age, entered the
building at the suggestion of Sig.
walt, Lahonick testifying this morn
ing that Sigwart had told him and
Llewelyn frequently that building
could be entered easily and that they
could get a revolver there. Some
# tine drugs stolen was turned over
subsequently to SigWart, it is alleg-
ed, and it. is further held that Sig
want administered some Of these
drugs to both Lahonick and Lew
elyn Lahonick testified this morn
ing that on the night before LEV
elya died. he. sith Sgwart and
and that Llewolyn had become sick.
They walked the streets nearly all
night, and LlaWelyn died the same
day shortly after noon. The Gov
eminent announced yesterday in the
opening statement, however, that it
did not propose TO prove that death
was due to the injection Of the
drugs Sigwart, alleged by the Gov
eminent o have been an addict q
he use Of drugs, wa saccused by
Lahonick on the stand to have given
him about eight shots Of the drug,
and also to have approached La
h0nick after the death Of Llewelyn
with the suggestion that he Oahon-
ick) tell the Office i1 ca F. Of an
inquiry that he boys i drink.
NJ and To say nothing about he
drugs unless compelled 10 DO so;
and in that case, to say that he
drugs were self-administered
1t was also testified this morning
that hypodermic syringes, some
need needles, and some drugs were
found in the room of Sigwart when
searched under a warrant.
Take Prisoners Away.
Marshal Smith, assisted by Depu-
ties K0ontz and Cook, and half a
dozen local citizens depuuzed for
the purpose, took a squad Of fifteen
sentenced prisoners to Atlanta to-
dav o begin their terms. The group
included ten sentenced to terms for
violations of the narcotic laws, two
white slavers and three counter
feiters, ali sentenced by Judge Bak-
ar al the term OF court in session
here
Deputy Marshal Short also took
to washington today the two boys
who pleaded guilty to robbng a
post0ffice at Rosemont, Taylor
county, and who We're sent to the
reform school at Washington for
Eve Years