The New York herald., 1921-03-18
POKER DEBTS PAID
WITH EXPRESS ON
SOUTHERN TRAINS
Losers Would Make Raid on
Shipments When Their
Stacks Ran Low.
ALL TRICKS REVEALED
Witness in His Confession
duplicates Fifty Other
Employees.
HIS LIFE is THREATENED
Conspirators Would Put In
Orders With Each Other
for Things Needed.
HIS LIFE IS THREATENED

Special Despatch to THE NEW YoRK HERALD.
MACON, Ca, March Nv. A.
Hughes. former express messenger,
one of the principal witnesses through
whom the Government expects to
prove conspiracy to steal millions
from the United States In express
shipments OF the American Railway
Express Company, declared on the
witness stand to-day that part OF the
money derived from the thefts went
10 pay poker debts accumulated on
trains.
Up and down the road the men
would play poker, he said and then
when one was broke the express car
would be looted for something the
winners would buy. and the game
would continue
That Hughes's life has been threat
ened if he gave damaging testimony
at the trial was indicated to-day when
It was ascertained that special guard
has been placed over him during the
trial.
day. He said he had done business"
with all but two OF the ffty-three de-
PENDANTS. the number having been re-
duced by one this morning when a case
against w. P. Hosey of Atlanta was
nole pressed.
The Assistant District Attorney, Elem
Powers. took up the list Of Gefendants
in alphabetical order lie had called
only five names before adjournment,
Hughes telling every detail in connection
with the transactions tn each man.
II will take him about four days to
complete the list.
On one occasion Hughes said that
c. r. Baker. conductor. had negotiated
for bicycle and 1t was being hauled
up and down the road by G. + Brinson.
messenger on an opposite run, falling
to meet Baker to make the delivery.
"One day. said Hughes. Bakers
train met mine and he stuck his head
in my door and furiously yelled
Where's my bicycle? Next day J met
Baker and told him he had played hell.
that there was a route agent in my
car when he asked about the bicycle
I don't care Baker said. 4 want that
bicycle
I'VE had big laugh over the Incl
dent. and when he finally sot the bicycle
Baker was 50 furious over the delay
that he wouldn't pay more than $25
for It,
Hughes named Joshua Stewart and
c. NJ. Crosson as the only defendants
or the hfty-three with whom he had
not had transactions.
The witness said that out on the road
the car doors between baggage and ex-
press cars were thrown open.
THAT gave us two cars OF shipments
to look over to see If there was any
thing that we wanted he explained.
He said he often played poker with
]. L. Johnson. g. r. Mcmillan and c..
w. Pearce. defendants.
"We didn't talk much about stealing
while we were playing he said. but
when one OF US went broke we had 10
get something out OF the shipments to
sell to the winning players. 80 that we
could get more money with which to
continue tho game. One of the players
would buy something from the one that
went broke II we could find anything
that was wanted
II was after 1917 that the practice OF
receiving orders for Foods became gem
eral. Hughes testified
THE railroad men would aive orders
for suits OF clothes automobile tires,
specifying sizes: Womens underwear
and other things Later on they be-
came bolder and not only called for
things that they needed. but for things
that they could sell TO other people.
He said he pitched one COOP OF chick
ems bearing a c. Q. II. tag for SIG out
OF aeloor near the home of G. r. Baker
and received y later from Baker for IT.
Another shipment OF thoroughbred
chickens. he gaId. was delivered to
Baker through third party at Albany.