Year: 1875

1s the Convict Filkins Dead or Alive. .


= Boston Cor. N. Y. Hersld.]


Theeaselof the sAmerican Express lob:
berry and ATTEMPTED murder OF. the mes. mnees:
senger at Albany few years ago is re.
vlved by the story that the skeleton of
John l. Filkins, the supposed robber, has
been found in one of the sewers leading
from the Clinton Prison. The robbery
and the circumstances surrounding and
succeeding it were all of singular and
interesting character, and the events
which have developed from time to time
since the imprisonment and escape of
Filkins are OF such a remarkable nature
as to excuse the suspicion that this ,skele.
ton story is more romantic than truthful.
Nothing III the line of American crimes
was ever bolder or more skillfully planned
and executed than was this one in ques-
ton, and that the perpetrator was ever
found was due more to series of Provi-
dental happenings than to any skill of
the detectives.


THE STORY OF THE ROBBERY,


as we'll as the events which Immediately
followed, awakened an almost universal
interest at the time. One evening in
midwinter, when the owl train for Boston
arrived at the Grecnbush or East Albany
station, one Of the attaches of the train
named Colson heard groans from the ;di.
rection Of the express car, and upon in.
vestigation he found that Halpine, the
messenger, had been shot several times,
the keys Of the safe taken from him, and
the contents of the safe appropriated by
the robber and would-be murderer. Al
though several bullets had been put
through his head, Halpine was yet con-
scious, and before being taken from the
car he gave a minute account of what
happened, and his statement was written
down by the conductor OF the train. He
said that just as the train left Albany, a
man jumped into the car, and after firing
upon him several times, took away the
keys and went hurriedly through the
safe and then left the car just as the train
had crossed the east end Of the Hudson
river bridge. He described the robber
as a tall man, with heavy black beard,
and was very particular in the descrip-
ton of his dress and general appearance.
One or two parties were arrested on sus-
picion and afterward released. In the
course Of a few days suspicion fell upon
Fllkins. He had for long time been
pressed for funds, and suddenly he began
paying up some bills which were held
against him, and in their pay.
mcnt he rendered currency resem-
bling that which was taken from
the express safe. Another and more con-
elusive circumstance was the finding of a
pistol Oh the ice under the bridge, which
was identified by an Albany dealer as one
he had sold to Filkins few days before.
1t was then determined to arrest him, but
when the officers went to do this he was
not to be found. He was discovered in
Western New York shortly after, and had
disguised himself by cutting off full
beard which he had worn for years.
There was long trial, in which the most
eminent counsel was employed ON both
sides. The evidence, as may be sup
posed, was very strong against the ac-
ccused, and he was convicted and SEN
fenced to twenty years in the State
Prison. About the only points in his
favor were the fact that Halpine's de-
scription was exactly the reverse Of Fill
kins' actual appearance, and the estab.
fishing of his whereabouts few moments
after the shooting and robbery must have
taken place. Neither Of these circum-
stances, however, were sufficient to bal
ancc the weight of circumstantial and
other evidence brought TO bear agains t
him.


am not aware just now how many
times the bold and shrewd genius broke
away from the Clinton prison before his
final lcave-taking. 1t is a matter Of pnb.
lie record, though, that he got away two
or three times, and on the occasion of his
last departure it is related that he
walked out boldly in the middle of the
day, and that the officers were so dun
founded that they did not realize what
was going on until it was too late to re-
capture the prisoner, This is the story
that was told at the time, and, if correct
there can be little truth in the statement
that It was his skeleton which was founc
in the sewer Of the prison the other day
The reported supposition is that he en-
tered it via one of the water closets, and
when he reached the end he found it Sc
cured by strong bars Of iron and heavy
walls Of masonry. The idea that this
skeleton is the mortal remains Of the OK
press robber is already disregarded, anc
the belief IS current in some quarters
that he is still alive and we'll in the neigh
boring dominion of Canada.


At the time of his final escape it wa!
suspected in Albany that it was the re
suit of collusion with some of the priso,
officials, and that some Of the funds 0
the robbery were employed for the pur
pose, and in view Of this it would seen
very proper that the identity Of thi
sewer skeleton should be established be
yond doubt. Ordinarily the idcntit,
of skeleton would be an impossibility
but in the case of Filkins nothing woult
be easier, from the fact that from on
foot nearly all the toes and portion 0
the foot itselfha been amputated. An
other matter of assistance in identified
ton would bc full set Of false teeth II
the upper jaw.


I remember reading, shortly after hi
final escape, an account of an attempted
robbery in the West, and among the arti
clcs which were left behind was q knife
which was aftcrward identified as belong
ing to the Clinton Prison, and which wa
missed at the time Filkins left the ipsti
:, tuition. 1t has also been reported that h
| has been