The Duke case.
--John and Alonzo Duke, charged with inducing a negro girl to steal money from J. Batkins, and receiving the same, knowing it to have been stolen, were arraigned before Colonel McEntee, in the Provost Court, yesterday. The following is the substance of the testimony solicited:W. C. Page testified that John T. Duke lived with him, and that he knew Lizzie Seals; he never saw them together; and John Duke always bore a good character. Never gave him any gold.
Thomas Devines testified that he saw Alonzo Duke two or three months before the evacuation with two bags of money--one silver and the other gold. He did not open the bag, though they were given to him to keep at night. The bags were about the size of an ordinary apple. Took the money from him, cause he was drunk. His mother money, but witness refused to give Gave it to John Duke.
Thomas Duke, being recalled he knew of the money in possess Duke alluded to by Devines. Witness gave him about thirty dollars in gold some two months before the evacuation.
S. S. Clarke testified to the good character of the accused. He had known them since they were boys.
Charles Fletcher testified that he saw John Duke in Philadelphia frequently, and that he was attentive to business.
Alexander Myers also testified to the good character of the Dukes. Had seen Lizzie Seals and Mary Nixon about Mr. Batkins's quite frequently, and had driven them away. Sometimes men were with them. Went with Mr. Batkins the night he lost his money to look for it, but did not find it.
George F. Bence, of the Twenty-fourth Massachusetts regiment, testified that, about four or five weeks ago, on a Saturday night, he saw Mr. Batkins at Jennie Mitchell's, on Twenty-first street, with a bag of gold in his possession about the size of a shot bag. The ladies asked him if he was not afraid of being robbed. He did not appear to be very drunk.
Andrew J. Addington testified that he knew the Dukes; that three or four months before the evacuation he gave his wife fifteen dollars in gold to give Alonzo Duke; saw the sheet in which his wife sewed the money up; went to Tom Devines's, and found Alonzo there drunk, and took him and the money home. Found the money all right. Had known the Dukes ever since they were children, and they always bore a good character for honesty.
Henry Smith testified that he knew the accused, but not intimately. He never heard anything against their character.
This closed the evidence for the defence, when Judge McEntee stated that he would render his decision on Wednesday. The accused accordingly renewed their bail to appear on that day.
