National Republican., 1880-11-03
AN ADR0IT CAPTURE.
Two Masqueradlng Detectives Make q
Neat Arrest.
The Notorious Percy Brown and Two Ao-
completes Caughtin a Matchmaking
Schomo-IIow They Were be-
tected and Captured.

completes Caught in a Matchmaking
sChomo-IIow They wcro be-
tected and Captured.
Three Blackmailers Foiicd.
Albert s. or Percy Brown, who Is best
known in this city as rpsurrCctouist, having
been arrested here in 1874, together with his
sister, Maud Brown, and DIR. Christian, the
notorious grave robber, has lived IN comparA.
tive obscurity for some years, but has again
come to public notice through his arrest last
evening on the charge Of attempting to black.
mail. The story Of the arrest aud the cir.
preceding ID sounds like some high.
ColOrcd "reminiscences from The Life of De.
tective," but the reporter who obtained
the facts can vouch for the truth OF
the narrative which is rs follows Mrs.
H. II. Willard is Virginia lady Of
good family residing now on Pcarce place,
in The northern part OF the city. Her hus.
band, Major II. ii. willard, gallant soldier
aud for some years associated as a law partner
with Judge Il. w. Barllcy, died suddenly Of
apoplcxy last January. About ton days ago
Mrs. Willard received au anonymous ottcr,
which stated that the writer had In his nos.
session evidence that she had poisoned her
husband, which evidence he wuuld surrender
to her for q con-id GRAFTON Of 500. Mrs Will.
lard was naturally amazed at the reception OF
such lotlor. The writer probably calculated
that his Intended victim, rather than be further
annoyed, or, perhaps, drcadmg that publicity
might be given to such grave and scaudaluus
charge, would furnish tho money. Mrs. VIII.
lard, however, very sCusirly consulted her
lawyers, Messrs. Riley & Miller, to whom
SHE showed the letter. Messrs. Riley "
Miller advised her to treat with tho black.
mailer aud secure his arrest. Following their
advice Mrs. Willard communicated with her
mysterious correspondent by means of news.
paper personals aud finally meeting was
arranged for last Friday. The evidence
to DO surrendered to Mrs. Willard con.
sisted of . bottle supposed to contain traces
OF the alleged poison, and an affidavit from
tho blackmuiler disclalmins any knowledge
Of the alleged crime. Owing to the miscar.
Iiage of a letter from the blackmailer, watch
Mrs. Willard should havGreceived Friday, but
did not receive until Saturday, tho plans
laid for Fridays meeting fuiled.
MEETING,
however, was arranged for yesterday after.
noon at d:3O o'clock. The rendezvous WAS
the southwest corner of Ninth street aud
Pennsylvania avenue. The arrangement
was that Mrs. Willard should appcar
there at d:30 o'clock p. m. and make
herself known by holding in her hand
an envelope containing the 5000, which was
to be furnished IN ten bills Of the dcuomina-
ton of $50 each. She was to be met at tho
corner by boy, who would recognize her by
means of tho letter in her hand, and who
would surrender to her the bottle aud affidavit
in return for the money. When Mrs. Willard
received the final letter yesterday setting
forth the proposed arrangement she commu.
micatcd at once with Messrs. Riley & Miller.
These gentlemen werc at tho time engaged In
a trial in the criminal court, but they
at once left the court and took
measures to consummate the plans laid for
the capture of the blackmailer or blaclSmal-
ers. Detectives McDovitt and Voss, who had
been at work on the case, wore also duly noti-
fed.
THE PLACE OF MEETING.
The scene now changes to the corner OF
Ninth street and Pennsylvania avenue.
About hal an hour before the time appointed
for the meeting, rOllicking sailor, with u
rakish gait, q heavy black moustache and n
good-natured twinkle in his eye, tackled
around the corner aud stopped at Oysters com.
missioA rooms. A close observer might have
detected in this sailor the detective August
Voss, but there happened to he no one around
who paid very close attention to the sailor
or his movements, aud so ho was not recog-
ni2cd. Detective Voss, who may for this
occasion be styled Bos'n NOss, took up posi-
tion in Mr.. Oysters store, next 10 4 big win
COW, WnGNCc lie COulu HdlEN everything going
on in the vicinity of the corner. lie was
engaged ostenslbly in reading the election
news in an evening paper, but in fact wa'
| keeping an eye on gray headed man with 9
/ shaggy beard leaning against the iron railing
| IN front Of the Marble saloon, who was also
reading a newspaper and Il boy who was
sitting like patience on a monument on
tho rim OF tho fountain basin in the little
space in front OF the Marble building.
lao ln1l Loo, Iii
veteran, attired in woll-worn regmenluls and
driving hack, started out ON the street looking
for fare" As hc sat on the drivers boz
this old soldier looked serene and uncon.
cerned, and no one wOu.d ever have thought
for 4 moment that this hacl,man was Detective
McDeyitt, or Corporal McDeyitt The hack
was driven to the northern part Of the city,
it being the detectives purpose to follow
Mrs. Willard from her house to the place o!
meeting, fearing lest some one might attempt
10 intercept her or attempt TO do her harm.
Mrs. Willard left her house and proceeding to
Ninth street completed her journey in a
Niuth.street car. She had with her an envelope
filed with worthless paper, and the message
"Will be here tomorrow at 4:3O' was written on
tho back OF the envelope. This message was in
tended to mako another meeting possible, in
case the plans made for the arrest of the
blackmaicr last evening had failed. Mrs
Willard stepped out OF the car and appeared on
the corner
PROMPTLY oS TIME,
holding the envelope up IN a conspicuous way
This at once attracted the eye of the boy, aud
he walked up to the lady aud made himse
known as the authorized messenger She
stated to him that she was unable
to give him the money that day,
but would have 1t the next day. She then
handed him the envelope aud the boy started
down street. Tho gray-headed stranger
suddenly lost interest In the election news
and walked up Pennsylvania avenue toward
Tenth street. The sailor also dropped his
paper and Carelessly sauntered after tho boy.
The military hackman lowered around the
corner, apparently very eager to got q pas5en-
ger, Tho boy turned up Tenth street 10
Pennsylvania avenue, and proceeding down
Pennsylvania avenue met the gray.heAd cd
man half way between Ninth aud Tenth streets.
The boy and man exchanged Il lew words
and then walked down the Avenue toward
Seventh street. The sailor aud tho hackman
also kept on In this direction, and Mtsirs.
Riley d Miller who, with Mr. John A.
Clarke, had also been IN the uoighbOIhood all
the time, walked leisuroly in the direction
taken by the boy aud man. In front OF 81.
Mares hotel the boy and man connected W ith
. rather seedy-loOking individual. After
some conversation, in which tho two men OK.
hibited much disappointment, the three con.
tinued down Pennsylvania avenue aud
stopped again just below the Metropolitan
hotel.
THE ARREST.