The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-11-21
JONES THE CRANK.

WAsINGToN, Nov. William Jones, ar
rested for attempting to shoot -Guiteau,
| was taken to the police station about nine
o'clock last evenings He was very drunk,
and unable to say much about the matter.
Being nearly sober this morning he realized
the Situation, and at once secured counsel
R.K. Elliot, who will defendshim in the
police court tomorrow. Jones, on being
asked why he did not hit Guiteau, coughed
and said, '1t wasn't that shot him;
want to see them prove it." The author
tiles last night were so confident the the
right man had been secured that no farther
search was made, and it was not until five
O'Clock this afternoon that any officers on
the van at the time of 1.-THE shooting were
sent to aindentify the prisoner. Officer
Edelin,, who was on the van and fired at
the horseman, rode out to the station
house about FIVE O'Clock. After a4thOr-.
ough scrutiny and some conversation with
the prisoner Edelin, said; Gentlemen,
that is not the man. | Should know the
than fired at yesterday among million.
mcould swear that this is not the man.
Ede,u detailed points as follows. Jones
has a light complexion, with hardly
a percentlble moustache whearas
the man who fired at Guiteau was dark,
swarthy man, about 45 years old, with q
v,
keen black eyes. The latter was cool and
sober. and the manner in which he planned
and executed the work was that of a clear
headed, determined man. The horse he
rode was q heavy sorrel, with white fore
leg, while Jones horse has not q white
fleck about it.
The authorities are now pretty well sat
isfied Jones is not the man. An, interval
of an hour and half elapsed between the
time of the shooting and when the officers
first sighted Jones. Various theories are
advanced that the real culprit made good
his escape, or Jones, after escaping, con
cluded to celebrate his exploit with grand
spree, or that Jones was an accomplice
to the extent of loaning the horse, and
after receiving the animal back on
.he outskirt OF the district, and learning
whist had been done, was just drunk
enougI. to enjoy the sport of being pursued
by the police knowing he could not be
held as the real criminal. The develop
ment creates stir among the police. Jones
is well known to them rs he has been ar
rested several times within the past six
wears He is twenty nine years old and
owns fine farm upon the Bates road,
about three miles out. He is regarded as
''crank" by the neighbors. His chief &C.
centricity the past two years has been to
DeFSO0aLo diiCShob
and after making show of taking persons
to the station house, to release them with
a warning not to be caught offending
again Recently he rode up to carriage
just entering the grounds of the Soldiers
Home. and compelled it to halt The oc-
cupants, gentleman and two ladies, pro-
tested, but with much severity Jones called
out This thing has been gong on long
enough YOU must go with me to the sta
tion house. have orders to arrest you.
Expla nations being useless the parties ac-
compar.ied him to the station house. Just
as they were about to alight from the car
riage, however, Jones laughingly bade them
good-day and galloped off. Shortly after
he arrested a woman, and for this offense
he was fined He was never known to use
or carry revolver. Jones acquaintances
saw he is rather half witted than crazy.
He appears to enjoy the notoriety he has
secured. k -