The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1881-11-24

WASHINGTON, d. c., Nov. S1.-Wil-
liam Jones, charged with firing into the
prison van in which Guiteau was being
conveyed from the court house to the
Jail, with the intent to kill him, was
taken to the second precinct police sta
tion about 8 O'Clock last night. He was
very drunk and unable to say much
about the matter.
This morning he has become sober
enough to appreciate his position, and
at once took steps to secure counsel in
the person of r. Z. Elliott, who will de-
fend him in the police court tomorrow
morning.
The visitors to the station house to-
day asked Jones why he did not hit
Guiteau.
Jones laughed and said it wasn't
that shot at him. want to see them
prove IL.
So confident were the authorities last
night night that the right man had been
secured that no further search was made
and it was not till five O'Clock this after
of the van at the time of the shooting
were sent to the police station house to
identify the prisoner.
Police Officer Edelin,, who was sitting
on the van with the driver, and who
fired at the horseman when he wheeled
and fed, rode out to the station house
about five and, after thoroughly scrutin-
izing Jones features and some conversa-
ton, Officer Edelin, entered the Office of
the station and announced to the officers
and reporters: "Gentlemen, this is not
the man. should know the man /
fired at among million. l not only
fail to identify this man, but / could
swear that he is not the man."
El1ls, Nha, a<,A 81 s,k~
Of difference between them as follows:
Jones has light complexion with hard
~ perceptible mustache, while the
man that fired at Guiteau was q dark,
swarthy man, apparently about As years
old, with very heavy. stumped,
black mustache and keen,
black eyes; besides, the latter was
cool and sober, and the manner in which
he planned and executed his work, even
though he failed, was that of clear
headed, determined man, rather than
that of half witted crank. Again the
horse rode was q heavy sorrel, with
white fore legs, while Jones horse has
not white speck upon 1t.
The authorities are pretty well salts
fed now from Edelin'e statement that
they have not secured the right man, as
an interval Of an hour and half elapsed
between the time the would be avenger
escaped from the pursuing van and the
time when the mounted officers first
sighted the eccentric Jones.
There is room for several theories that
are now being advanced, that the real
avenger made good his escape, as he had
ample time TO do, or that Jones. after,
as he had supposed, having eluded his
pursuers, concluded to celebrate his ex-
plot with grand spree, and again that
Jones was an accomplice TO the extent
Of leaving his horse, and that, after re-
ceiving him back on the outskirts Of the
district, and learning Whist had been
done, he was just drunk enough to en-
joy the sport by being pursued by the
police, knowing he could not be held
for the real crime. The new phase of
the case creates stir At police head
quarters.
Jones is well known to the police. He
has been arrested several times In
the past six years. He is % years old
and owns fine farm On the Bates road
about three miles from this city. He Is
regarded as crank by his neighboEs.
The chief eccentricity Of the past two
and make arrests, and, afeer making q
show Of taking the person to the station
house TO release him with q warning
not TO be caught offending again.
Recently he went up to q carriage Just
entering the grounds of the Soldiers
Home and compelled the driver TO halt.
The occupants, 9 gentleman and two
ladies, protested, but with much severity
0f manner Jones called ont: This thing
has been going on long enough. You
must 60 with me TO the station house,
hsve my orders 10 arrest you. Explana
lions being useless, the party aceompan-
led him TO the station. Just e
they were about 70 alight from