The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-05-04
BILLY THE BURGLAR.
CONyERl' IN RICHMOND TO ANSWER
TAE VARIOUS CHARGES
AGAINST HIM.
He I'm Confronted with the LADY
whose Room at Mr.. Pemberfon's
He Entcred-Ident tiGcas:on
A Question.


liceman Gibson returned from Baltimore
Yesterday by the York-River trafa. They
brought Billy Conners with them. lie bad
given them such stout fight in Baltimore
they concluded that it would be safer 10
leave that city by boat for West Point
than come by rail through Washington,
where they might be met with writ Of
hdbedS corpus.
Copners is almost certainly one OF the
burglars who operated 30 successfully here
between March 18th and April 21st. But
the proving OF it upon him is another mat
ter. Our officers accomplished all that
they expected in Baltimore; they got
their man. Ddespite active efforts OF his
friends and impedimcnts thrown in their
path by his counsel, they secured him. and
here he is now in Richmond.
PERSONAL.
Conners was born i'm Richmond. His
parents were honest but humble people.
His early life, or several years OF it, was
spent on Byrd Island. From the start he
kept bad company, and unless the report
bellies him. was as boy the companion OF
grown up thieves, who made use OF him in
putting him through windows and tram
SONS and over fences for the purpose Of
robbery. In August, 1865, he was taken
up upon the charge OF picking a pocket,
and was by military court, then in opera
tion here, sentenced to the penitentiary
for one year. That term he served out.
In 1870 his name was mentioned in con-
nection with the broken ballot-boX, as it
had been in connection with the shooting
and killing OF Policeman Kennedy. On
.L. q.
against him, il indeed he was arrested.
Next he appeared in Petersburg, and as
William Lee was sentenced 10 twelve
months in the penitentiary for shooting n
coored policeman That term he served
out.
WIDER FIELD.
Going northward Conners joined band
az thieves whose headquarters wcrc at Bal
timore. With party Of them, he robbed,
Ny attempted to rob, paymasteY on Ne
Chesapeake and Ohio canal. and was arrest
ed, tried, found guilty, and sentenced to
seven years Imprisonment in the Mary
llud peultentiary. From that prison he
was released only few months ago. He
returned to Baltimore, aud made his head
quarters In bar-room kept by himself or
some OF his kin. From that point he went
ont on various excursions"
1t is alleged that The burglar Of the pre-
sent day robs a house. takes n train. and
moves off to return for another exploit
when all is quiet.
1t is believed that with one or two con-
fcderates COnners so visited Richmond.
One of his pals was tall man frequently
spoken Of rs "the Englishman.
ppoKFX-SOsF GEORGE
Another name connected with Conners
here in Richmond is That OF " Broken-Nose
George" or George ShekelS.
This man followed a iewelry-drummer
TO Richmond some years ago. He went
with him to the II. James Hotel, and there
robbed him OF about Sl,100 worth OF
goods. For this he was convicted and sent
10 the penitentiary. His term expired
about the lst OF March OF this year. III Is
known that he STAYED about the city some
davs. Captain Epns and Sergeant Huice,
W lu have been GlTeless WORKERS iii THIS mat
ter. have information that he lett before
MIR. PembertOn'S house was robbed. III he
did not leave. he disappeared from sight.
At one time ii was thought that the con-
yict's sock found in Mr.. Pemberton's bacK
yard must have been his. Some people
will always think 50, but the officers have
different theory.
TIE ROBBERIES CEASED.
After tbe robbery Of the residence Of The
widow OF President Tyler the expert bur-
ciqrics ceased here. That was the last
house wherein nippers were uSed
unon the KEYS. The thefts sdbse-
qlentlv reported were the work OF home
TALENT. The city got too bot for the bur
oiars. Public opinion bad reached thit
Doint whore ii a burglar had been caught
he might possibly have been hung out
rigbt: but the search for the offenders
went on all the time. Several parties re-
ported that Conners had been seen here.
lie was traced from one lurking-plaec 10
another. Finally Captain Epps spotted
him in Baltimore. and had him arrested.
lie at first denied that he was Conners, and
next that he had been in Richmond. All
that was necessary was to prove .h''t ne
was Conners. TO that fact when the time
came Major Poe, Captain Epps, Sergeant
Uulce. and Policeman Gibson each ana all
swore' Hence Conners's presence here.
coNNERs IN THE sTATIoN-HoUsE.
Cantain Epps took Conners to the Third
station-house and put him in cell there.
Miss Stratton, the housekeeper for Mr. L.
William PcmbertOn, whose room was en-
tercd. was subsequently sent for to identiiy
him Conncrs spoke 10 her freely, ana
turned all around that She mlgh5 see him
from every point OF view. She did not Ut
Is understo0d) 90 to the point OF identity
inc him: but she said, THAT is his voice.
She win have time to think over the mat
fer well before giving her testimony, rs il
i not proposed to go into the examination
to-day. Conner. himself is scarcely ready
lie wants 10 get Hon. George d. Wise as
counsel. but has not yet been able TO enjoy
the consolation OF having secured him.
rupIA IADy's DESCRIPTION OF rBE R0BBER.
Miss Stratton's description OF the burglar
who entered her room was heretofore gwen
in this paper, as follows:
His height she does not know, Tor M
was crouching all the time. and his coat
collar Was turned up nearly 10 his ears. h'
was a white man, and his complexion Wa'
saIlow. His beard she did not remember
about distinctly. He mighs or might io
have had amoustache. Ills hair was cliiet
al tbe TEMPLES and all tie way around. Il
was 50 buShy and curly th1t she THINKS now
! that ne must have worn wig Tor the sah'
OF the disguise. His eyes were blacs--ol
NJ least very dark. His hands were Fat. an'
were nervously moving when she saw Inn
Ills shoulders were broad. His nfse wa
very pointed; this she noticed very Pa, "a,
,ienhrly when he Was poking aha'lt I'd
gas" o ,oovo
co,rors as seci in his cell yesterday
E,ooked TO be about hlrty-l'e or tnAI
seven. aud the latter Is his age. sd lils u.SiI I
Il about five fees four or nye lnches', n
Is ;'oIt aVo" ahout 40 rounds. Iiis face . ful
ond mels cheeks i, pufS, as Il from 'png desauel
aru ary His hair (Which usedc to be aull
IiSht, ys is now an oily chestnut bro~n an
1.-THE rsthcr Short and straight. His m;siistael
is'Tf Il light brown, and Of about .. aai'iH9 nc
SaUTsi, SapGs are +e,ite short asd plump, whl
s@en an Yesterday he haG them slasped ai