Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-29
THE MYSTERY
AKAN HERE WHO pRoFrssEs TO HAVE
REEH A PARTY TO TIE MURDER.
Bis Confession as Made TO Police-Justice
Richardson's Some corrobora-
tive Circumstances.

Rumors have been in circulation in
this city for several days past that 6
tramp who was arrested here last month
had made q confession Of his completely
in the Railway murder. The matter has
been kept with such secrecy that it was
difficult to ascertain anything definite
until yesterday. Monday it was learned
that the confession had been made to
Police-Justice ID. G. Richardson, and
Yesterday afternoon, when asked IL such
a confession had been made to him, Jus,
tice Richardson answered in the affirma-
tive, but expressed doubts as to the pro-
priety OF making il known.
He said the subject had been kept
secret for the reason that he was not pre-.
pared TO believe the mans story, and did
not wish to have his name connected
with a baseless sensation. He had in
vcstigated the matter as far as he could,
and while some of the statements had
been cOrrobOrated the facts were wanting
in many essential particulars upon which
TO base definite action.
TURN on THE LIGET.
After some further conversation JUS
tice Richardson said While L have
but little confidence in the man, yet bis
story NAV be true. and in case so in
portant there should he q full lnyestl-
CATION, which | am unable to give. II
might be better therefore to turn on
the light, so that those whose duty II
is may establish the truth or falsity oil
the story"
He then made to a Dispatch reporter
the following statement:
On tho 23d Of January last tramp
giving the name of John Thomas was ar
rested. charged with vagrancy and
drunkenness. He was discharged on bis
promise TO leave the city. On the 9th
OF January the same man, then giving
the name of James Smith, was again ar
rested, charged with the same offence.
He was in rags, and evidently suffering
from the effects of a protracted debauch.
| committed him TO jail in default OF
surety for his good behavior, not so much
TO punish as to enable him to recover
from the effects Of his spree. On January
31st MIR. Murphy, bailiff of the court, i'll.
formed me that prisoner in Jail desired
to see me. and that he had IN important
communication to make. sent down
for him and Smith or Grupy was brought
to the Police-Court room.
THE RAILWAY MURDER.
For over an hour, said the Justice,
listened TO his story while he told OF the
Railway murder, giving the name of the
party lie charged with the crime, but
suppressing the subsequent statement OF
his participation in the deed. After lis
tening to him quietly until he had con
cluded ] looked him in the eyes and
said "Grupy, | do not believe one word
of what you have been telling me. You
have had n rough experience in life, and
should be convinced by this time that
honesty is the best policy. "
The change i'll his expression OF coun
tenance was marked, and l felt some.
what sorry for the severity of my re-
buke, rs he looked at me with an ap-
pealing expression and started back tc
Jail with Mr. Murphy. in few mi
nutes they returned and Grupy said he
had concealed some facts in his former
statement and desired to make a clear
breast OF tine whole matter. He then
made a statement which | reduced to
writing, using almost his exact words.
After doing SO | read it to him carefully
and asked him to sign it, which he did.
| then asked if he was willing to swear
to it, and he promptly answered eyes. u
| then sqid to him "Grupy, / do not
believe your story, and if it is false you
are about to commit very grave Of
fence" He said d" 1t is true, and l am
willing TO swear to the truth" He then
swore TO the truth of the statement.
In giving his statement | have sup
pressed the name of the person charged
for two reasons-frst, if there is nc
truth in the story the publication of the
name would be unjust to the man and
secondly. if it he true the ends of JUS
tice might be defeated.
THE CONFESSION.
The confession is as follows:
OFFICE OF POLICE JUSTICE, !
CORNER MAYO AND FRANKLIN sTs.,
RICHMOND, Va, Jan. 81, 1888,
4:30 p. NJ.
Statement of Fred. Grupy alias Car
rot Stanfort alias James Smith.
1 am twenty-seven years of age, ano
was born and raised IN Baltimore. My
fathers name was Francis Henry Grupy
he is dead. ! have lived fast life, anC
have served one term in the Maryland
penitentiary for larceny. Last week
was arrested on the streets OF tins city
for being drunk and was committed tC
iail. For nearly year my life has been
miserable. l have not been able tC
sleep, and the remembrance of crime
will not allow me to have any peace.
know that ] cannot live long, and the
terrible secret / have concealed so LONG
must be told sooner or later, and L vii
feel some little satisfaction when | have
told it. make this statement volunta'
rily. without any hope of shielding my
self from punishment or any fear as tc
the consequences The statement de-
sire to make is this:
From my early youth and
4 were lflClQh uuO ouipohiShS' hOiiN
time in 1881 we met girl by the name
of Fannie Gunther, whose father II
named George r. Gunther, / believe,
and was at work in the Mount Clan
shops aud lived on Schroeder street.
At this time Fannie Gunther worked
at Posner's, corner Lexington and
Charles streets, Baltimore. de-
luded this girl Fannie Gunther, and she
soon after went to live in house of i'll
repute, passing by the name of May
Wilson. She has lived at Madam Fays,
at NJ. Whartons, and last at Efiie Stew
arts, on Rayburg street. = lived
with her all the time. but l also became
intimate with her. She used to give us
both trouble, and has been TO my sisters
house. rung the bell, and asked for me.
= wanted to get married. but she
used to threaten that he should not, and
said she would walk into the church
when he went TO get married. Some
time ago We had talk on the subject
and determined to put her ont Of the
way. Our plans were not fully formed
until some time in March, 1887.