Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-30
cation OF pictures in that manner gre atty as
ssts them In unravelng murder mystery and

cation OF pictures in that manner gre atty as
Gsts them In unraveling murder mystery and
should be encouraged.
The four prisoners, Nelson Thomas, Jas
D1ggs; Mrs. Thomas and Nellie Thomas were
locked up at the sixth precinct station this
morning when reporter called TO see them
The heavy iron gate leading to the cell room
was closed and locked. The stationkeeper had
received orders from headquarters to allow no
reporters 70 interview the prisoners. Another
evidence that the picture printed in THE STAR
assisted IN the case is shown bv what &C.
CURED at police headquarters last evening
Mr.: Rosenbury, who is employed at the capitol
and at whose house Eliza had lived. noticed the
picture OF the murdered woman in TIE STAR
and its similarity to Eliza Foster who had been
In his employ as domestic. He at once sent
for j. NJ. Foster, her brother, living on LIST
street northeast, and spoke to him of his
sister having LETT there sometime ago. Mr.
Rosenbury suggested that he go to police
headquarters with some of his friends
and relatives Foster went to headuuar-
tiers about $50 O'Clock, and seeing the photo
graph said that while it looked like his sister
he could not say positively that il was hers. A
few minutes afterward his sister, bright rnu-
latto, came in, and on being shown the picture
said, after a careful scrutiny of the features:
Eyes, that is my sister" They then went on TO
describe the features with minuteness, and the
peculiarly OF three front teeth being large
and prominent. The father resides on T
street, between 14th and 18th streets. and the
family is well known in the western part of the
city. The mother died some years ago. and
Eliza has lived out in service most of the time
since then.
FACE TO FACE WITH HIS WIFE AND rILLIE,
Yesterday when all the prisoners were in the
station, Thomas was brought face to face with
his wife and Tillie. They rehearsed the story
they had previously told the officers.
Did You come home emancipation night?''
asked Lieut.. Kelly of Thomas.
'Yes, SIR" he replied.
But" said Lieut.. Kelly, 'Mrs. johnson says
that you did not return"
We'll, l didn't" interrupted the prisoner
did you tell her that you would bet her $50
that Eliza Foster would not bother her again?''
saying anything" continued Thomas, for you
won't believe me. You can send me to the
penitentiary or hang me, as you please"
CONFESSION EXPECTED
This morning the prisoner showed signs of
weakening, and the officers are confident that
he will make full confession before night.
He admitted to Lieut. Kelley to-day that he left
the alley Emancipation day with Eliza Foster
The prisoner is about forty years old and
lived in South Washington for a number of
years. He was known among the colored peo-
pie as minister, because he was religiouslv in
clined. 1t ID said that he kept companyawith
the woman Tillie for nearly fourteen years.
that he knew Eliza Foster nine years, and has
been married for little over one year.
DIGGs RELEASED.
The prisoner, James Diggs, was released this
afternoon, as the officers do not believe that he
had anything to do with the homicide, nor do
they believe that he removed the BODY to the
woods for the real murderer
FOOT PRINTS.
Detectives Raft and Horne took the prison.
er's boots, to-day, and visited the place on
Wright's farm where the body was dis
covered. and the officers found indistinct
footprints that the boot lust
fitted. 1t is possible, however, that the prints
were made by some curious person who visited
the spot to see the body The officers are
of the opinion that the murder was commit
ted in Maryland and that the prisoner
will have to be turned over to the Maryland
authorities. When told that he would be sent
to Marlboro the prisoner said: For Gods
sake don't send me there; have heard of that
place before"