The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-17
BILLY" REED CAUGHT
Youthful Murderer Of Officer
Barker i'm a Prison Cell.
Had Been Hiding in This City Since the
Commission of the Deed-He Says
Whisky Caused the Crime.

William Reed, the slayer of special
Waterman Barker. wept bitter tears of re-
pentance in a prison cell last night. The
boy murderer was found at o'clock last
evening at the home of Ed Boring. his
cousin, at No. 400 West Sixth street. He
has been i'll since the night of his awful
deed, and has not been out of the city.
Yesterday morning when Chief Detective
Splann arrived at the Shelbyville Jail he as
certained that the officers of that place
had made mistake. Their prisoner, in
stead of being "Billie Reed" was Harry
Perdee. young man recently employed
by the Big Four railroad as a special con-
stable at Mooresfisld Perdee was en-
route to Cincinnati, and stopped at Shelby
vile last Saturday. He bears no RESENT
blance to Reed, and how the sheriff mis-
took him for the latter the officers here are
unable to comprehend. Immediately on his
return. Chief Splann again took up the
search for the much-wanted fugitive, and
that he was Yet in the city. About O'clock
the chlef, With detectives Dougherty and
kaehn, drove quietly out to the Boring
oner. Yesterday afternoon Reeds mother,
in company with her sister, Mrs. Boring,
called at the office of Hon. Thomas w.
Hanna and acquainted him with the fact of
the boys presence in Indianapolis The
women kept nothing concealed from the at
torney, and, after fully placing. him in pos
session of the secret, requested his profess
sional assistance. 1t was agreed that MIR.
Hanna should call at the Boring home last
him up to the officers 1t was ,proba-
bly, the mission of Mrs. Reeds to
the attorneys office that furnished
OF her son. although 1t is stated that the
mother did not, until Sunday night, know
that the young man was here. When the
nnta fhn
bluntly announced the purpose of their Wis
1t, and in few moments Reed stepped
of office His youthful full face paied With fear
and excitement but he made no attempt
to evade arrest or to deny his act While
the young man was preparing to accom-
pany the detectives, attorney Hanna ar
rived and was accorded a short interview
with his client. The principal admonition
that it would be vitality necessary for him
to refrain from speech relative to his crime
Before leaving the house, Reed requested to
near the Borings. The girl was summoned,
and a passionate embrace, mingled with
tears and vows of eternal constancy,
were INDUCED in by the couple. Then the
prisoner was brought to the police station;
where he was locked up and the charge Of
slant star the eianking gates of the cell closed
behind him the boy broke into tears. A
few minutes afterwards. Mrs. Reed called
mother and son was bitterly sad. Reed Is
scarcely twenty years of age, He Is Of
slight build and is naturally of a delicate
constitution. Last night he cried continu-
ously. His demeanor is characteristic of
profound penitence. and 1t is evident that
he realizes the enormity of his act.
Il do not want to talk about this" he
said, gulping down a great sob. L would
rather you would go to my lawyer. I
don't know what I ought to say, know
that I would not have done that thing had
I not been drinking. Why should I?
Samuel Barker has been a good
friend to me and my family, He
never harmed a hair Of my head. Whisky
did it all. Why don't remember throwing
that rock / did not know what had done
until several hours afterward. No one can
tell how / feel about 1t. 1t was a terrible
thing, and 1 don't want to talk about 1t
any more"
Reed has been in this city from the mo-
| ment he committed the crime. He refuses
to tell where he spent the time until he
went to the house on Sixth street. His rea-
sons are that the family who kept him do
not want to be known in the case. His at
| torney and family claim that he made no
effort to escape. but was only waiting until
he could secure the services and consult
with an attorney before giving himself up.