Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-08
The Police Raid Some jackson City
Resorts.
ONE ALLEGED BURGLAR CAPTURED
With a Man Arrested Here Charged
With Safe Blowing.
COLLECTIONS OF TOOLS

Jackson City was raided yesterday morn
| ing. and the outlaws there are now aware
of the fact that they may be interfered
with by officers other than the sheriff and
his deputies. The police of this city, as
sisted by the Alexandria police, made the
raid, and succeeded in arresting one man
thought to be dangerous crook, while an
ex-convict was arrested here soon after
ward. Sheriff Veitch, the law officer of
Alexandra county, vas not present when
| the raid was made, nor did he know any
| thing of what had happened until the place
had been raided ard the prisoner taken.
This raid was the result Of an investigation
of the safe robbery in the Office Of the
Alexandria Ferry Company, at the foot
Of 1th street, last week, and the Washing
ton officers are reasonably certain that
they have in custody at least one man
who knows some little about the daring
| robbery. when the Waterman was bound
and gagged, the safe blown open and nearly
$1,000 taken.
Detectives Horne and Weldon have been
investigating the robbery. and they learned
Of the conduct of men across the river that
led them to believe that the safe blowers
were making their headquarters on the soil
Of the Old Dominion. where little or no
effort is made to prevent violations of the
law, but where, 1t is said. crooks and gam
blers Of various descriptions are welcomed
In making this investigation the officers
ping In Jackson City, and according to their
! Information these men had a kit of burg
lars tools. which would assist in making
an entry into any place from q river sloop
to the treasury vaults.
Then, too the officers learned that "Billy'
Williams, an ex-convict. who served time
for the killing of Policeman Arnold in Alex
andrfa, had been visiting lawless Jackson
City and holding conferences with these
strangers. who were known about the
saloons as Eddy" and Jack"
While all this was going On Williams was
visiting police headquarters in this city,
and was endeavoring to get Endorsements
OF an application for a position as watch
man, claiming that he had concluded to
reform and lead an upright life.
Raid Arranged.
This Information was communicated to
Inspector Hollinberger chief of the detec-
tive corps. who concluded that he would
make an effort to have Jackson City raid
ed at time when the men would probably
be found at Harry Gamblers saloon, where
they had been stopping. They had been
stopping there nearly five months. so the
officers were informed, and had not made
many acquaintances. 1t was also known
that some persons had been seen crossing
the river at a late hour in a small boat,
and the police believe that this Is the way
the safe blowers reached the ferry wharf
on the morning of the robbery. and then
returned the same way.
When Inspector Hollinberger concluded
to have the raid made. he sent for Capt.
James Smith Of the Alexandra police force,
who Is known to be a sincere and capable
Official. and revealed to him his plans
Lieut. Smith. In addition to being connect
ed with the Alexandria police force, Is a
state officer, and he readily agreed to lend
all the assistance in his power.
Arrangements were made for the raid
and the officers agreed to meet in front of
the place known as "Harry's' saloon, at 2
o'clock yesterday morning Some time be-
eral officers on guard at this end of the
bridge. and prevented persons going over
there. as they did not intend to have any
one go over there and give the jackson
City people tip.
The Raid.
About midnight Inspector Hollinberger,
Sergeant johnson and Detectives Horne,
Weldon. Lacy. Boyd. Boardman. Carter.
Gallaher and Rhodes met and concluded
they would cross over the bridge to Jackson
City in order to reach there at exactly 2
o'clock. These men walked over the bridge
and later the first precinct patrol wagon
followed to do service. If necessary.
Lieutenant Smith and three Alexandria
officers drove up in a buggy and reached
the front of the saloon at the appointed
hour, while the officers from this side were
there to meet them.
Gamblers saloon was lighted and rap
at the front door was followed by the
| withdrawal of the bolt. The man known
as Eddy" who afterward gave his name
as Edward Desmond was there. A man
known as Sud Donaldson. once private
| detective here. was apparently in charge of
| the saloon.
The people in the all-night saloon made
| no effort to give the officers trouble. be-
search warrant, which directed search for
the money taken from the safe and also
| carried with it power to make arrests.
When Eddy" Desmond had been arrest
| ed and the officers learned that Jack was
| not in the house they made search Of an
old scow on the river and in this was
found a first-class machine shop, where
1t is possible to make implements for COM
| hitting robberies of every description.
And it was on this boat that the officers
found what may prove an important piece
| of evidence later on. 1t was bundle of
Irvine of a kind not in common use, and
| 1t is exactly like the Irvine used in binding
the hands of the Waterman in the ferry
company's Office when the safe robbery was
committed.
The cord found IN the boat as we'll as
that used on the Waterman shows about
the same amount of wear. with fresh cut
| er DIS, and the police are thoroughly salts
fed that the Irvine used by the safe blow
ers was taken from the bunch of Irvine
found on the boat.
Williams Arrested.
After this was accomplished the officers
| turned their attention in another direction
to arrest Jack If possible. They were
! informed that he and a man named Wells
had left the saloon together after taking
a drink. and the officers drove off to the
residence of Wells. about three miles dis
tant in the direction Of Arlington. Wells
was at home and he allowed the officers to
search his house, but Jack was not there.
AS Desmond had been arrested on what
is thought to be Virginia soil he had to be
taken to Alexandria. AS soon this was
accomplished Inspector Hollinberger tele-
phoned here and caused the arrest of
s.Billy" Williams at his home on N street
southeast, and he was placed behind the
bars.
Refuses to Come.
Desmond was brought before Mayor
Strauss in the police court at Alexandra
| this morning, but was recommitted for
further examination. Young James Form
shell, the Waterman at the Washington
ferry house, was in the court room, but
was unable to say whether Desmond was
one of the men or not. He told The Star
representative that his only means of
recognition would be by the voice Of one of
| the men, as they handled him too quickly
| for him to see them. Desmond Is a young
L.