Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-01
THE HOLCER ROBBERY
A Discharged Soldier Named Filler Ar
rested as the Thief
He Had Spent Money Freely I'm Fred
erick-His Crime CONFERENCE.-The
Confederate Unknown.

the victim, may recover portion OF MS
s1,651. Since the robbery was committed
Detectives Carter and Gallaher have re-
ceived a number of supposed clues, but the
one to which they attached the most i'm
portance implicated dishonorably dis
charged soldier named John Filler or Eyler.
This man, who Is only about thirty years
old, had been frequent visitor to Mrs.
Ben. Holcer, and he had been seen with her
a number of times. 1t was certain that the
theft was committed by some one who
knew well the location of the $1,000 in gold
and SOL in greenbackS, and because OF his
friendly relations with the daughter-in-law
of the aged couple the detectives deter
mined that they would arrest him and then
arrest Ben. Holcer's wife.
Filler first came here as soldier and had
been stationed at the barracks IL ls
stated that he was dishonorably discharged
and from here he went to Texas. He next
turned up as a member of Coxeys army
and marched here with that body. Soon
after reaching here he stole an overcoat
from a driver in the employ of knox's Ex-
press Company and was arrested by De-
tective Rhodes While serving a six months
sentence Mrs. Ben. Holcer. the police say,
visited him and was known at the jail as
Miss Owens.
Hunting for Their Man.
When the officers had determined upon
Eiler as the man they wanted they started
cut to ascertain something of his move
ments here. but 1t was not until last Satur-
day that they learned with any degree of
certainty that he had been here recently.
Inspector Holinberger had an idea that
while here he had been in hiding.
The next thing to do was to locate the
man. This the officers endeaFored to do
by notifying the authorities of other cities,
but 1t was not until Sunday when they
re ad an account in New York paper of
the mans escapade in Frederick. that they
Lad any idea of his whereabouts.
1t appears that Filler had been engaged to
Frederick lady, and about the time ap-
pointed for the marriage she drew from the
bank 500, and gave him. and then they
were not married
Saturday night he turned up in Frederick
with more wealth than ne had ever had at
any time previous, and. because of his
former love affair, he was arrested and held
in 500 security for trial on Monday. He
deposited this amount Of cash and was set
at liberty. Then he had reason to cele-
brate. and when he had partaken of consid-
cradle liquid refreshments he gave away
ten and twenty-dollar gold pieces, as If he
were fakir distributing advertisements.
Arrested in Westminster.
This conduct did not seem to arouse the
suspicious of the police authorities in the
Maryland town. for he was not required
to give any explanation of where he got
his wealth. but was permitted to leave
there without being arrested again.
Yesterday afternoon Detectives Carter
and Gallaher went to Frederick in search
of the man. and last night he was found
at Westminster. The officers had a war
rant for his arrest, and Justice Carroll
held him for the authorities here.
Mrs. HOlcer mt Headquarters.
This morning Mrs. Ben. Hoicer was sum-
moned to police headquarters. where she
was to have been interviewed by Inspector
Hollinberger, but she had spasm after
spasm. and after being attended by DR..
Fowler of the health department she was
sent home. Her husband is in Providence
Hospital. and Is expected to die at any
moment.
The Prisoner Here.
The detectives reached here this afternoon
with the prisoner, from whom they recov-
cred only $3.50 While under arrest In
Westminster the prisoner had very little
to say. but On his way here said he would
talk to Inspector Hollinberger. and he also
said that he would clear the woman.
While away last evening the officers
learned that on the morning following the
robbery Eiler. or Eyler. spent considerable
money In Baltimore. where he bought jew
elry, and later he was very free with his
money In Frederick. where, 1t is said, he
gave $2O to his parents besides the 5000
left as collateral and what he spent and
gave away.
When the prisoner was taken in Inspector
Hollinberger's room he made clean breast
or the whole affair, and claimed that he
had an accomplice. As Is usual In such in
stances. he claims that the accomplish who
was stranger to him. and whom he knew
only as Eddy" did the actual stealing,
while he (Eiler) watched for the police.
His Accomplish.
He said he met Eddy" who, he gays,
is a tramp. near Washington junction,
about forty miles from here on the Met
ropolitan branch Of the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad, and brought him here. He QGiler)
told him where the money was. and he went
and got it.
That night they went to Baltimore and
stopped at the Continental Hotel where
the money was divided, he getting only
about $500 in gold. They then separated
and he went to Frederick.
The prisoner gives a good description of
his alleged accomplish. and exonerates
nothing of the affair
After making the confession the prisoner
was locked up for hearing tomorrow.
Showed Fight When Arrested.
The arrest was made ON the street In
Westminster by the Washington officers.
Filler had a loaded revolver in his hip pock-
ct and showed fight, and there came near
being a clash between the Washington Off
GERS and the county sheriff on one side and
the town police on the other, as the latter
claimed the man as their prisoner.
While in Westminster the officers learned
that the prisoner had served term in the
Maryland reformatory when he was four
teen years old, and they were also inform
ed that he is wanted In MELVILLE, Pa, for
an alleged criminal assault on a female.
The officers say they expect to recover
about $500 of the stolen money.
Ii olSed Like IL Clothing stor..
Judge Miller's court room presented the
appearance of a clothing store this after
noon when Prosecuting Attorney Mullowny
called for trial the cases of Robert L.
Ryan and his wife, Valonia Ryan, charged
with being responsible for the loss of about
$500 worth of clothing from NJ. Dy-en-
forth's clothing store. There were thirty
two informations in the case. Twenty of
them charged the husband and wife Jointly
with larceny. There were six separate
charges of larceny against the wife and
six of receiving stolen property against
the husband.
Change of iQunrtermnxters.
Major D. D. Wheeler. quartermaster, has
beer relieved from duty in the office of
the quarterTaster general In this city
and ordered to duty in Philadelphia. He
will be relieved Of duty In this city by