The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-25
UNDER STRONG SUSPICION,
William Starr Henry Denies
Having Murdered His
Father.
The Police Claim to Have Strong
Circumstantial Evidence
Against Him.

NEW YORK, n. Y, June 24.-William
Starr Henry, the accused murderer of his
father, Charles w. Henry, the aged miser
spent his first Sunday in Raymond-street
jail yesterday. He has now been in custody
nine days, and as far as can be learned he
has continued to assert his innocence. The
police, however, have been hard at work
weaving chain of circumstantial evidence
around him which they believe will con-
vince every one of his guilt.
A reporter had long talk with Superin-
tendent McKefvy this afternoon, in the
course of which the Superintendent said
that he had learned enough of the past
life of William Henry to warrant him in
believing that he could be guilty of al.
most any crime. The Superintendent
lntimated that William had expressed a
hatred of his father of the most intense
kind to some of his acquaintance.
1--WE are looking for more of this sort of
evidence, continued the Chief, "but we are
handicapped in q great measure by the
general public sentiment in favor of the
accused man. People are afraid to tell all
they know about him for fear of being
brought up as witnesses. I expect, how
ever, that we will get more evidence
against him."
"Then you have not changed your mind
about his being the guilty party?" in
quired the reporter.
"fndeed l have not; in fact 1 am
strengthened in that opinion. l have
found out some things which I will not
give out. but / will tell you this, am
certain we have the right man.
"Have you not thought that Walters
action since the discovery of the murder
requires an explanation?' was asked.
81 will not deny" replied the Chief,
"that some of his actions have been
peculiar, but if you look into the history of
the whole family for generations, as we
have been doing, you would not regard
Walters actions as especially strange In
all my experience l never heard of a
stranger family than the Henry family.
Eccentric is no name for it. 1t reads like a
romance.
"Now," continued the Chief, 'swe have
found out this fact, that the most friendly
relations had always existed between
Walter and his father. Another thing to
be borne in mind is that Walter could have
no real motive in getting rid of his father,
while the bitter hatred that existed be-
tween William and the old man would be
probable incentive for him to take his
life'
In answer to a question, the Superin-
tendent said that he had searched the
house where Walter lives, but had dis
covered absolutely nothing to incriminate
him. He further stated that he had no
reason to believe that Walter would be
arrested. ''There may be other arrests,
but We do not intend to give out who the
parties are" said the Chief
When asked if there was woman in the
case the Superintendent said it was not I'M
likely. He admitted that investigation
was being made in that line, but declined
to say whether any clews had been found
which would lead to suspicion that a
woman was concerned in the murder.
The police still have charge of the house
at 95 South Portland avenue where the
tragedy occurred. Applications for letters
OF administration in favor of Walter Henry
will probably be made in the Surrogate IS
Court. If the application is granted Wa
ter will Immediately assume control of the
property