Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-07
HE IS NOW IN JAIL
Buck AuFort Charged With Helping
the Ferry Robbery.
IMPLICATED BY BILLY WILLIAMS
Virginia Citizens Hunted Him With
Shotguns.
DEN MES HIS G q I L T

Charles, alias Buck" Auffort, one of
the alleged safe blowers on whom BILLY"
Williams the confessed criminal. "peached,"
was arrested at Gordonsville, Va, yester-
day morning, and at $50 o'clock last even
ing he was landed in the sixth precinct
station in this city. Ever since the confess
sion made by Williams three weeks ago
implicated Auffort Detective Horne and
Weldon have been straining every effort
to effect his capture. So certain were they
that he had gone down in Virginia that the
officers went down there on more than one
occasion and made searches in Orange
county, where the prisoners wife lives.
But each time the fugitive had succeeded in
getting out of the way before their arrival
and it was not until yesterday morning.
when Sheriff Ricketts, and posse of cit
liens went after him. that he was captured
Several times the officers here located
their man and telegraphed requests for his
arrest, but each time he managed to elude
the officers. Inspector Hollinberger, who
has also taken a great interest in the case,
telegraphed the Richmond authorities Sun
day that the fugitive was there, but when
the officers went for him he had left the
house of a relative and was not to be found.
Auffort had not much money left of the
divide If he. was really a party to the
affair." and was therefore unable to make
reason why he did not get beyond Rich
mond. When he left Richmond Sunday
morning the officers had every reason to
believe that he had returned to the home
of his wife and child, about three miles
from Orange Court House, and Inspector
Hollinberger at once telegraphed Sheriff
Ricketts,: Get him by all means. All eX-
penses will be paid
The Capture.
This was probably interpreted as mean
~
Paid. for. according to the statement of the
prisoner, the citizens turned out en- masse
ana hunted him with shotguns, revolvers
and all other weapons.
He left the home of his wife again yes
terday morning, intending to return to
Richmond. and was followed by the sheriff
and citizens. At Gordonsville he says he
was seated in the car when about twenty
armed citizens drew their arms and COM
manded him: Throw up your hands, or
we'll shoot!'
This stern command was probably neces-
sary. for the alleged safe blower was armed
with as dangerous a looking revolver as
vas ever made, Mervin Hubert & Co.'S
A caliber. But the sheriff and citizens had
guessed their man, and were not willing to
take any chances with him. When first ar
rested the prisoner denied his identity, but
the sheriff was sure of his man, and SO he
took him at once to Orange Court House,
ard soon had him behind the bars. Town
Sergeant Bailey of Gordonsville also figured
prominently in the arrest of the fugitive.
Soon after he was captured a telegram
was received here announcing the arrest
and Detectives Weldon and Horne left on
an afternoon train, returning in the even
ing at $50, as already stated.
On the return trip the prisoner talked
freely with the officers about his arrest, al
though he said very little about the crime,
except to deny the statements made by
Williams, SO far as they related to him.
If you ever want a man arrested in Vir-
ginia,' he said to the officers. offer $40
and all the people will turn out with their
guns"
In. the party of citizens who were with
the sheriff, Autfort said, Twas hotel keeper,
and he said he was armed with gun.
Auffort said he had stopped at his hotel,
had spent money in his bar and had hired
carriages from him.
II drank in his saloon in the evening and
spent my money said the prisoner, land
when he closed his doors he came looking
for me with a gun. l wish 1 had gotten
one crack at him, and l know l would
have warmed him up
The Long Search.
AS soon as BILLY" Williams made his
confession duplicating the prisoner the Of
ficers felt satisfied that Williams had told
the truth, for they knew the men were
companions, and Detective Horne had
watched their movements even before the
daring robbery was committed and had
seen them connect in the park near the
Baltimore and Potomac depot. With these
facts in their possession the officers di-
rected all their efforts toward capturing
Auffort
They soon learned that his wife, who was
Miss Kniser, was living about three miles
from the county seat of Orange county,
and they felt certain that he would go to
her. He had been a huckster and had
section of the county where his wife re-
sides. He was here after Williams and
Desmond We're arrested, and it is said he
was at Williams house the evening before
the confession was made and was going to
arrange for the release on bail of his al
legged pal.
But when he learned of the confession
he disappeared, and it was thought that he
was thought probable that he would re-
turn shortly, but this he did not do, and
the officers have had to do some hard work.
Their efforts were rewarded yesterday by
the capture of the prisoner, which was
due to their work and the assistance of
the Virginia authorities.
The Other Man.
Now that the prisoner is under arrest and
will be turned over to the marshal and sent
to JAIL the detectives will turn their at
tention to the capture of the man known
as Jack Dempsey. They have already
paid some attention to him. and speaking
to a Star reporter today they said they
certain lHat WOulu Capture
in a short while.
The country people about Orange and
Gordonsville will now have good time en-
deavoring to get the supposed reward for
the prisoner Auffort's arrest. But no re-
ward has been offered.
The first man to claim the reward was
Town Sergeant Bailey of Gordonsville, who
sent the first dispatch notifying the Of
ficers of the arrest. His dispatch reads:
Il arrested Charles Buck Ofut and claim
the reward"
When the officers reached Orange yester-
day afternoon the first question asked was
about the reward, and one countryman
with long beard said: I've driven all
these fifteen miles with my gun and then
amt going to get the reward"
District Attorney Birney was notified of
the arrest and return of Auffort, and asked
what course should be pursued.
The revolver found on Auffort, the police
think, belonged to Eddy" Desmond who
was the only one caught In the Jackson
City raid. At the time of his arrest eight
cartridges, A caliber, were found in his
pocket. and the police think he had bought
them for this particular weapon.
This afternoon the prisoner was measur-
ed and photographed for the gallery and
was turned over to the marshal and sent
to Jail.