Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-22

had the case in hand. and the safe-blowing
indictment was returned.
Now the officers are investigating the
part of the affair relating to the intended
killing of Sergeant Daley, and it is thought
that after the arrest of one of the two in
dicted parties at large some more ''squeal-
ing will be done and the case will be in
such shape that indictments for this al
legged murderous conspiracy may be re-
turned.
while it is rumored that some indictments
may be returned, no definite information
on this subject can be obtained.
Why He Confessed
Just how BILLY" Williams came to make
his confession some of the officers claim to
be ignorant. The fact that he was mar
ried, his old companions say, caused him to
make the confession, and soon after his ar
rest some of them predicted that such
would be the case.
Detective Horne, who has known Will
liams better than almost any other officer,
was also satisfied that he could not hold
cut and be separated from his wife.
Soon after Williams arrest his wife ap-
peared al the police station to see him and
employed counsel for him. When he was
sent to jail she went there to see him, and
has visited him there en- two occasions.
It is said that she begged him to confess
all he knew about the matter, and save
himself from prison sentence and this It
was thought, had had great weight with
him. She told him that if he did not squeal
first some of the rest of the gang would
seize upon the chance, and he would be
convicted and sent to prison.
AS long as his connection with the gang
would necessarily be shown up She told
him he might well get some advantage
out of the thing by making confession.
Williams was careful in what he agreed
to do, and it is said that he was promised
full immunity from punishment for any
implication in any of the crimes in which
his name has been mentioned.
When he gave his evidence before the
grand jury copies of his evidence were
made and Major Moore and Chief Holm
berger of the detective corps were each
given a copy. These copies they kept
where no one could see them and when
The Star published the exclusive story of
the confession Saturday the officers were
more than surprised.
Who "AIton'' Is.
The young man called Alton, whose name
has been kept out of the papers, in order
to assist the detectives in locating him, is
really named Offutt. He has been con-
rected. so it is said, with the Dempsey
Observation-Disclosures gang for a year, and 1t
was he who got all the necessary informa-
ton around the dock before the ferry COM
pany's safe was blown open. Young Offutt
is highly connected, and it is believed he
could command the use of influence and
money to save him from arrest and punish
ment. He was frightened by the arrest
of Williams when the raid was made on
Alexander Island, and went to Williams
house in South Washington and promised
Mrs. Williams to secure counsel and bail
for Williams. and was at work in that ef-
fort at the time that Williams was pre-
vailed upon by his wife to make a confess
sion.
Nearly Caught OTutt.
He was to have come to Williams house
Thursday evening with papers to show
hof hn had A
lawyer for Williams and the necessary bail
AS soon as Williams told his story to
the grand jury and 1t was learned Ihat
Offutt was to be at Williams house that
night detectives were stationed near the
house to make the arrest If he came But
he did not show up and has not been seen
since. The last heard of him was that he
had gone fishing up near Rockville.
One item of proof which is expected to
make the case clear against Desmond is
the discovery of q Grand Army button on
which his name was engraved, which was
seen on one of the men who took part in
the Dobbins shooting near RladeHsbGrg.
This was found in Desmond's valise, and
connects him directly with that affair.
Burning the Lady of the Lake.
Williams statement in regard to the
burning of the Lady of the Lake must be
taken with considerable allowance for the
present. He declared that he was ap-
preached with proposition from a party
interested in the insurance, offering him
a handsome sum to burn the boat. The de-
tectives are said to have connected young
Ofutt with this crime, and several inn
portant arrests are looked for hourly.
At the Office of the Peoples Transporta-
the Lady of the Lake. none of the officers
were to be found. The two young women
employed there as clerks were the only
occupants of the office. and they were lit
fyaf y,ad toll at,.Nr,t ,.-p
Tent. From what they said it did not ap-
pear that anybody had as yet received any
insurance, and it was highly uncertain
who would receive 1t. That the full force
of Williams charges was known and un-
derstood was admitted. and it was said
by one of the clerks that detectives had
acquainted them with Williams story some
days ago. Yet the young women said none
of the officers if the Peoples Transporta-
ton Company desire to make any state
nent whatever.
Reared In Crime.
BILLY" Williams began his criminal
career when he was not more than ten
years old. At that time he was locked up
in the old Jail here on a charge of till tap
ping. ard his father, also called BILLY"
Williams who was the driver of might
lire" hack. was also in Jail. He was sem
fenced to the penitentiary and few years
later his son followed.
Billy" Williams IT,, is now about thirty
eight years old, and the police say he has
served nearly twenty years in prison.
He served four years for burglary here,
five years in the Cherry Hill, Pa, prison
and five years in Richmond for the murder
of Policeman Arnold. Many crimes have
bee attributed to him which would have
sent him to the penitentiary, but he man.
aged to keep from getting caught. He has
always associated with dangerous criminals
and has served time in Jail. In addition to
terms in states prison.
GOVERNMENT FINANCES