Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-01-06
PARKER Is RETICENT
u Simply Dsulss Bang Connected With
The Nithers SHindll
Chisf Foe, satisned Of Their Innocence
mas Them Reiessed--How the A.
sayist Was Captured

" S"Sho"ra M tne cnarge or being con-
nec'ed with that atrocious transaction.
one OF the persons apprehended. Thomas
III Parker alas q. W. Garden. who Is
thought 20 have worked the assaylst role
AZ Fords Hotel, now rests IN ono of the
cells OF the Second Police-Siation. having
oeen brought over from the Cockade
CITY yesterday morning, while the two
men taken mp at Lynchburg as suspects
ana who gave A. their names w. T.
Frazier and f. w. Mcconnell, are pro.
baby breathing the air OF the brave and
the free this morning, as Major sohn
roe, ChSef OF Police. having become salts
ned that they were not implicated In the
Withers stsel. wired II the Hin City last
night ordetiIg their release.
The dotAils OF this decidedly romantic
ana almost phenomenal piece OF rascality
were printed In yesterdays Dispatch. and
were deyeured by people all over Vir.
gina. and IN other States al well. Here
IN Rionmond the detective force and those
who had assisted in making the arrests
were receiving the plaudits OF Amos,
every one. Even Mr.. Alfred w. Withers
She Gloucester man who had been duped
out OF his $500 in cold cash. was brighter
and happier In the thought that he
would probably see his deceivers brought
10 Justice and recover large part OF his
money. The Dispatch readers had beer
Informed of the arrest OF Parker in Pc
ttrsburg, and many persons were so eager
IN the matter that they telephoned 20 the
station-house right after breakfast TO as
certain II the alleged swindler has been
brought 10 the city.
PARKER BRoCGT TO RICHMOND.
On the 9 A. NJ train for Petersburg
yesterday were Sergeant Tomlinson. De-
tectivts Schlief and johnson. and Mr..
Withers. the victim OF the gold-brick
swindle. They returned 10 this city a
couple OF hours later. bearing with them
Parker. VINO had cssayed the role of
United States Government Mint assayist
at Fords Hotel, which feature OF the
scene seemed 10 have totally dispclled
from the mind OF Mr. Withers any APP
prehension that there was anything
wrong In the transaction. Parker was
positively Identified by the gentleman
from Gloucester. ana upon arriving in
Richmond ne was taken Immediately 10
the Office of the Chief OF Police. Major
Poe held short conference with the
2 prisoner IN the formers private Office,
after which Parker was taken to the Sc
cond Station and locked up.
NAMEs 1AisDEN.
At noon yesterday Parker dispatched a
messenger from tho station house to the
Office OF Mr.. Louis Wendenburg and
that gentleman was soon IL. conference
with the prisoner Mr. Wcndenburg was
engaged by Parker as counsel. and given
an order upon the $40 taken from his
person when arrested. and 10 this order
he signed the name &c. W. Garden.
When taken into the station-house Par
her was questioned closely by the officers
IN charge. and he gave his age and oc-
cupation. He said that he was &c years
old, native OF Tennessee. and a horse
nan. He had shaved of his Eandyke
wEiskers. and only wore a heavy nous
tache. which was tinged with gray. tie
IS a man about six fee. tail. OF corpulcnt
build. and very fine looking. His face is
decidedly fun. his eyes large I'm dimen-
eions and brown in color, and his thick,
dark-brown hair IS slightly streaked with
gray. He was dressed yesterday In a
cult OF heavy. gray clothes, OF rather APP
propriate character f0- q householder.
and the big. brown cap which constituted
his headgear was IN exceedingly good
taste. Altogether he was a Very different
locking men from the alleged assayist
who was called in as n disinterested person
to testify to the character OF the gold
contained I'm the Indians bricks.
The charge entered against Parker on
the book at the police-station was that OF
feloniously obtaining under false repre-
sensations the sum Of 5000 from Alfred
W. Withers, OF Gloucester county
HE WAS NOT TALKATTvE.
To all who attempted 10 question Par
ker concerning his arrest he declined 10
speak concerning the case. Once or twice
Ia asserted that he was innocent of any
I'D.
than this he did not speak about the
matter. He was closely interrogated ty
the Richmond officers and by representa-
tives OF the press, but maintained even
stern secrecy concerning his life and his
knowledge OF the swindling game Friday.
The news Of his Incarceration at the Sc
cond PoliceStaton spread very rapidly,
and many persons called with the hope
OF getting a glimpse OF him. The idle
curiosity of such persons however,
awaited them nothing, as Captain Angle
would only allow those who had business
with the prisoner to enter or look within
his cell
The Dispatch reporter who called upon
Parker about 1 O'Clock in the afternoon
was greeted very pleasantly by the
prisoner After the form OF an introduc-
ton 20 the news-gatherer. Parker said:
II am glad to see you, and am only
sorry that cannot discuss this case with
you. i have a cousin who Is a newspaper
reporter, and / know the importance at
tached to such interviews. but ! deem 1t
best, as does my counsel, that I should
remain silent upon the matter"
NATIVE OF TENNESSEE.
With this the incarcerated man looked
blandIy through the little aperture in the
ceil-door. displaying an open. frank face
in which II would be difficult matter to
depic. conceit'
"W'here are you FROM" asked the Dis
patch man.
81 am a native OF Tennessee" was the
brief response.
How did you come to secure Mr.. Wen
denburg az your counsel?"
''He was well recommended to me by
one Of the officers here and, as was a
stranger here. and wanted a lawyer
.sa,.. KY I sent for him. He has made a
Ins.slmpression upon me. and arm sure
I have made a good selection.
Have you discussed this case with any
other newspaper-manT
II have not 1 have pointedly refused
20 talk about II. / read the Dispatchs
report OF the affair while coming over
hero on the train from Petersburg this
morning"
The news-gatherer then questioned the
Alleged nOFScman IfOfu lcDHtSScc WI
corning places and conditions in that
State. and the prisoner displayed much
knowledge concerning them.
HIS WIFE AND MOTHER.
As the Dispatch man was about to leave
the cell. no asked Parker II he was a
married man, and he replied in the
affirmative. and two large tears filled his
big. brown eyes.
"Hays you any children" further
Queried the scribe.
ayes, / have two-and i also have
dear old mother, "A years OF age" and
here Parker broke completely down, and
tie news-gatherer babe him good-day.
and left his quarters.
During the day Parker was called upon
by Mr.. withers. the victim. Alr. Joseph
Bryan, TO whom Mr.. Withers had gone
70 borrow 81. 900 after having paid for his
supposed gold, several persons from
Ford's Hotel. including the barber there,
and three OF these positively identified the
prisoner as the fictitious assayist.
THE BRICKS ON EXHIBITION.
On the streets yesterday the swindle
was the talk Of the day. Al the hotels
IN banks. in stores. IN cafes, and In the
homes Of Richmond II was the subject OF
most interesting conversation. Many
bank cashiers and teiiers were asked II
they had any "gold-bricks' on deposit
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