Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-15
A Chicago Detective Shoots the
Wrong Man.
WAS ON TIE LOOKOUT FOR BURGLARS
Met the White Brothers, One of
Whom is a Noted Thief.
COMMENT ON THE AFFAIR

CHICAGO, November 15-Frank White.
a brother of Clarence White, noted
burglar and thief, was shot and instantly
killed last night by Edward Dix, an officer
of a private detective agency. The officer
was looking for Clarence White when he
met Frank riding in a buggy. Stories diff
fer as to how the shooting began, but Dix
claims that White fired upon him first and
that he returned the fire. This is denied
by the friends of W hite who claim that
Dix wantonly killed an innocent man. Dix
was arrested by the police.
Dix was interviewed at the central police
station this morning, but said that under
orders from his superintendent, Charles
Mcdonald. and the attorney for the agency
he must decline to say more than that he
thought the man shot was Clarence White.
a man who had been sought for months
under charge Of burglarzing the resi-
dence of Norman B. Ream, the well-known
board of trade man. Dix admitted that he
might have been mistaken.
The officials of the detective agency de-
cline positively to talk. The police depart
ment has detailed several detectives to
thoroughly investigate the case.
The agency has for several months past
had charge of what are known here as the
porch climbing cases. The residences of
several wealthy residents of the south side
have been burglariZed by a gang, which. it
Is alleged, was headed by Clarence White,
q brother of the murdered man and well
known to the police. He was arrested
several months ago by another agency, but
managed to secure release on writ OF
habeas corpus.
The city police arrested him, secured his
Indictment. and he was discharged for lack
of evidence. A private detective agency
captured his partner, Butch Smith, ana
convicted him, sending him to Joliet for
eighteen months. Other members of the
gang were also arrested and sent to the
penitent!ary. Since that time the agency
employing Dix has had charge Of the case,
and has been constantly looking for him.
The agency has had a man watching the
residence of Mrs. White, mother of Frank
and Clarence White. and last evening re-
ceved word that Clarence had come to the
house. apparently 20 pay visit. Five de-
tectives were at once sent over. and by the
time they arrived the spy announced that
two men had driven away from the house
in buggy.
The detectives followed the route named,
and met the buggy at the corner of Polk and
Latin streets.
Dix, who claims to be intimately acquaint-
ed with Clarence White, says he recognized
him as one of the men in the buggy; jumped
to the bride Of the horse. and called on
White to surrender. The agency people as
sert that one OF the men in the buggy i'm
Dediately drew a revolver and fired a shot.
Dix returned 1t, and his companion also be-
gan shooting. Dix dropped the bride and
the buggy was driven rapidly away.
avenue drove to the West 18th street station
IT. buggy containing the corpse of the man
later identified as Frank White. There were
several bullet holes in the box of the buggy,
and in the bottom were found five bullets of
large caiber. The man who drove the
buggy to the station said he saw the horse
running west in Polk street, and. thinking
1t was a runaway. stopped 1t and climbed
Into the buggy. He then found the corpse.
Clarence had evidently left the carriage as
soon as he succeeded in driving away from
the private detectives.
The body was taken to a morgue where it
was soon identified by the mother as that
of her son Frank, who Is said to be a good
citizen and an employe of a large COM
mercial house in this city.
Mrs. White declined for the present to
talk on the subject Of the alleged visit Of
Clarence to the house. as to whether he
had departed with Frank in the buggy.
No trace of Clarence has yet been found.
The shooting has caused a great deal of
discussion among attorneys and citizens
generally as to the assumption by private
agencies Of authority to arrest men with
out warrants.
The case promises to become a celebra ted
one in this line. 1T is asserted that in no
state but Illinois are private detectives al
lowed such latitude