Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-23
NO NEW ARE S It's
Billy Williams Startling Confession Crea5es
@ Scare.
Police Have Not Found Any of the
Other Parties Implicated in the
Series of Crimes.

| AS the investigation of the confession of
| Billy Williams. one of the safe robbers,
| proceeds the number of crimes committed
| or concocted by the alleged gang do not
| decrease. But, as already printed in The
| Star, the confession of this desperate GRIM
| fnal includes the three crimes, the safe
| robbery at the ferry wharf, the burning of
| the Lady of the Lake and the conspiracy
| to assassinate Sergeant Daley. Long be-
| fore the arrest of Williams he had been
| seen to meet Offutt, who is now wanted by
| the officers. They had met in the park
south of Missouri avenue several times,
and the officers thought then that there
| was something wrong. Still the men were
| not arrested, and for some unknown reason
| Inspector Hollinberger refused to hold
Williams when he was arrested by Private
Detective McDevitt on suspicion of being
implicated in the Rosslyn safe robbery.
Detective McDevitt thought that Williams
had on him at that time some evidence of
the crime, but if he did have it he carried
it away with him when he was released.
1t was known all this time that BILLY"
Williams was spending considerable time
about the notorious places in jackson City,
and at the same time was visiting police
headquarters and endeavoring to get some
Endorsement to his application for watch
mans place under Col. Wilson. 1t may be
that he imagined he might be put In charge
of some place where his pals and him
self could make a big haul and then he
would leave this part of the country.
But he failed to get the position before he
was arrested, and now, Of course he will
never get 1t.
Some Comments.
In this connection some comments have
been made about the course of the grand
jury. The confession of Williams, involv-
ing, as it did. such serious offenses, some
persons think should have been followed tip
by the grand jury before the lapse Of many
hours and all the parties to the alleged
murderous conspiracy indicted and arrest
ed before they had chance to get away.
But their slowness in the matter, 1t Is said,
gave at least enc man. Onutt, chance to
get away. and he has disappeared. On the
other hand. il is possible that the grand
jury wanted some corroboraIive proof and
were waiting for this before taking action.
Detectives Horne and Weldon are work
ing on the case today. They left head
quarters in buggy this afternoon, but
just where they went and upon what point
they are looking for proof is not known.
OHutt Has Disappeared.
Offutt. whose name has figured prom
inently in the story of crimes, has. as
already stated, disappeared. He was here
several days after the arrest of Williams
and left about the time he supposed Will
Jams was talking Heretofore Williams has
fession this time was very much in the
nature OF 4 surprise to the thieves and
others with whom he had been associated.
The police thought that Offutt had gone
away with 4 huckster wagon selling fish in
| the country, and his return Saturday even
ing WIS expected. Just where he had gone
| the officers probably did not know but
| they suspected that he had gone either in
| the neishborhood of Rockville, Nd or STAFF
| ford Court House, Va.
! 1t is thought that he possibly went south
| and connected with the missing Jack
| Dempsey in Virginia, and that they are
| now together Two nights ago there was a
| hold robbery attempted in Prince William
county, and it is thought possible that
| some members of this alleged gang may
| have been implicated in the affair.
Not a Saint.
An officer, speaking to a Star reporter
| today, said that when Ofutt is caught the
| officers will not have saint Three years
ago. he said, Ofutt and man named Sulli-
van kept a grocery store in South Wash
| ington, and the place was heavily insured.
One night the store was set on fire, and
| Sullivan came near being burned to death.
The grand jury may make a report in
| court tomorrow, and it is thought possible
| that some indictments growing out Of this
case may be returned.