The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1895-06-04
THE MURDER OF HARRIS
Wasself Entangled In an Ugly Look
ing Web of Circumstances.
HAD BEEN IN THE VICINITY.


Alibl, but There Are Many Flaws
In His Story Identified by
Coachman and n Grocer.
NEW YORK. June 3-The latest sus-
pect captured by the police in connection
with the murder of Ferdinand Harris, the
colored butler of NJ c. D. Borden, is
Charles Wasself who has been living for
the past two months with Alexander
Guinzberg at 435 West Twenty
street.
He was arrested by Policeman Heyman
of the West Twentieth Street station, after
two days search by the police
All the evidence the police have against
Wasself is given by Guinzberg, who told
the story of his suspicious at police head
quarters last Thursday. Guinzberg Is o
life insurance agent, and has known Was
self for a number of years, Both are Rus
slams
In 1892 Wasself was convicted Of pass
{ ing forged check for $40 on Guinzberg,
and he was sent to the Elmira reforma-
tory, where he remained till about eight
weeks ago, when he was discharged.
He came to New York, and Guinzberg,
taking pity on him. gave him board and
lodgings in his house until he could find
work.
On Monday last, the day of the murder
of Harris Wasself left the house and did
not return until 4 O'Clock in the after
noon, when he came in drenohed with
rain. His manner excited Guinzberg's
suspicious. Tho next day after he had
gone out Edward Tanney of 227 Hudson
street came to Guinzberg and told him
how Wasself had tried to pass bogus
check for S56 upon him. 1t was signed
with Guinzberg's mama
Suspicion Aroused.
When Wasself did not return, it was de-
oided to report the matter to the police,
aud it was then that Guinzberg, who had
read the stories of the Harris murder in
the newspapers, first began to suspect Was
self might be one of the men who visited
MT Borden house on the day Of the mur
der.
He oorresponded almost exactly to the
description given of the shorter of the two
, men. He told the police his suspicious,
and after Wasself' arrest he was identified
, by two men at the Twentieth Street police
station.
One of these was Albert Volkert, a
grocer of 290S Third avenue who, it
} seems, was passing the Borden house last
} Monday afternoon just after the shooting
and saw the men oomeout of the base
, ment and go up the street. He picked out
} Wassef at once among IA men who were
placed in line by Acting Captain Lynch.
The other man who identified Wasself
: was Charles Smith, the coachman Of Shep-
} pard Knapp who, although he hesitated
at first, finally declared that the prisoner
strikingly resembled one of the men he
saw leaving the Rordan houSa
Joseph Tupe, the oolored man who also
saw the men in West Fifty-sixth street
just after the shooting, was there, but he
could not identify Wasself
1t is said that Katie Murphy, the kitoh-
en- maid, who is now with the Borden
: family at Oceanic N j., will be brought
to the city for the purpose of identifying
Wasself
Guinzberg says his suspicious were first
aroused when Wassef came home on Mon
day afternoon by his evident attempt to
conceal something in his right trousers
pocket which bulged out, and every time
: he moved he would make a blinking sound.
He kept his hand over his pocket all the
> time, just as the man did who was seen
running away from the Borden house
q Wasselfs Faulty Alibi.
G When Wasself left the house Tuesday he
q wore one of Guinzberg's coats, blue
j serge, instead of his own, which was q
shabby black cheviot. After that he was
not seen until his arrest yesterday.
Volkerts story is that he followed the
= two men from Fifty-sixth street on Mon
+ day afternoon last to a saloon at Bifty-dr
e street and Park avenue. While there he
Y says he overheard the smaller man say
G something in a low tone to his companion
II about killing Niger up the street, He
} knew nothing at that time about the
o shooting of Harris.
Wasself has told the police that on the
day of the murder he went to Williams
burg to look for work and did not return
Is until noon He stopped in book store in
y Second avenue and then went to Guinz
II berg's house He admits that he went
D. away early the next morning, fearing ar
5 rest for passing the forged check upoI
e Tanney.
Il The police say that there are fatal flaws
3, in Wasself's attempt to prove an alibi, fol
he cannot remember the name or address
of the bookseller whose store he said hi
visited
u Wasself also says that he first heard O.
II the shooting of Harris about o'clock il
d the afternoon from a man he met in thu
II street No one outside of the police and
II few reporters knew anything about th
d murder until after o'clock that evening
Is Shortly before II O'Clock NJ. C. d. Borden
s in whose house Ferdinand Harris wa
murdered had conference with Chic
Conlin.
, The Selby Seizure.
{ VICTORIA, B. c., June 3.-Admira 3.
Il Stephenson has decided that it will be nee
II essary for prosecution in admiralty to b
N | h,.nI1cIlt nr.ninaE tLn analnr Enll.u arrnatn