Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-10
S TILL IN CUSTODY
Few Developments in the Safe-Blowing
Case.
Billy Williams Changes His Mind
About TalI<fnE-DesmOndR Ready to
Come Here-SOme Proofs.

So far as could be ascertained this morn
ing the detectives had obtained no addi-
tional proof in the case of the two men.
Eddy Desmond and BILLY" Williams,
under arrest on suspicion of completely In
the safe robbery at the office Of the Wash
ington Ferry Company ten days ago. al
though they are still Investigating the
case Eddy" Desmond is still safe in the
Alexandria jail, while .SI5illy" Williams was
committed to the Jail here today by the
Police Court to await the arrival of the
Alexandria prisoner. =
Yesterday afternoon the detectives felt
elated over the prospects Of BILLY" Will
Jams making a clean breast Of the affair.
AS printed in yesterdays Star, he was in
terviewed yesterday at police headquarters
by Inspector Hollinberger. but he had moth
ing of interest to say about the case, deny
ing any knowledge whatever of the safe
burglary, and he was returned to the po-
lice station. During the afternoon teie-
phone message was -srecelyed from the
station TO the effect that BILLY" Williams
This gave the officers the impression that
he was ready to make confession, and
Inspector Hollinberger went to the station
to see him. He concluded, however, that
he would not hear his statement until this
morning, after he had seen the district at
torney regarding any promises he might
| make Williams. But this morning 1t was
too late, for Williams had changed his
mind, and promptly told the officers that
he would say nothing except to repeat his
denial.
Innocence Protested.
Lawyer Bendheim, who is counsel for
Desmond, told Star reporter this morning
that his client Is now ready to return to
| this city and stand trial
1.-The authorities" said Mr.. Bendheim,
"have nothing against my client, and he
! is tired Of staying in the Alexandria jail.
| He is not guilty of the crime charged, and
| Is anxious to get out Of prison..
| Lawyer Eugene J. b. O'Neill, counsel for
BILLY" Williams. also declares that his
| client Is innocent.
THE officers have made mistake he
| said to a reporter, land l think they are
now anxious to get the men off their
| hands,"
| Friends of Desmond talking about the
case protest his innocence, and assert that
| the safe robbery was done by others, one
| of whom was familiar with the company 8
| business.
Police Confident.
On the other hand the police seem conf
| dent that they have the right men and
| hope to get additional evidence. The miss
| ing man, Jack who was known at jack
son City as "Eddys' partner, has not yet
been located, although, 1t is said. the Off
GERS have clue to his whereabouts.
The finding of scorched money on Des-
| mond the police regard as an extremely
| suspicious circumstance, and the finding
| of the twine on the boat at jackson CITY,
similar to that used in binding Fonscheii,
| the Waterman, the officers think makes 1t
evident that the burglars were at jackson
City before the crime was committed, and
that they crossed the river in boat.
| AS printed yesterday the officers suspect
| ed that Desmond was one or the second
story workers, who had operated IN the
county, and yesterday afternoon Miss Ben.
nett daughter of Or. Harrison Bennett OF
Takoma, went to Alexandria with Detec-
tive Boardman to see Desmond. MISS Ben
nett saw the burglar who was In her
house at Takoma but she was certain that
Desmond is rot the man whom she saw.
| During the investigation OF this case the
| officers learned that some burned money
| probably a portion of the proceeds OF the
| Clark robbery, was redeemed at the treas
ury Department shortly after that robbery
and they may possibly arrest the mar
| who had it redeemed. and ascertain II pos
sible from where he got IT.
A Continuance.
| When Lawyer O'Neih appeared IN Judge
Miller's court in the interest of William:
he made complaint against the police De
cause Of the trouble he had to see his
client, and charged that uhe police were
irving to extort confession from MIN
Counsel said that his client was ready ant
anxious for hearing. and asked that TN
| preliminary examination be had TO-DAY.
This the prosecuting officer said could no
| be done.
The court granted a continuance unit
. next Tuesday, and fixed the BOND at sZ'oop