Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-11-21
SHOT WRONG MAN
PRIVATE DETECTIVES IN CHI
CAGO MAKE A MISTAKE.
KILL AN INNOCENT BROTHER
Great Indignation Expressed-F'rank
White, Brother of a Burglar, ST t
to Pieces by Berry's Sleuths-Cor-
oner's Verdict and Investigation
Show a Bad State of Affairs.

chicago, NOV. lo.-f TALK ulte,
brother OF Clarnece White, the noted
burglar and thief, was shot and in
stantly killed by w. J. Dix, an officer
Of the Berry private detective agency.
The officer was looking for Clarence
White when he met Frank riding in a
buggy. Stories differ as to how the
shooting began, but Dix claims that
White fired on him first and that he
returned the fire, This is denied by
friends of White who claim that Dix
wantonly killed an innocent man.
Dix was seen at the Central station
yesterday, but said that under orders
from his superintendent, Charles Nc
Donald, and attorney for the agency,
must decline to say more than that he
thought the man shot was Clarence
White, the man who has been sought
for months, under charge of burglariZ-
ing the residence OF Norman b. Ream,
well known board OF trade man.
Dix admitted that he must have been
mistaken. The officials of the detec-
tive agency decline positively to talk
The subsequent investigation on the
part Of the police authorities have led
to startling Developments. The dis
coveries made may result most seri-
ously to several members OF the Berry
detective agency, including the super
intendent. Not only was W. J. Dix,
who was arrested as the man who
killed White, held to the grand jury
by the coroner, but the circumstances
surrounding the case go to show that
the buggy in which the two men were
riding was brought almost to a stand
still when the tragedy occurred and
that at least three of the detectives
who were detailed to assist in the ar
rest of Clarence White made an effort
to crowd about the vehicle and emp
tied one or more chambers of their
revolvers in the direction Of the limo
cent man who was killed. AS result
of the police investigation
wholesale arrest of members of the
agency was ordered by Inspector Fitz-
patrick and last night seven men in ad-
dition to Dix, previously arrested,
were locked up at the police headquar-
ters. Search for another man is
also being made. The names
of the men arrested are:
Supt. Chas. "A. Mcdonald, Joseph
Well, Daniel McLain, Joseph Mac
Donald, Jacob Fischel, Charles Poole,
John Frew, w. J. Dix. The name OF
the ninth man wanted is Thompson.
OF these it is probable that McLain
and We'll will be released as they are
not considered responsible for the I'M
mediate Staying of White or for the
action OF the management. Five or
the prisoners, Poole, Frew, Thompson,
Fiscnel and Dix, are known to have
been on the scene OF the shooting, the
, latter two having been positively iden-
titled by an On-looker. Fischel admit
ted that he fired two shots into the
buggy and gave evidence duplicating
Frew and Thompson. Poole also adj
mitted having used his revolver.
White was shot almost to pieces by
the detectives. Two bullets pierced
his brain, two went through his chest
and he was shot through the spine
from the rear. All the bullets were OF
large calibre and fired from close
range. The men now under arrest
comprise the entire force of the Berry
agency with the exception OF the one
man the police are looking for. The
shooting has caused great deal of
discussion among attorneys and citi-
zens generally as to the assumption by
private agencies of authority to arrest
men without warrants, and by several
prominent attorneys much indignation
is expressed. The case promises to
become a celebrated one in this line
and it is asserted that in no state but
Illinois are private detectives allowed
such latitude.
Late last night Clarence White,
brother of the murdered man, gave
himself up to the police He said that
when the shooting occurred his
brother was driving him to the Forest
home station or the Great Western
road where he was to take the train
for Iowa. He said the detectives be-
gan firing without a word of warning
and that their stories of firing by him
and of his brother were false His
story in all particulars is corroborated
by the evidence given at the inquest
Shortly before midnight William
Mayo, well-known pugilist, was ar
rested. He has been connected with
the Berry agency and admitted that
he fired twice into the buggy when
White was killed.