Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-27

they visited old Mrs. johnson, Neale's
grandmother, and heard her statement re-
garding Neale's movements Monday morn
ing. She had not been given an opportunity
to see her grandson, but her story was
precisely the same as that told by him
when he was placed under arrest He had
been promised some money to take him TO
the Whitsuntide picnic at Boyds station,
where he was going to play base ball.
Some of the country people had favored
the old grandmotheT'S arrest, but some
friends took her part and she was permit
ted to remain at home.
She was questioned rather closely about
the buttons in the stove, and she ex-
planned this in the way heretofore eX-
planned. One of tine boys had cut his head,
and an old garment that had been used as
a bandage had been stripped of its buttons
and these were put in the stove.
Could Not Have Been the BuIIet.
This bullet, the officers think, could not
have gone through the hand and les of
Randolph, although it is now contended by
some of the country people that Mr.. Bux-
ton shot Randolph in the house, and that
he was not shot in the field when he made
an effort to evade the posse of citizens who
were on horseback.
The ak with which the members of the
Buxton family were supposed to have been
injured IS being held by a friend of the
family for Mr.. Easton, brother-in-law of
think 1t weighs about five pounds, while
States Attorney Kilgour said he thought
it weighed as much as seven pounds.
1t is surprising that SO heavy an instru-
ment did not do more damage, especially
If it were welded by SO able-bodied a col
ored man as either Randolph or Neale.
Looking for Clues.
The police here feel reasonably sure that
the colored men now in the Baltimore Jail
are innocent of this crime, and SO far as
Neale is concerned, Buxton bears them out
But until he sees Randolph 1t is not known
what he will have to say about him.
If Neale did not have a hand in the
crime, and, as already stated, the police
think he did not. then the murderer must
be at large, unless something develops to
i Taste tn, the crime up, upon Randolph, which
But the police say there must have been
a motive for the crime, but what motive
there could have been on the part of any
one has not fully developed 1t could
hardly have been murder, they say, for any
strong man with an ak could have caused
the death of every one who was struck
and without much trouble. In the Cooking
tragedy, in Charles county, a small hatch
ct was used. and any one Of the blows
would have caused death, for the instru-
ment in that case, although much smaller
than that used in the Buxton affair, pene-
trated the brain at each blow. This, the
police think, disposes Of the murder theory
Another motive might have been TO fell
ontouSly assault one OF the females, but
even this was not attempted This brings
1t down to a mercenary motive, so the DO
lice think, and If the house was entered
with burglarious intent, 1t was done by a
stranger. for Neale, they think, must have
known that there was not money enough
it. VIC ''0'' 'A'' 'S'''''u MS entering
Just what the detectives think of the
case they will not state. but it is stated
that the detectives will return to Gathers
burg tonight, and there may be some addi-
uonal arrests made.
People in the county are making a more
thorough search for the coat supposed to
1t may prove Of valuable assistance in the
investigation.
This afternoon States Attorney Kilgour
and Detective Horne called on Dr. j. Ford
Thompson and learned from him that the
two Buxton children are doing remarkably
well. They are, Of course, seriously in
Jured, but the doctor thinks that Mr. Bux-
tons injuries are very slight, and his wife
is not dangerously wounded.
Inc children were operated upon and
both opera tons were successful II they
continue to do as well for a few DAYS as
they are doing today both may recover
Several wheelmen from this city who
were in the vicinity of Gaithersburg Sun
day afternoon nre reported to have seen
two suspicious-looking colored men, and it
may be that some Of them will be able to
identify them. If SO, the Maryland people
hope to connect Neale and Randolph by
some one who saw them together Sunday
evening. The states attorney saw several
thinks he will be unable to get any infor-
nation of value from them