Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-06
PLENTY OF WITNESSES
lexington Road Robbers Are Ready to
Confess.
Not Desired, However, by Authorities
some More Of the Money Re-
covered in Baltimore.

Now that the three participants in the
lexington and Soldiers Home street car
office robbery are in Jail, anticipating q
heavy sentence, there is a disposition on
their part to do some talking, and William
Isaac Roberts has made the detectives a
direct offer to turn informer and tell the
story of how the plot was arranged and ex-
ecuted. But Inspector Hollinberger and
Detectives Boyd and Helan, who have done
such good work in the case, think they have
a strong enough chain of evidence against
Them to get conviction, and yesterday his
offer was refused. AS soon as Judge Miller
had held them for the action of the grand
jury, Roberts sent for the detectives. and,
as published in yesterdays Star, two of the
officers visited him in Jail late in the after
loon. These were Detectives Helan and
Lacy, and when they reached the prison
Roberts was not only willing, but was anx-
ious to turn informer in order to escape
punishment. The officers, however, told him
they could not accept his testimony under
the conditions he prescribed, but told him
that if the prosecuting attorney thought 1t
advisable to do so later he could then make
q sworn statement.
While ne did not go much into detail,
Roberts told of several things i'll connection
with the robbery. The identification Of the
pistol used by the robber was missing
link, and this was supplied by Roberts. who
said that the three of them were together
Wnen the pistol was purchased at the
4. pawnshop on E street, and it is the weapon
which Shenk used when he held up Superin-
tendent Bubb Saturday morning. Grace
Gooding, the female in the case, he told the
Officers handled all the money after the
robbery was committed Roberts was not
closely questioned, for the reason, as al
ready stated, the officers did not want to
accept him as informer-
Man and Woman.
Monroe D. Shenk. the ex-conductor, who
fas several aliases. and Grace Gooding.
who is also known under several other
names, have retained Lawyer Shillinston
to defend them and before they were taken
to court he instructed them to say nothing
to the officers. Until they reached the Po-
lice Court dock they had not been permit
ted to talk over the case together, so that
they had not lad an opportunity to fix up
a story or agree to turn states evidence
against Roberts
The woman. however, did not obey the
Instructions of her counsel. She wanted
her friend Shenk to tell the story against
Roberts and escape prosecution, while she
feit reasonably certain OF getting out of
the trouble or getting off with light SEN
tence. THIS she was perfectly willing to do
~ order to save the man whom she really
loved.
You see Shenk'' she said to one of the
officers. land tell him that / say for him 20
tell the whole truth of the affair."
But the officer did not need his confess
sion under such conditions nor did Shenk
seem inclined to talk a that time.
Last evening Detective Boyd went to
Baltimore in search of additional evidence
ard he succeeded in his undertaking. When
Grace GocdinS went to Baltimore Sunday
after the robbery she stopped at the How
ard House. where she registered as Miss
TfCmpsCn.''
Bought a Photograph.
Monday morning she had transaction
with the Columbia Pnonograph Company
There she gave her name as Miss Stick
les. She bought a phoncgraph and mu-
sic box, paying $40 on account. and prom
lslng 10 pay the balance, SIG, when the
goods were delivered to her at Taylor's
Hotel at Winchester. In payment of this
amount she gave the money in pennies
nlckeIs, dimes and quarters, and told the
clerk that this money represented the saw
1nSs of several months
Much to the surprise of the officer the
goods had not been shipped to Winchester,
and the monograph company turned over
TO him the money paid by the woman.
Speaking of the case today, the detect
Ives said they thought it would be unnec-
essary to have either of the prisoners turn
states evidence, as they now have more
than dozen witnesses in the case
Under the law for housebreakins the
maximum penalty is ten years.