New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-19
HEPBURN IS "WEBSTER. ~
POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED IN THE ASTOR
HOUSE BY FREDERICK G. ISLES


WAS MADE-rRorANITY AND pENrALs By
THE COUSIN OF POLICE COMMISSIONER
PHILIPs-THE MAN NOT ARRESTED
AN IMPORTANT MOVE IN
THE BROOKLYN BRI-
Berry SCANDAL.
Colonel William Hepburn was positively
identified at the Aston House yesterday as the
Colonel Webster who on March II. at the Sin
clair Hotel Manhattan offered Frederick G.
Isles S23.0OO with which to bride the Kings
County Grand Jury in the interest OF Police
Commissioner William F. Philips and Theodore
r. Willis Isles himself made the identification
without hesitation. He picked Hepburn from
one hundred men. AS Isles SAYS that he had
rover seen Hepburn before. and It seems
probable that this is true one being a Man
haitian and the other Brooklyn man. and the
men never having been associated together. 1t
would seem that another important move has
been made toward reaching the high officials
who instigated this great crime
Hepburn Is n cousin II Is said Of Police
Commissioner Philips. He is an habtue OF
the Mulberry-st. Police Headquarters and has
been frequent caller there since Philips took
office. His identification as Colonel Webster
Will cause many more New Workers 10 ask
how much longer his cousin. Mr. Philips. Is to
be allowed TO remain Police Commissioner in
view OF the recent disclosures. Many New
Workers have declared that the continuance OF
Mr.. Philips In Office is becoming a scandal. be-
cause so long as he Is a Police Commissioner
his subordinates cannot he expected To exert
themselves TO get evidence against him II he Is
guilty Of the charges already made. No police
detective would be expected TO seek evidence
which might help TO convict Commissioner of
Police. Mayor Van Wyck has made no move
to turn Mr.. Philips out Of office. although he
has power 70 remove him at once. He has con-
tented himself with requesting a speedy trial
Toy the Commissioner. Meanwhile the Police
Department ~ the city is under the control OF
Commissioners one Of whom Is under indict-
mcnt
Isles in company with Assistant District
Attorney John F. Clarke. Of Brooklyn. went to
the As.or House At 2 o'clock yesterday after
noon. Mr.. Clarke knew that at that hour Hep
burn would he eating in the rotunaa Of the
Astor Horse Just how he knew II he will not
saw bu. Il is believed that III" meeting was ar
ranFei hy Hephuin's attorney. David Wcch. MT
Welch probably agreed 10 assist in this matter.
a. he knew the Identification could not be longer
postponed Whether no. Hepburn had been
warrei that he n he confronted With Isles
IS a matter 4 surn,ise Isles a..d Mr.. Clarke
walked rapidly 70 the centre OF IN" rotunda.
and NJ. CLARKE. turning TO the man who ha7
turned States evidence in the bribery scandal.
said:
DO you see Colonel Webster at any Of these
counters"
HE FOUND HIS MAN
Isles turned and looked down the right hall
circle NJ counters and shook his head Then he
turned and began looking along the left-hand
circle When his eye had passed half the dis
tancc he seized Mr. Clarke by the arm and said
"Here-herc is The man"
Leading the way he walked swiftly over -
where Hepburn "a, eating In company with n
man with a blond mustache.
Mr. Clarke this Ia the man 7 was with. to-
r~ther with wlnant. in the Sinclair Hotel on
tho night Of March - This Is Colonel Webster"
Isles spoke nrmly and had his eyes fixed on
Hepburn: a, The same time he placed his hand
on the man ne was Identifying
Hepburn flushed and Immediately assumed an
angry demeanor
Il am not colonel Webster" he Piled in n
loud voice My name Is Nilliam Hepburn.
You are -- loafer. thief and black
mailer and you've been I'm this business Ion <
while"
Al this poin, Hepburn checked himself as !
fearing that the manner in which h" was al
dressing Isles might make Il appear that he had
see, him before Turning 10 Mr.. Clarke. he
said IN mi'der tone:
Mr. Clarke you are honorable gentle
MAJ, hu, I meyer saw this man in my life be-
fore don't know him
This by the way is damaging. az II corrobo-
rates Isless statement that ne had never seen
Hepburn except upon tho one occasion az inc
Sinclair House The Identification was on" of
the everest tests that could have been made"
Unless Isles hal known Hepburn II would have
been Impossible to have picked him out from
the men who were eating at the tables
THEY EXPECTED a FIGHT
Tho angry and profane manner in which Hep
burn spoke 10 Isles caused great commotion
in the rotunda- Every one stopped eating. and
many left their reats TO gather around the ex-
cited party. thinking there was going to he n
resort TO blows. Isles did not cover before n"
fcrocty Of the man ne was accusing. but IN
turn got angry himself Shaking his finger In
Uepburns face he shouted:
"you know you're the man. and Won know
Won were there See the TX you've ROT mo into.
Get out 81 here. you ------- ---- --, ana
with that Hepburn ripped out string OF oaths.
Mr.. Clarke was annoyed at tho unnecessary
disturbance that was being created. and. seizing
Isles by the arm. hastily walked out Of the hote'
with him Hepburn had his hat OF when identi-
fed and this was fortunate. AZ he had his hat
on at the meeting in the Sinclair House. he
"a a smoot h. shaver man. past middle HE. WIN
strong but .egular features. OF decidedly
"sporty" cast. lie is stout. and was well dressed
Mr.. Clarke was asked by Tribune reporte.
whether Hepburn had betrayed that he recog-
nizcd Isles when Isles approached and spoke TO
him.
IL cannot say positively" replied Mr.. Clarke;
isle, recognized him so readily and walked up
10 him so briskly that |. not knowing Hepburn
WINS unable to see which man he was until Isles