Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-26
VOLUNTEER WITNESS
Colored Man Makes Statement Fa-
vorable to Busey.
WAS At EDWARDS FERRY TUESDAY
Police Working Hard to Complete
Chain of Evidence.
THE HEARING POSTPONED

There We're no new developments today in
the case of Charles Busey, the negro charg-
ed with criminally assaulting Mrs. Ada
Hardy, a white woman last Tuesday morn
ing at her home, in the county above
Georgetown All efforts toward ascertain
ing the mans whereabouts that day have
been unsuccessful so far, but the police do
not give up hope of securing the desired in
formation.
1t is clearly evident to those interested in
the matter that, if guilty, Busey acted
shrewdly. AS stated in The Star yesterday,
the police believe he had the matter all
planned ahead of time. The conviction that
Busey is the guilty man has not diminished,
but so far his story has not been refuted.
The identification of the culprit is re-
garded as complete and while II Is possible,
it is believed to be hardly likely that the
woman can be mistaken The actions of
the accused man al the time of the ldentl-
fication We're those of a guilty man in the
opinion of those in the room at the time.
Beyond this no information has been OBJ
tanned. The remainder of the proof is pure
ly conjectural and will have to be substan-
tiated before the trial can be held. The po-
lice are working hard on their theory OF
the matter and are not saying anything.
Police Reticent.
Detective Mueller of the central bureau
and Policeman Neale of the county mount
ed force are engaged on the case. They
were until o'clock this morning looking
up the details, but the result of their in
vestgations has been kept quiet. They
made Il report to Lieut.. Swndells this morn
ing which was followed by lengthy con-
ference the nature of which is unknown.
The police are endeavoring to learn where
Busey was between Tuesday morning and
3 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, the time he
boarded the boat of Capt. Beaver at Sen
eca, Md.
The prisoner still sticks to his story that
he was at Edwards Ferry Tuesday morn
ing. He made this statement at the time
of the irres. and still holds to 1t. Last
evening about I o clock a coored man APP
peared at the Georgetown station and
wantcI to see the prisoner. He was re-
fused admit5ance. He stated that Busey
was aboard the same boat upon which ne
worked Tuesday morning about or 8
o'clock.
story of Volunteer Witness.
This volunteer witness gave the name of
John Tyler, and said he worked on the
Transport, the boat of Capt. Miller. Ac-
cording to Tyer's story Busey boarded the
boat at Georgetown Saturday, and left a
package of old clothes. Both negroes come
from the same section of the country, and
Busey told Tyler that he was going home
to celebrate Whitsuntide, and that he in
tended taking a train Saturday evening or
Sunday morning. The Transport arrived
at Edwards Ferry Tuesday morning, he
said, and BuScy appeared at the boat and
got his bundle and walked away. In the
meantime the boat went up to Whites Fer
ry and Sycamore warehouse and took on
load of grain, reaching Georgetown yes
terday afternoon. Tyler claimed that as
soon Capt. Miller heard of the arrest of
Busey he told him (Tyier) to go to the sta
ton house and tell his story.
The statement of Tyler was taken down
In writing. The negro was questioned, and
claimed that the boat on which he worked
was unloading, and did not start up the
canal until Monday afternoon. The police
been seen Monday morning instead OF
Tuesday. Busey did not say anything to
Tyler about losing his job though the lat
ter met him a second time, late in the
evening, in a bar room in Boston,, a sec
ton OF Georgetown.
Verified by Capt. Miller.
Sergeant LYDIA instructed Policeman Da-
Wis to call upon Captain Miller and get his
statement. The result was a practical
verifcation of the story of Tyler. Captain
Miller was positive that it was Tuesday
morning when Busey boarded his boa- and
carried away pair of old boots that had
been wrapped in newspaper. Captain
Miller is well known 10 many people in
Georgetown and has good standing, and
his statement of the affair is generally be-
lieved. If Busey was at Edwards Ferry
at I or o'clock Tuesday it would have
been a difficult matter for him to come to
Georgetown i'll time to commit the crime
with which he is charged. 1t may have
been that he came In on train, as it is
known that he had a little money.
The Hearing Postponed.
The hearing of the case of Busey
was today postponed by Prosecutor
Mullowny until Monday next. Busey
was brought to court and placed
in the dock, where he had long
conference with his counsel, Messrs
Thomas l.. Jones and Fountain Peyton, at
the conclusion of which he was sent back
to the cell room and later was taken to
jail in the
Mr.. Jones, counsel for the prisoner told
a star reporter there was no doubt that
Busey is innocent of the charge against
him, and that il will be so shown when
the case comes up for trial
1t was stated that Mrs. Hardy was too
Ill to come to court today.