The evening Republican., 1902-04-29

Postmaster Smith and Sheriff Hart.
Thcn hand cuifed. the negro was
taken J miles over the country to
the Collins home.
This afternoon Postmaster George
e. Smith, of Laurel, friend of Col
Inns, went to Newark with a blood
stained coat and a shirt with stains
resembling blood on one sleeve worn
by Waite at the time of his arrest.
These articles were submitted to the
State chemist to determine whether
the stains were made by human
blood. The detectives also have the
shoes worn by Waite, which they say
fit exactly in the tracks leading from
the Collins house to the thickct, 300
yards away. 1t was reported today
that the detectives had dug up
some bloody clothing near this
thCket.
II have never heard Waite yet say
he killed Mrs. Collins" declared
Sheriff Hart this afternoon. Il was
present when lie made the confession,
DuJ L llaNC lltI ilCdl u nm ouS llS hlll-
ed the woman.
"Docsn't that statement he is sup.
posed to have made make him say be
killed Mrs Collins:" The sheriff was
asked
"Ycs," he replied. ,"What l know
about this case is locked up here
added the sheriff significantly, tap.
ping his left breast, "anl nobody
can get it out. y
Former Attorney.General Robert
c. White is of the opinion that Waite
killed Mrs. Collins. Mr.. White, by
the way, is counsel for Elmer Collins,
the young husband who is accused by
the state detectives.
81 believe that Waite is as guilty
of this murder as Gordy was of the
murder for which he was hanged"
said Mr. White. "'ThiS confession is
simply the wool to fill the warp.
There will be other evidence.
"There will be five witnesses who
say they saw this negro Waite at
PortSyilc the night before Mrs Col
lins was murdered. When a sheep
has been slain, and a lion IS in the
fold, you cant help but believe that
the lion did the slaughter.
State Detective Ratledgc arrived
here this evening, and had a brief
interview with Waite. The dete ctivc
does not place much credencc in the
''contcssion'' Of the negro, andpoints
to the failure to find the bloody shirt
or the money as an important fea.
ture that shows the "confession' to
be worthless.
The casting of suspicion on Waite
was the sole topic OF conversation
here to-day. While tho friends of
Elmer Collins declare that White is
the real murderer. there are Others
who say the Pinkertons are bound to
fasten the crime on somebody, and
that Waite has been selected to bear
the brunt Of the work. A general
impression exists here that Waite is
Of unSOlnd mind.
Denton, Md, April 2S.-It is be.
lieved that William Waite Pratt is
kuC hullS lHau WV dDUul liITcS
weeks ago was released from Den.
ton, jail.
Ballff Samuel Griffin, Of Denton, |
to-day talked by telephone with an
officer at Georgetown, Del, and
has no doubt OF the prisoner in.
IDENTIFY. The man supposed 10 be
Pratt was in Caroline county some
time and assumed several names.
Little was known about him. Iu
1900, he stole a bicycle
from Jacob n. Huges, OF Greens boro
and was convicted under the name
of Charles Downes. alias George
Daniels. The officers had trouble
in taking him and had to use their
weapons. One bullet struck him on
The side Of the head.
After his release from the peni.
Tertiary he came back 10 Caroline
county and went to the almshouse.
lie did not stay long, and was next
heard from near An udersontown, this
county. where he set fire TO small
dwelling belonging to Mr.. Levin
Foole.
Young Eaton, one Of the High
School runners last Saturday in the
relay race on the Franklin field,
Philadelphia, is confined to his
e,,,,>> L. |