Evening star., 1903-07-21
THREATENED SUICIDE
GEORGE WILLIAMS CREATES
SCENE IN POLICE COURT.
Convicted Of Vagrancy and Sentenced,
He Declared He Would Cut His
Own Throat.

George Williams. a young colored man.
who claims to be a resident of Richmond.
Va. declared in the District branch Of the
Police Court his intention of ending his life.
after he had been convicted on a charge of
vagrancy and sentenced by Judge Kimball
to spend 364 days in the work house or fur
nish $500 bond as the equivalent. Williams
was standing upon the witness stand at the
time he made the declaration. and then he
started back in an attempt to leap over the
rail. He was quickly overpowered. how
ever. and by sheer force was returned to
a cell to remain until he could be transfer
red to the work house later in the day.
Williams was arrested by Detectives Baur
and Lacy about two weeks ago while at
tempting to dispose of a watch. since which
time he has been in the work house await
ing trial. In the meantime the detectives
have been attempting to locate Andrew j.
Wilson. from whom the watch was stolen
seven years ago. They were not successful
In locating Wilson. he having moved since
he reported the loss of his watch. Will
liams was brought into court today and
tried on a vagrancy charge. and letter
from X. F. Ragland. chief of police at
petersburg, Va. was admitted in evidence
The letter recited that Williams an
all-round bad man and a thief. and that he
had served time at that place for larceny.
Admits Part Of Charge.
When called on to make an explanation
the defendant admitted that he served
time at Petersburg. but denied that 1t was
for theft. claiming that he had been mixed
up in some disorder there several months
ago. for which he was sentenced to spend
three months in jail He declared that
he purchased the watch at Brooklyn, N
y, three years ago and said that it had
never been out OF his possession until 1t
was taken from him by the detectives. The
court called his attention to the fact that
the numbers on the timepiece correspond
exactly with those given to the detective
office by Mr. Wilson when his watch was
stolen seven years ago. He was unable to
account for it and the court decided against
him.
Upon hearing Judge Kimball pronounce
sentence Williams declared with an oath
that he would not serve one minute Of the
sentence. but would cut his throat. He
raved like a frenzied animal and thrust
one hand in the direction Of his hip pocket
jumped from the witness stand and made
for the rail with a rush, nearly knocking
Prosecutor Sinclair off Of his feet. The
prisoners wife. who was seated among the
spectators. added to the excitement by
screaming and the court room was for
short time in uprOar.
Edgar Boyle. son Of Lieut., Boyle of the
third precinct, who was directly in the
mans path. sprang upon him and threw
him backwards upon a table. being assisted
ny DelectlVeS Lacy anu WIo Cdlle W
his rescue. Williams fought violently and
it was only after he had been placed In
cell that he was subdued. The detectives
aided by number of police officers
dragged the man back through the dock
to the cell room. he fighting and kicking
the entire distance.
AS he has been in the workhOuse since
his arrest two weeks ago, it was not
thought that he did have a weapon
Of any kind on his person. but he was
searched as a precaution, the search re-
vealng nothing.