New-York tribune., 1903-07-12
OF THE WOODSES.
LIGHT ON THEIR RECORD.
Old Claims for alleged Losses by
Fires and ThieUeS.

Woods, whose route has been traced by their
trunks through Philadelphia and on in the d-
rection OF Bethlehem. Penn, is hourly expect
ed. The warrants for their arrest on the charge
of larceny Of effects of the late Colonel William
j. Best. whose mysterious death at San Rafael. |
Cal. has not yet been cleared up, are on their |
way from the West. and the police of several |
large cities are on the watch for them.
On Monday the couple left Atlantic City, and |
on Monnav night Tuesday morning they left |
Philadelpn'a- The conjecture is that Woods is |
making Tor Phillipsburg, N J.. Mrs woods's |
home. and that he will manage to drop the |
woman and her child there and then continue |
his flight 1t is known that he is short of
money. and his radius of action therefore is be-
lieved TO be small. When the police of BethIe-
hem were asked by Alfred NJ. Best son of the
dead colonel. to watch for the couple he ex-
planned that they were wanted in the Best case
What case is that? I haven't heard OF it?''
inquired the local chief Of police
QUEER CLAIMS FOR LOSS
New and striking collocations of the Woodses
with suspicious fires, in which houses were de-
stroyed and In two insurance demanded
by the WoOdses were unearthed yesterday by
the Best brothers They inquired of a repre-
sentative of a local fire insurance company hav-
ing interests IN Connecticut If he had heard of
Woods. The answer back promptly that
Woods stood on the cOmpany's books in connec-
tion with fire at Belle Isle in June 1895. Ac-
cording TO this agent. Woods, who then passed
as a Presbyterian clergyman, rented a cottage
in that resort from the Rev DR.. Freeman
Soon after. while Woods was alleged to be away
the cottage burned down under suspicious cir
cumstances. Woods quickly returned and put in
claim for a considerable sum for property de-
stroyed in the fire, which also destroyed six ad-
| joining cottages.
Of fba
furnished to the insurance company. Jut 1t dis
covered that simultaneously. Mrs. Woods was
pressing a claim for portion Of the same prop
| erty against the West Shore Railroad Company
alleging that they were contained in trunk lost
| between Weehawken and Newburg Needless
| to say, the claim was not allowed and the
| Woods family moved on.
WERE AT SHELDON HOUSE FIRE.
A second case of the presence of the Woods
family at fire furnished in the burning
| of the Sheldon House, in Ocean Grove in 1901.
| The fire said to have originated in the
! same part of the hotel the WoOdses were in,
| and after the blaze the Woodses promptly put
| in a claim for $500 insurance on Jewels and
! other property contained in the remarkable
| trunk that has figured in many of their ad-
| ventures The claim was compromised at $780,
| although the companys officers reported their
! belief that most of the property was mythical
| Still another blaze IN which the woodses were
alleged sufferers was the IRE IN a Pnssaio ware
house Out of this fire Woods collected con-
siderable sum on the strength of certain surgical
instruments alleged to have been in the build
| ing Still another catastrophe in which the
| Woodses figured occurred in Asbury Park
| Hotel in 1891 where several robberies took
| place and many of the guests complained or
| losses One of the most prominent complain
ants was Woods.
/ OF the consummate elf-possession of Woods.
| Sumner Best, a son of Colonel Best. tells the
| following story
'Vhen I was in Atlantic City recently.
sbadovina the Woodses I suddenly walked in
on Woods in the hope that might shake him.
Not a bit Of it, He walked up to me and SAID
cooIIv. Verv glad to see you" He wasn't
feazed a bit"
The nosItion of the Best brothers. according
N Summer Best is one of waiting for official ac-
tion. They have been informed that warrants
are ON their way east from San Rafael Tor the
,rras+ of the Woodses on the charge OF larceny
and they expect that the result OF the autopsy
an their fathers body will show cause 10 ralse d
charge of murder. The sons are eonhoenl ol tue
.noadv apprehension of the fugitives' out con
speeu' raro-ts thew have not gone to Beth
| lehem.
| No COMPLAINT AT SAN FIN@A1'
cAorga A. whitman, chief of the san = ran an
o,sco nolce was in this city yesteruaS' iI'
| forr,ar secretary who was with MN aI ne 80
| - dao+h of Colonel Best occurred III oaii
| -, daclered that no news Of the lhcloeh'
| - -oaobad San Francisco and no requlsllloh
~ H0I to~.. r,ode upon the san Francisco Ponce
| r.o-.~oar+ for detectives He declared now
80 that the discussion over the treatment VI
the body was unnecessary
| ,1., . vary, usual practice out there sald ne
..o vse sawdust and remove portions OF Ile
| bodv and 1 have known OF severai cases ~
itch that was done You see san fNdlSe' !"
onI, a little one horse town of less thah d 'iiou-
.and people, an hour away from oah ia"0'7'
and the undertaking as well as the poi0
rengements out there are very measIe-
NJ whitman will remain in this city for sew
! eral days. and the Best brotherS eApe0' -
s,Ilt with him Monday.
Summer Best yesterday declared that ne IN
| .o,dad bringing suit against Sawyer. the
| ooroner and undertaken at San Ra1ael whose
hin for s444 for preparation Of Colonel Bests
| ~, Was Maid. Mr.. Best declared that ne oe-
uA1,ed sawyers assistant. Ward. was In league
/ with Woods and he commented severely upon
| C.r-,,sr He asserted that he believed Ward
/ n,o,Id turn states evidence when the case came
-, He reafirmed his declaration that Dr.
/ Mackenzies investigation OF a portion OF MS
fathers body had revealed the presence OF irri-
tant poison. a point denied by Mackenzie The
autopsy Is apparently waiting on the request
from san Rafael for such action. Mr.. Best
communicated with District Attorney Boyd,
asking for authority for the autopsy on Friday
night hut he has received no answer.
| Up to a late hour last night no tidings had
| bea, raceived by the Best brothers. either from