Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-01
WILLIAMS IN CUSTODY
THE ASSAILANT OF MISS KANODE
Is CAPTURED BY POSSE.
Fugitive Made His Appearance at
Railroad Quarries Near
Pinesburg.


night says: George Williams, the alleged
assailant Of Miss Laura Kanode, near
Harper's Ferry, was captured this evening
near the Western Maryland railroad quar-
ries at Pinesburg station.
About 4 o'clock this afternoon the negro
made his appearance at the quarries and
asked Foreman Frank Eyler to give him
a drink Of water, as he was nearly crazed
with thirst He also asked him to break
OF his handouts. He gave a very discon-
nected story of his condition, where he was
from and how handouts got on him.
Foreman Eyler suspected that the negro
was Williams, and asked one of the work
men aloud to fetch a bucket of water, but
In a whisper told him to go to the office,
some distance away and telephone for
officers in Hagerstown. While ]. Calvin
Rock was telephoning the negro asked
several other workmen to take off his
handcuffs, but all refused. Williams prob
ably suspected that his identity was known,
for he beat a hasty retreat, and disappeared
through the pines, going In the direction
of Williamsport.
Sheriff Downin and his attorney, Elias B.
Hartle started at once from Hagerstown
for Pinesburg. Sheriff Billmyer, who had
given up the chase during the afternoon at
Indian Springs went to Cherry Kun. Win
deputy, and there boarded train for
Martinsburg. Newspaper correspondents
posted him at that place Of Williams es-
cape at Pinesburg. Sheriff Billmyer took a
Cumberland Valley train, and arrived with
his bloodhounds at Williamsport station,
where he was met with a team, and driven
to Pinesburg, and Joined in the pursuit.
Williams Surrenders.
Late in the evening Williams was dis
covered by Sheriff Downin about 500 yards
west Of the quarries. where he asked for a
drink. He was hidden under a small tree
1t,a ~, oil he
and was lying down. AS soon as he saw
the officer he shouted:
II surrender, sheriff"
There were a dozen or more persons in
the pursuing crowd. The negro was hur-
ried to the sheriff's buggy, pushed in, and.
in company with the sheriff and Attorney
Hartle, was driven toward Hagerstown.
The prisoner, however, was not brought to
the Jail at Hagerstown,, but was secreted
at Conococheague, where he was guarded
by the sheriff and Deputy Rohrer and Con-
stable Alexander, who drove out to meet
the party.
In the meantime Attorney Hartle came
into Hagerstown in the sherifs team, ar
irving at the Jail at 8 o'clock, for the pur-
pose of telegraphing Jefferson county Of
ficials and requesting them to take the
prisoner away soon as possible. he met
Sheriff Billmyer just as he arrived. SheriH
Billmyer learned at Wiliamsport that
Williams was captured, and he came to
Hagerstown Immediately on the trolley,
arriving the same time as Attorney Hartle
A dispatch from Hagerstown, Md, last
night says: At II o'clock Sheriff c. l..
Stuckey of Berkeley county, Deputy Sherin
William M. Burns of Jefferson county,
Deputies c. H. Blake, L. H. Thompson. G.
w. Spangler and c. H. Blaze, all of Mar
tinsburg, left in two two-horse carriages for
Conococheague, seven miles west of Ha-
gerstown, to get the negro, who Is guarded
by Sheriff Downin.
The negro will be driven via Bedington
to Martinsburg, where he VII be jailed,
unless mob intercepts the party and
lynching follows.
Effort to Intercept Sheriff.
States Attorney Mason, jefferson county,
and States Attorney Long, Washington
county, started in carriage over the west
ern turnpike in the hope of intercepting the
party taking Williams away, as Attorney
Mason thinks 1t advisable not to take the
negro either to Martinsburg or to Charles
town, but to put him Baltimore and
Ohio train and send him to Moundsville,
w. Va.
Sheriff Billmyer admitted while here that
the negro wound be lynched in Charlestown
fifteen minutes after his arrival.
The negro still declares his innocence. He
lived on cherries and raspberries since
Tuesday night, when he escaped. He slept
by day and walked by night In explaining
the manner of his escape at Big Pool when
hotly pursued by a mob, he said Constable
Rhoades, who had him in charge, said to
him:
go; If I had the key 1 would unlock
your handouts"
Rhoades did not fall and Spra1n his ankle,
the negro declared.
News comes from Charlestown that mob
is organizing there to meet the negro upon
his arrival. should he be taken there.
James M. Mason, jr., of Charlestown,
prosecuting attorney for Jefferson county,
this evening offered reward of 500 for the
negros capture, and stated that If the
state Of West Virginia does not pay 1t he
will.
States Attorney Albert ]. Long of Wash
ington county tonight declared that every
man in the mob at Big Pool the night OF
Williams escape who followed the officers.
making the escape of the negro possible, Is
responsible for Williams escape, and If he
can discover the identity of any man who
carried a weapon that night or interfered
with the officers, he will be prosecuted to
the full extent of the law. A full invesn-
cation will be made by the next grand jury.