Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-02-13
MRS. SHIELDS eASSAILANT CON-
FESSES.

killed Mrs. george y. SnlcluS auu hci
little daughter Mildred at Roanoke on
Saturday, January 80 leaving them for
dead and then robbing the house, has at
last been captured and has confessed his
guilt. He was taken on special train
to Richmond from Blue6eld, passing
through Roanoke at forty miles an hour,
guarded by Baldwin detectives.
A note to William Baldwin; giving
the facts in the case, was thrown of the
special, which passed through Roanoke
at 2 o'clock yesterday. The note was
from William G. Baldwin, president OF
the railway Special Agents Association
of the United States and Canada, who
was in charge of the train and prisoner.
The mans name is Henry Williams.
He was arrested last Tuesday by Messrs.
Copenhaver and AL II. Baldwin, of the
Baldwin Detective Agency, and taken
to the Bluefeld Jail, where he had been
until yesterday morning, when ne was
placed on a special train to be taken 10
Lynchburg.
Williams made a full confession OF the
crime to William G. Baldwin and L. l..
Felts, and surrendered to them the
watches and coat stolen from the Shields
house. There was also found on him the
knife with which he tried to cut Mrs.
Shields throat, the knife being COW
cred with blood. He stated that he was
standing in the livery stable door about
IL o'clock in the morning and saw a
woman with basket of clothing go in
the front door of the Shields home.
After this man came away he went
across the street and in the front door OF
the house. The door being unlocked, he
locked it behind him and went through
the hall and into the kitchen, not ex-
pecting to find any one in the house. de
came upon Mrs. Shields unexpectedly,
he said. and struck her over the head,
and also struck the child to stop its cry
ing. He reiterated the statement at
different times that his only intention on
entering the house was robbery. DE
| insists upon it that be did not commit
an outrage upon Mrs. Shields. He stated
that Mrs. Shields told him that If he
would take the property and go away
she would say nothing about it, but ne
having attacked her, knew she woulc
tell aud he then attempted to kill her.
The negro was tranferred to the spec
ial at Walton, four miles east of Radlord
President johnson and Mayor Cutchir
at once held conference and decided t
confer with Gov. Montague, at which
time all parties concerned thought it bes
to send the special train and the prisoner
on to Richmond. This was agreed t.
and Gov. Montague ordered the sPecia
through with instructions to confine VIII
Jams in the penitentiary.
As detectives descended from th'
train in Richmond last night with Will
Jams, Edward Hibarger, brother OF Mrs
Shields. sprang upon him and struck hin
staggering blow. The officers selzeC
him, but set him free Immediately upon
learning who he was.
All along the road from Salem to Rich
mond unfriendly crowds were gathere'
anxious 10 get their hands on Williams
and there was throng awaiting him a
the depot in Richmond, although ther
was no demonstration except that
Hibarger. :.
The negro was safely escorted to ia
by the detectives, all OF whom were arm
ed with Winchester rifles. He will b
indicted by special grand jury at Rof
noke Monday and speedily tried.