The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1904-05-14
Two Men Say They Saw
Him in Burlington.
SOLVING McGRATH DEATH
Benjamin Williams, Suspected Man,
Denies Having Connection
With Murder.

Burlington, May 14.-BenjamiD VIII
liams, wagner Of Troop |, 18th United
States cavalry, arrested yesterday at Yer
gennes is, held pending hearing on sus-
pIoion Of being the murderer Of James r.
McGrath Thursday night.
The Burlington police think that they
have the murderer of Policeman McGrath,
although Williams denies any connection
with the case. The police are weaving
chain Of eircumstantial evidence about him
that is gaining link by link and is now
fully strong enough TO bold him for pre-
aiminary hearing. States Attorney Leary
IS working in conjunction with the police
and every hour Of the day yesterday some
new element was encountered that added
20 the belief that the man now under ar
rest Is the one wanted.
The prisoner admitted being soldier,
when brought here, having first told ia
Nergennes, where he was arrested, that
he was a tramp After his examination
at the police office he was taken to the Jail
On being searched three cartridges, one
Of them creased with a jackknife, were
found upon him They are exactly the
same sizsa as those used 10 thaarmy reyolv-
er as was shown hy q comparison with
one furnished from the post About 40
cents Ia money was taken from him and
lot Of toilet paper water soaked. He Is a
small man, smooth faced aud dressed In
dark clothes, He had on pair Of army
shoes and an army shirt, one sock on and
one ia bis pocket One Of his feet was
sore. His clothing looked as though II
bad been d denehe1. and there was mud on
his shoes
When the man was brought 10 the po-
lice station, Joseph Porter Of l6 Johnson
street, who was in the crowd OF spectators
told Chief Russell that he saw the man
last night ID Battery Park about 70 min
utes Of Z Lie came walking along the
path aud then ran d0wn the bank into the
lumber yard. lie had revolver In bis
hand Afterward pofler saw the arnbu-
lance and heard that McGrath had been
shot, and at once connected the two events.
The description Of Francis Lavalie, the
watchman Ia the Shepherd q Morse yard,
who saw strange man c0nversing with
Officer McGrath shortly before the shoot
ing, tallies exactly with that Of the man
under arrest He beard the officer and
stranger talking about the advisabIlltY OF
AuE itttCi AEtHABtAB ~ hlAH pIdtf anu AGAA4
the stranger say he did not care to walk
up there as his feet we're too sore, and be-
eause he would be put in the guard house.
The arrested man also answers the des-
cFipti0n Of a man named Hammond, aiire-
man, who saw the fellow pr0wllng about
IN the lumber yard in the evening
When Williams was taken to the police
station he had hardly seated himself when
H. n - kaz s,1x H4tef 4
will tell YOU my name Is Wagon 3 Will
llams Of Troop /, 18th cavalry You put
that down just like that and you will make
40 mistake.
He claimed that he deserted and went
to Montreal, but not liking the country
came back, reaching Burlington at / 1
O'Clock Thursday night. He said he was
tired on reaching Burlington and erawled
on top 81 lumber pile and spent the
night The following morning he walked
Eve or six miles south and finally boarded
the train on which be was arrested ai
Vergennes. He left the post alone anc
did not see anyone be knew that time un
til be arrived in Montreal he said thai
he drew Si4.T5 In pay on Tuesday anc
that with what he had IN his pockc
amounted to $40. He was asked If be hat
any money left and replied
"You may not believe 1t but lost th'
money from my pocket. Bad luck scent
to have followed me ever since l left th'
post.
Soon after being taken TO the JAN Chile
Russell and States Attorney Leary wen
10 the Institution and Williams was pu
through the third degree. Williams ap
peared to be calm and replied to the ques
ti0us aefed him frnpIv Only once did IA
appear to be affected, that being when
sergeant from the troop visited him. VIII
liams hung his head and said 10 the ser
geant:
"lt will be long time sergeant, befor
Isoldier with y0n again, He recovered
himself and did not give way to any feel
ing thereafter.
The funeral Of the dead policeman viii
be held at SC. Mary's cathedral Sunday al
ternOou, probably at o'clock.