Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-30
May Irwin Offers Bonds for
Release of Show Girl.
ANY SUM UP TO $4,000
MISSING WITNESS DISCOVERED IN
JACKSONVILLE, FLA.
Alleges to Have Seen Young Kill Him
self-Declares That Prisoner
is Innocent

May Irwin, the actress, has Of
fered to furnish bail in any amount
UP to $4,000 for the release of Nan
Patterson from the Tombs prison,
where she is now held charged with
the murder OF Caesar Young, ac-
COrd1ng to an announcement made
by Miss Patterson's counsel.
Another man who claims to h;.v e
witnessed the tragic death of Caesar
Young, the bookmaker, with whose
murder Nan Patterson is charged,
has been found in Jacksonville, la,
according to information received
IN New York today. The alleged
witness is w. B. Meyers, who is said
TO be wealthy naval stores dealer
III Jacksonville.
According to the story which
came to New York today from
Judge H. D. D. Twiggs of Savannah,
Ga, to the counsel for the prisoner,
Meyers claims to have seen the
tragedy in the cab, and declares that
Young fired the shot which ended
his life.
NEW YORK, N. Y, December 3O.-Miss
May Irwin, the actress, called personally
at the Tombs prison today and left a let
ter addressed to the former show girl. and
the announcement followed a few minutes
after Miss Irwin went away that the latter
was willing to furnish bail in any amount
up to $4,000 for the release of Nan Patter-
son from the Tombs prison
When District Attorney Jerome's atten-
tion was called to the offer of bail he
said he had no statement to make, and was
not prepared to say what course the prose-
cution would take Miss Patterson's bail
before the recent mistrial was s2O, 600 but
after the jury's disagreement she was re-
manded without bail.
Judge H. D. D. Twiggs of Savannah has
written letter to the counsel for Nan Pat
terson, conveying the information that w.
B. Meyers, a wealthy naval stores dealer in
Jacksonville, saw Caesar Young fire the
shot which ended his life. w. B. Meyers
should not be confounded with Algernon
c. Meyer, formerly of Deland, Fla, who
made a statement before the coroner's jury
Immediately after the death of Young.
According to the dispatch from Savan-
nah, w. b. Meyers first made known the
fact that he had witnessed the hanson
cab Shooting few days after the tragic
event happened. He had some legal mat
ters to transact with his Savannah lawyer
and called on him. Casually, Mr.. Meyers
mentioned the fact that while in New York
he had witnessed most remarkable affair
and In response to question he stated
that he had seen a man shoot himself in
cab. giving the exact location of the Pat
terson-Ioung affair.
Declared the Girl Innocent.
He said he had learned that the mans
name was Young, but that the name of the
woman he had not learned Judge Twiggs
informed him that Nan Patterson had since
been arrested for the murder of Young
Mr.. Meyers at once explained that the girl
was innocent and he declared it his inten-
tion to send his name to her and to go
10 New York to testify.
During the progress of the trial Judge
Twiggs watched eagerly for the testimony
of Meyers, and was greatly surprised when
1t was not used. He concluded that the
man had not written to the girls counsel
and yesterday he decided to do so himself
The letter, which is now on its way here,
states that Meyers is a man of high
standing and reputation; that he had vol
unteered the information that he saw the
shooting and had signified his Willingness
TO testify in the girls behalf.
Man Referred to by Hazelton.
N w. Hazelton, aged retired merchant
of Oneonto n. Y, who testified that he
saw the shooting, said a man was with
him at the time, but he did not know
his companions name and knew only that
ne was a Mason. 1t is presumed that
Meyers is the man who was with Mr.
Hazelton.
Lawyer Daniel O'Reilly of counsel for
go tt,..,
Savannah today, said he considered it of
the utmost Importance. He had never
heard of w. Il. Meyers in connection with
the case and admitted that If Nan was
ever retired Meyers would prove the star
witness for the defense.
Without saying so, Mr.. ORelly gave the
impression that he hopeful that the
actress would never again face jury in a
trial for her life.
No Trial for Three Months
Miss Patterson has been in the Tombs
since the day Young was killed. early last
June, she having failed to secure bail prior
to her trial which resulted in disagree
ment OF the jury.
1t is not believed that the next Iial will
begin within three months at the earliest
and unless the girl is released on bail,
which has also been offered by three
wealthy men of Fairmont, w. Va, she will
be obliged to remain in prison.