The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-09-23
TRAIL OF GERARD
FOLLOWED SURELY
Police Closing in on MUIR
der Suspect.
NOW NEAR PEEKSKIll
Authorities Fear Re May Avoid Them
for Weeks by Hiding in
Woods

NEW YORK. Sept .3-"Judging by
the reports brought TO me by my detec-
tives who are at WORK in the vicinity.
/ am more than ever convinced that We
are on the track of the right man
Such was the opinion expressed today
by Detective Sergeant Price. or the
Bronx bureau. after Detectives Schew-
Ing and and Farrell had reported to
him yesterday the results of their all
day search near PeekskiIl for Joseph
j. Gerard. whom they suspect of the
murder OF Augusta Pfeiner
Circumstances show conclusively that
the man believed TO be Gerard is hid
Ing somewhere in the vicinity of Peeks-
kill. There are half dozen persons
who have seen this man. and they iden-
tify him positively Gerard from the
picture published in the newspapers
Acting Chief OF Police Burke, OF
PeekskiD. said il only remains to cap
ture the man, and the murder mystery
OF the factory girl on Pelham road
more than a week ago viii be cleared
up.
Hope for Capture.
Sergeant Price said he was confident
that the fugitive will be under arrest
within the next forty-eight hours The
Peekskili police are not go optimistic
because they are better informed con-
corning the nature OF the country in
which the man is hiding and they say
that he might baffie pursuers in the
woods for weeks.
Detectives Schewing ard Farrell took
up yesterday the trail OF Gerard-if IL IS
he-where he was last seen near Center
tnlage. about two miles from Peek
skill. They first questioned Mrs. John J.
Mackay and her daughter who keen a
boarding house The man applied for
BOARD there Wednesday afternoon. stat
ing that he had obtained employment in
live.
Mrs. Mscksy told the detectives that
she did not Ike the mans looks and
declined to give him shelter. His face
vas haggard. and his stubby beard and
Soiied clothes added TO his forbiddine
appea rance
mad ample opportunity to scrutinize ii.o
man. and when shown Gerard's picture
.hey said thei,, could be no mistake that
was that CT their unweicomed caller
others Saw Him.
After stopping at the Mackay house.
the man appeared at Dykeman's black
smith shop. Dykeman told the detec-
tive after viewing Gerard's picture that
1t was that Of the man who had appear
ed Wednesday. Two girls were found
who had seen the man enter a cornfield
Kate Wednesday afternoon, and they told
the detectives he was the man portray
ed i'm the picture.
What is convincing the detectives
is the fact that the descriptions FUR
DiShed by all the persons who saw the
man tally in detail and fit exactly The
description OF Gerard when last seen in
me Bronx, except that the man is I'M
shaver.
Detective Farrell remained on r,ard
rear Center Village all last night pre-
pared at any moment TO respond to any
summons n BY the local authorities.
Serard flight from the Bronx north
ward along the track. or the New York
central railroad has been established
70 the comparati-e satisfaction os tise
authorities William n. Hoyr former
CITY clerk or Mt Vernon. notified Can
tain Burfend, OF the Bronx police. YES
ierday that he met Gerard about 81 Is
O'Clock on Friday afternoon. the day
preceding the discovery OF the r,u-ds-
Hnyt is now manager o. the M; Ve-5ei,
Dranch OF the American Ice Corrn.,,tx-
lie was formerly proprietor of a c,fe
al asospect avenue, which Gerard fire.
Was in a Hurry.
Hoys says that Gerard was wearing
blue oYeralls. and appeared TO no I'm a
hurry. His description OF Gerard vert
'ed the now well-establish details
concerning the appearance of the man.
IL was discovered yesterday that Ger
ard was arrested IN Mt. Vernon on
July 40. 1904. on the charge of cruelty
10 animals. He was fined $40
me police believe that after arriving
IN MI vernon Gerard boarded a freight
train and rode to Montrose. ahout thee
miles from Peekskill II IS believed that
eierard struck OF into the country in
stead OF going on through to Pough-
keepsie,. Albany, or other cities which
are well polIced
Tne authorities say that the neigh
porhooo Tor miles around is so thorough
" aroused that II will bo extremej,-
rlncuit Tor The man for whom they are
hunting 10 escape IL is expected that
munger or illness may drive the fugitive
"a yfs IL VIII nc