Evening journal., 1905-01-25
MAN CAUGHT HERE
MAY Be SLAYER
Shippers, Convicted of Horse
Stealing, Believed to be
Constable Murderer
CHIEF BLACKS IMPORTANT TIP

John Shippers, alias Simpson. whd
was arrested in this city on October 1a
on a warrant from Elkton. Nd, charg-
ing him with horse stealing and who
was returned to Ellzton and sentenced
to eight years Imprisonment for the Of
Tense, is suspected by the Maryland
authorities OF being the murderer Of
Albert Constable, the well-known Elk
ton lawyer, who was shot down on the
evening OF August lS
He has been identified IN the peni-
tentiaTy at Baltimore by two women
who claim that they saw him at the
foot Of Gray's HIM ON the evening oc
the tragedy shortly before Mr.. Con-
stable descended the hill.
These important witnesses are Mrs.
Agnes Frunl, who lives near Ellzton.
and Annie Gould, a colored woman
Says He Was III on Day Of Murder.
Shippers says he was an in Philadel-
phia on the day of the Constable muir
der and first heard Of the crime when
he picked UP a Philadelphia newspaper
and saw "A large picture Of Mr.. Con-
stable in IT.. Mrs. Frunk and Annie
Could. however. are positive that they
SAW him IN Ellgton on the day tho law-
yer was murdered and also on the day
previous. The detectives have also
learned from Iongnaeder, Pfentiss &c
Company. OF No GIL Commerce street,
Philadelphia, who Formerly employed
Shippers, that he was away from work
from August l6 20 10, inclusive.
Suspected by Chief Black.
Suspicion was first directed toward
Shippers Immediately after his arrest
for horse stealing. Chief OF Police
George Black at that time called tho
attention OF the Maryland authorities
% the fact that the prisoner answered
the description OF the man seen near
the scene OF the Constable murder inn
mediately preceding the perpetration
of the crime.
Shippers was arrested here by Patrol
men Conner and Fox on the charge OF
stealing three horses in Cecil county
The animals were recovered from the
dealer to whom Shippers had sold them
and the prisoner was taken to Elloton.
convicted and sentenced to serve eight
years in the Maryland penitentary.
Got Picture in This City.
last week a Baltimore detective
]
ton and obtained from Chief Black a
photograph OF Shippers that had been
taken by the local authorities.
Amed with this picture detectives
from Baltimore went to EllSton and be-
gan to inquire among the residents in
the nighborhoOd of the scene OF the
hold-up. The first person they located
was the negress, Annie Could, who.
when shown the photograph. said that
IL was the picture OF the man she saw
walking along the road soon after Mr.
Constable passed on the evening OF the
shooting. She also said that she had
seen the man IN the neighborhood on
the previous day.
The officers next saw Mrs Frunlr.
whose husband has a farm about mid
way between EllSton and Iron Hill.
When questioned Mrs. Frunl1 said, ac-
cording % the officers. that she had
seen Jack" Shippers in the neighbor-
hood the day Of the shooting and the
preceding day.
Are you sure It was simpers?" ASK
ed Detective Dougherty. Don't you
think It looked more like this man?'
And the officer held out the photograph.
why, that's Simpers." Mrs. Frunk
Is alleged TO have exclaimed. Hes
the man."
Disposed Of Valuable Watch.
The detectives have also Learned that
Shippers a few days after the murder
disposed OF n valuable gold watch,
which is believed to have belonged to
Mr. Constable. They are now trying to
locate the timepiece.
Longnaeder. Prentiss & Company, OF
Philadelphia, say that Shippers ire
quently secured leave OF absence. It
was during one of these last October
thnA hn ma ..n..l......l D.. ,nrlt..-l-- -