Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-21
POLICE ON THE TRAIL
BELIEVED MAN WILL BE TAKEN
INTO CUSTODY.
Detectives Following a Large Numb ber
Of Clues Leading to the
Suspect.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The STAR
NEW YORK, September 2I.-
The hunt for Joseph Girard, who is
wanted by the police to tell what he
knows about the death of Gussie
Pfeiffer, who was murdered in a
thicket near the village of Westches-
ter last Wednesday week, continued
today unabated, and it is not TN
likely, if the anticipations of Capt.
Burfeind of the Westchester police
are realized, that the man will be
taken into custody today.
The captain said today:
I'VE are on the track of the most i'm
portant man yet connected with this case,
and we expect to have him before tonight.
Once this man Is captured all the mystery
in the case will be cleared up
The police have practically ceased their
efforts 20 fix with exactness the time and
manner of the girls death. They are now
satisfied that the murder was committed
on Wednesday night, not far from the
place where the body was found and that
1t was found soon after the murder was
committed. and lay there undiscovered un-
I'll Saturday. These deductions seem to be
well founded.
suspect Girard is regarded as very strong,
and all their efforts are being bent toward
his capture. The net which the police have
thrown out to catch him has been enlarged
day by day. He was last seen a week
ago this morning, and although he had a
long start the police have all along been
confident that he cannot escape the meshes
of their dragnet, which is now stretched
almost worldwide.
From Capt. Burfeind's statement today
II would appear that his detectives have
got some pretty good clue that they are
confident Will be productive of quick and
important results.
Large Number Of Clues.
A large number of clues without SUBJ
stance were Investigated yesterday, and
several more cropped up this morning
The tip that Girard had shipped on a
schooner bound for the West Indies was
disposed Of yesterday afternoon. De-
tective Price, with the aid of launch
from the harbor police, boarded the
schooner as she lay becalmed in Princes
bay and ascertained that Girard was not
aboard. Late last night Coroner OGor-
man received tip that man answering
Girards description had been seen on the
Sd avenue IL" station at 177th street. De-
tectives were sent out, but the clue was
fruitIess.
A man was arrested yesterday in New
Brunswick. N. j., on suspicion that he
was Girard, but he was not. Another
clue which Is being investigated today
leads to Peekskill. A suspicious looking
man whose description seems to fit Cir
ards had been seen in the vicinity of
Montrose, just south of Peekskill, and a
detective has gone from here to help the
Peekskill police search for him. Still an
other trail led to Bay Ridge, where a
search was made last night for tramp
who was seen changing his clothes in a
vacant lot on 9th street Capt. Burfeind
receives hundreds of letters daily from
persons claiming to have information
about the suspect. but none of the letters
has been productive of results
Ed Harmed, Girard's intimate friend
and Mrs. Julia Mahon, with whom he
boarded. are still in the house of deten-
tion. The police are questioning them
daily in an effort to make them give q
complete story of what they know of
Girard In the hope of getting some clue
to his whereabouts. The police are of the
opinion that the two are able to tell more
than they have up to date.