Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-02
ADMITTED UNDER OATH
EDWARD HENsLEY's sTATEnEN1
TO THE POLICE OFFICERS.
Confsssss to Having Robbed Miss
Arctandsr Will Appear In
Court Tomorrow. -

Edward Shorter, alias Hensley colorkd.
who has admitted to the police that he look
the handbag and pocketbook from Miss
Edele Arctander on the abandoned road In
Rock Creek Park last Friday afternoon.
as heretofore. stated in The Star. was meas
ured and photographed at police headauar-
tsrs this morning The police photographer
also went to the park and took a photo
graph Of the road where the assault oc-
CURED. The prisoner was taken to the
scene Of the robbery and assault yesterday
afternoon. by sergt. Anderson, Detectives
Hartigan, Bauer. Cornwen and Peck. Sew
eral policemen were also in the party.
Shorter took the officers over the ground
he trayersed last Friday afternoon and ex-
plained the affair as he claimed 1t occurred.
He first led them to the place where Miss
Alexander was seated near; the creek and
where he admits he took her handbag.
Shorter declared that he left that spot
and was going eastzwhen tie young woman
followed him and threatened TO have him
arrested. She struggled with him. he stated
in her effort to get back the handbag, and
he finally disappeared IN the woods and
made his way to Anacostia He said he
took the pocketbook. from the handbag
after he left the road and that ne after
ward lost it. His story of what transpired
ON the road does not agree with what MISS
Arctander says about the assault, and the
condition of the prisoner indicates that Miss
Arctander had desperate struggle with
him. Her face is still discolored and
bruised, showing plainly the effects OF the
rough treatment she received.
Partly Identified.
The first time Miss Arctander saw the
prisoner she said she thought he was her
assailant. but she was not willing to swear
to his identity positively. The detectives
who were present at the time she saw him
of no hat
was in custody, and stated to Capt.
Boardman. Miss Arctander saw the pris-
oner second time, and her opinion of MIN
was the same as she had previously stated.
Shorter, who is about tWenty-seven years
of age lived with his grandfather, whose
name was Hensley. His home was in Ana
costa, but he left there about seven years
ago, going away when complaint was made
that he had assau lted a school girl he
now admits that he reached the woods IN
Anacostia late Friday afternoon and said
he spent most of his time in the woods I'M
til he was arrested Three young men saw
him In a clump of pines, stretched upon
the ground and apparently asleep. In a
tree over his head he had a package or
ginger snaps. His arrest was accomplish
ed after short pursuit, and he was taken
to the Anacostia station. Detectives, police
men and others interviewed him a num-
Der of times, but without getting an ad-
mission of any kind from him. Yesterday
Sergeant Anderson resolved to determine
if possible whether or not the suspect had
committed the crime
Confessed to Colored Policemen.
Policemen Stewart and Brooks, colored
members of the Anacostia squad, were
placed in the cell with Shorter as pris-
oners They were in there with him sew
eraI hours and finally he broke down and
said he was guilty of part of the charge.
His statement was reduced to writing, and
he swore to the truth of it before no
tary.
The prisoner will be arraigned in the Po-
lice Court tomorrow morning upon charge
which will be determined after the assist
ant United States attorney has heard the
evidence. 1t is likely the grand jury will
take the case without delay and that
Shorter will be placed on trial before the
adjournment of the court for the summer.
The three young men referred to called
at police headquarters this morning and
claimed that they are entitled to the re-
ward Of 500 which was offered for the ar
rest of the assailant Of the young woman.
They called the attention of Policemen
Wise and Dent to the presence OF the col
ored man in the woods, they stated. and
they also assisted in the pursuit after
Shorter started to run away. 1t 10 likely
that Maj. Sylvester will decide to pay the
young men for the part they played in the
affair