Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-05
THOMAS IN CUSTODY
ALLEGED SLAYER OF ROBERT
WHALES FOUND IN VIRGINIA.

William Thomas, coiored. who shot and
fatally wounded Robert Whales. also col
ored, in georgetown last Thursday night,
did not succeed in remaining at liberty
long after the death of his victim. He was
taken into custody yesterday morning by
Detective Father and Policeman A. F.
johnson at a cabin in the woods few
miles from Manassas, Va. The prisoner
surrendered without showing fight when he
realized that the cabin was surrounded and
that there was no possibility of his effect
ing an escape.
II shot Bob Whales in self-defense," was
Thomas first statement and l was COM
ing back to give myself up as soon as 1
had earned money enough to employ
lawyer"
Thomas had obtained employment on the
railroad and said he thought he could have
earned money enough in a month TO defray
the expenses of trial He had not heard
of the death of Whales, however. and
seemed somewhat affected when told that
his victim had died. The prisoner this
morning was taken to police headquarters,
where he was measured and photographed.
He will attend The inquest at the morgue
tomorrow morning. In the meanwhile he
will be cared for at the seventh precinct
police station Thomas says he rema ned
in Georgetown sufficiently long to obtain
the pay that was due him from his en-
ployer, and then started to go to the home
of his cousin Annie Riley. a considerable
distance from the spot where he was cap
tured.
Difficult and Dangerous.
The arrest of Thomas was effected under
conditions which made the task both diff
cult and dangerous. When the police OBJ
tanned information which caused them to
believe that Thomas had gone to Virginia
Captain Bcardman selected Detective
Father to make the journey. Policeman
Johnson of the Georgetown squad was Sc
lected to go along, because he was per-
sonally acquainted with Thomas. The two
officers left here Saturday night on the 10
o clock train and reached Manassas In a
drenching rain Sheriff Rorabaugh was
found at his home in Manassas. and he
willingly accompanied the local officers IN
their search for Thomas.
At NokeSville it was ascertained that
Thomas had spent Friday and FRIDAY night
in a box car, leaving there Saturday after
noon. after he had failed to secure con-
veyance to drive him to the home of his
cousin. When the party reached Bull run,
between and o'clock yesterday morning,
they found the stream above the banks. and
the sheriff doubted II IL would be safe to
cross.
IT'S all right" a colored man shouted
from his home on the other side of the
stream, you can cross.
Halted in Midstream.
Then the sheriff started to drive across,
but had not gone far before the water was
In the body of the wagon and its occupants
found II necessary to stand upon the seats.
When the vehicle had reached the middle
of the stream the horses stopped. 1t was
learned that the animals had not then
reached the channel. and the sheriff was
afraid to make another move. The only
thing that could be done then to re-
main there until the water lowered. After
a halt OF about hour the horses were
able to draw the wagon to the other side
and the three officers proceeded to search
for the alleged murderer They learned
that Thomas had gone to the cabin In the
woods. but the soft condition of the red
clay roads made it impossible for the horses
to pull the wagon. The team was then
abandoned and the men were plotted
through the woods to the cabin, a distance
of more than two miles. By sign gwen
by one of the residents of that section 1t
was soon known that Thomas was in the
cabin An elderly colored man and woman
| occupied the cabin. but Thomas seemed per-
fectly at home with them.
Sheriff Rorabaugh and each of the Of
flcers from this city had his revolver drawn
and surrounded the little cabin. Thomas
was at the front window when he saw one
of them approach from the front. Hurry
ing to the back door he started to leave the
premises. but was stopped by the sight of a
revolver.
It's all up" Thomas said, walking to-
ward the officers. TN go with you"
Then he explained that he had fired two
or three shots at Whales In sef-defense
The latter he declared, had assaulted him
with bottle 1t was about clock yes
terday afternoon when the party reached
here from Virginia. and the prisoner was
locked up at the Georgetown stat on.