Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-08
POLICE PROBING MYSTERY
STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE OF
EARNEST N. WILLIAMS.
Was Employed Aboard Bugeye r. n.
Steuart-No Reason Assigned
for Absence.

Mystery surrounds the disappearance Of
Ernest NJ. Williams, colored, twenty-four
years OF age, who was employed on the
ougeye r. H. Steuart. Williams disap-
peared Tuesday night after he had visited
the mouse OF Benjamin Timbers, also col
ored. $40 I'd street southeast. He went to
uhe mouse with a colored friend named Al
pert Gassaway, the police were told, and
iept there In Gassaway's company. He
1alleo TO return to the sloop that night and
MS VIE became alarmed, and about 6
oeiock Wednesday morning she called upon
one ponce at the fourth precinct station and
asked that they search for him. When the
missing man had not returned yesterday
the police started rigid investigation.
Inc suggestion was made that Williams
might nave met with foul play, and the DO
lice proceeded to make arrests. Gassawaa
was arrested late in the afternoon and Mrs
Williams was taken into custody last night
Inc man was locked UP at the fourth pre-
cnct station and the woman was held at
the house of detention. This morning Tim
bers was arrested and locked up.
inspector Boardman heard what Lieut.
Hollinberger had to say about the case this
morning, and he detailed Detectives Baur
and Cornwell to conduct an investiga ton.
While the detectives and the fourth pre-
clnct police were interviewing the prisoners
Policemen Lewis and Preston of the harbor
foot Of 10th street for Williams body.
Rumor Discredited.
1t was stated this morning that Williams
was seen last night near the wharf of the
Washington and Norfolk Steamboat Com
pany, but the police believe this to be a
case of mistaken identity. The search for
the body will not be abandoned until late in
the day, unless the man returns or his body
found.
The circumstances under which Williams
disappeared were deemed suspicious by the
fourth precinct police. He was missed
shortly after he had provisoned the boat,
and had employed Gassaway to accom-
pany him upon the trip down the river.
Had he determined to take French leave,
the police think, he would not have eX-
pended the money. 1t is stated that he
was drinking Tuesday night while at the
home of Timbers, and that he told Glass;
away he was going to see a girl when he
left him.
The sloop r. II. Stuart Is owned by II.
A. Dodge, former member of the police
force. 1t was originally built for pleasure
craft, but ledge has been using it for the
points alo.,g The lower Potomac. Williams
and his wife have been living aboard the
boat
Williams lad provisioncd the boat and
paid all outstanding bills and was ready
to start for the lower river Wednesday.
When everything upon the boat was in
readiness Tuesday he went out to find
man to make the trip with him. Gassaway
was found and accepted an offer to ac-
company him.
Last Clue to Whereabouts.
After leaving the boat, it is stated, both
men went to the home of Timbers and re-
manned long enough to indulge in liquid
refreshments. leaving the house about $50
o'clock. That was the last clue the police
obtained of his movements.
Later in the day Mrs. Williams went
to the station and turned over the keys
Of the boat to the police. She said she
feared something had happened to her
husband and she did not want the re-
sponsibility of caring for the boat. She
said she was unable to account for the
disappearance of her husband They had
no quarrel trouble of any kind and she
expressed the fear that he had been foully
dealt with.
Gassaway's Statement.
Gassaway told the detectives that he and
Williams separated shortly after leaving
the house of Timbers, Williams going north
through Garfield Park. Timbers stated that
he saw the men go away from his house to-
gether. Mrs. Williams also made a state
ment to the detectives, telling them of
when and where she last saw her husband.
1t was stated this afternoon that no trace
Of the missing man had been found.