The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-05
EXPRESS DOUBT
OF MANS GUILT
Many Poohpooh Idea That
Powley Is Man Who Robbed
Scaboard Train.
plTTsBURG POLICE INACTIVE
Telegram Received From Father
BY MIR. Smith, Who VIII Not
Disclose His Name.

that rest supon Charles Fowley, alias
John c. Andrews alias J.. G. Cox. who
was arrested Wednesday evening by De-
tives Q. u. Duke and K. l.. Norton,
both of the Baldwin Detective Agency,
may be. they are considerably ltghtened
by the doubt which many throw on sncn
proof as has been given in evidence OF
his guilt. In Richmond police circles tho
very idea that Powley. or whatever his
name is. is the guilty man is pooh-hoohed
Said one. man of large and iindoubted
experience: The fact that the train-roh-
her is supposed to have. and is credited
with having. secured a considerable sum
of money when he rlfled the pockets OF
the passengers of the Seaboard Air Line
Florida Limited Pullman would dispose
OF the idea that man who could do this
would so far lose his reason as to hang
around until four days later, or, II he had
left. come back. comparatively near to the
scene of the robbery.
Then he did not carry a revolver. and
a highwayman would hardly walk abroad
without some means OF defense.
Coupled with all this. say others. is the
fact that the jewelry found in Powleys
possession consisted only of g. few almost
valueess trinkets. He had only thirty
five cents in money, and what became or
all the money he Is supposed to have
gotten? is asked. The fact that Powley
was positively identified BY the conduc-
tor and the porter of the train on which
the robbery occurred is explained away
by the statement that under such cir
cumstances. so unusual in Virginia, any
man is liable to be mistaken when 1t
comes TO the identity OF the parties in
volved
Pttsburg officers have not been Off
cially notified Of the arrest of Powley, or
Andrews. the alleged train-robber, in
Virginia. and murderer of Agnew Nc
MILAN. Of Pittsburg, and until they are
accordingly informed they Will keep hands
off
The local police have taken no steps
TO give the Pittsburg authorities any In
formation regarding the man or his ar
rest. The officials here say that the
prisoner is in the charge of the Baldwin
detectives. and that they arc the ones
who should convey any Information to
the Pittsburg officers.
Chief of Police Werner. when asked at
a late hour last night whs-Ser or not
the Pittsburg officers had been notified
of the arrest of the supposed fugitive
from justice from there. said: NO; we
have not telegraphed them, for he Is not
our prisoner. He was arrested by the
Baldwin men and is in their charge Mr..
Baldwin told me that he was. going to
communicate with the Pittsburg officers.
We have had nothing to do with the
case
The following telegram was received last
night by The Times Dispatch from Pitts
burg. and completely explodes the report
that an officer was on his way to Rich
mond or TO Mecklenburg county to inter-
view the prisoner with a view of deter
mining whether he was or was not the
murderer of the Pittsburg millionaire:
Police not paying much attention to
Powley's arrest. They say they have
not received notification OF arrest through
official channels, and until they do will
not act.
1t was reported in the afternoon that
the Pittsburg officer would be here with
in a day or so and would probably take
Powley back TO Pittsburg for trial for
the murder of the man.
Now it appears that the Baldwin men
are holding the man for trial here on
the charge of holding up the train, and
are giving little heed to the runlor about
| his being like man who committed
murder in Pittsburg. And the Pittsburg
officers. from the tenor of the telegram
received, would appear to be taking little
interest in the matter. Unless they are
! officially notified-and the notification will
| have to come from the Baldwin men. for
| r chmond officers are out OF the case
they will do nothing.
Powley hopes to be able to prove an
| alibl, and. If all accounts prove TO be
| true, it would seem that he will have
4 little difficulty in doing this.
| The accused has employed Mr. Harry
1 NJ. Smith, OF this city, as counsel. and
Z yesterday Mr.. Smith received a telegram
] from Powley's father. saying that he
/ would he on hand at the trial II 1t were
/ found to be necessary.
/ Where the father is at present or what
1 name he signed to the telegram Mr..
| Smith would not say, deeming that 1t
| would be unprofesslonal on his part. BY
! an arrangement between Mr.. Smith and
! the Baldwin people, tho trial of Powley
will come off next Thursday al Boydton,
Va, where the preliminary hearing be-
fore a magistrate viii take place. Mr..
! Smith did not give the outline of the de-
Tense he would make.
Powley during the inquisition he was
! put through by the Baldwin detectives
stated that he had been employed by
many circuscs and amusement companies
and Yesterday evening Mr. RoIlin Bond
press agent of the "Fantasma" com
pany. which IS to play at the Bijou next
week, said that, Judging from the picture
ne had seen OF Powley, he believed thai
he Hgs tho same man who was employed
fy him as a super In Norfolk on Novem
her 18th, when his company was showing
In Norfolk This would bear out the state
ment of Powley,
While there are many Suspicious cir
cumstances surrounding the case. 1t i
not believed generally that he IS tn
man who was concerned In the hold-u
OF the Seaboard train He has probabl!
made some infractior of the Law, but, II
The minds Of experienced men, he is no
The kind Of man vino could succcssfull
plan and execute such a bold piece o
: work ~ that which he Is charged with
The same people also give small credenc
TO tie idea that Powley may be the ma
wantee in Pittsburg for the murder o
Mcmillan. The pictures OF the two me-
do not correspond IN any marked degree
ana the analogy Is too faint TO warran
any strong suspicion that the two pic
lures are Of the same identity.