New-York tribune., 1908-08-31

the following morning. have remained mere
cince and have not been to Atlantic CITY, nor
have T heard directly from Mrs. Williams
understand however, that my brothers, d. r.
and Robert De Ford, are at Atlantlc Ci's Win
my sister over Sunday
Mr.. De Ford added that he had no idea who
did the shooting He said he had heard OF a
nublished story alleging that there had been i'll
feeling between Mr.. Roberts and himself, but he
declared with much emphasis that he was on
the most friendly terms with Mr.. Roberts, as
were all the members Of the De Ford family
II consider Mr.. Roberts very dear friend.
he said. land I certainly never told him to de-
sist going about with my sister, and never inti-
mated such a thing. He is family friend OF
many years standing.
Baltimore, Aug 3O.-Mrs. W. s. q. Williams
is at her country home in Long Green Valley,
Baltimore County, having arrived there to-day
That is the only actual fact in the days Bal
timore history of the investigation into the At
lantic City shooting.
The Baltimore police have about ceased work
on the case, having accomplished all they were
asked to do-to learn the whereabouts OF Will
Jams last Wednesday and Thursday-to the ex-
pressed satisfaction Of Detective Wilson, of the
Atlantic City force. who has been here for sew
eral days. Police Marshal Farnan is incensed
because of dispatch quoting Chief Woodruff
of Atlantic City. saying that the Baltimore
officers have not given proper assistance In the
case Marshal Farnan gave out this statement
tonight:
II Chief woodruff said that we were tying
his hands, he is stating what is not true.
have been doing everything in my power to aid
Detective Wilson and have placed any number
of men that he desired at his disposal. have
only had request from the Atlantic City
police, to ascertain the whereabouts of Will
Jams on Wednesday and Thursday, which
accomplished to the satisfaction Of Wilson. who
told me that he did not believe that Williams
was connected with the shooting at all I sent
a personal report Of that to Atlantic City this
afternoon. and / stand ready to do anything
possible to aid the authorities.
If the head Of the Atlantic City police force
has said that the case is tied up on account of
the action Of the Baltimore police. then he has
said 1t merely to take the blame from his own
pressure being brought to bear on the local
force, in order to suppress the case, is pure
nonseIs do not see how Wilson could have
made such statement in his letter. and 1 do
not believe he did so. either.
Colonel Sherlock Swami. head Of the Police
Department OF this city. who had been out OF
town until tonight, said:
"I regard the intimation OF the Atlantic City
police that Thomas De Ford has something to
do with the shooting of Mr.. Roberts as ridicu-
lous."
Asked as to threats said to have been made
to Roberts by Thomas De Ford, Colonel Swami
replied:
THAT is tommy rot. There is absolutely moth
ing in it."
Colonel Swami married sister Of Mrs. Will
Jams and Mr.. De Ford. Continuing, he said:
He was my constant companion for almost
week up to last Tuesday, when he left Nara
gansett where were stopping with our fam
ilies to go to Chicago to attend convention OF
leather manufacturers
II know he attended the convention and was
not at Atlantic City at any time during the
week. He returned to Narragansett on Satur-
day morning. We oil reached Narragansett on
August II and Mrs. Williams left Immediately
for Atlantic City to join her children who were
there"
Expressing his belief In the highwayman the
ory, Colonel Swami pleaded ignorance of the
details of the case as reason why he could
not account for the alleged hishwayman refus-
ing Mrs. WilIiamss offered chatelaine bag and
his having failed to attempt 10 take anything
from Roberts. Colonel Swami said that the
Baltimore Police Department will run down any
cew that develops In Baltimore to the last
ditch, and that II the Atlantic City police want
anything all they need to do Is to ask and 1t
will be done
At her country home tonight Mrs. Williams
sent down this statement:
1t Is utterly ridiculous to say that any one
but robber shot Mr.. Roberts. and I ann sur
prised that the police are continuing to follow
up the case on any other theory. The man who
shot Mr.. Roberts could not have been anything
else but one wanting money He was starv-
ing man. l had the opportunity to see him
WE'LL and the clothes he wore and his whole
appearance proved what ne was He was a
poor, wretched. ignorant man. who wanted
money, and supposed that il he held us up Mr.
Roberts would give il to him. I am sure he
would have demanded II OF any one else II we
had not happened along first.
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