The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-09-01
MYSTERY CLOUDS
SHOOTING CASE
Police Believe Roberts Was
Shot For Revenge.
FRIENDS SAY IT WAS HOLD up


Mrs. Williams May Be Detained as a
Witness. as Police Viii Not Admit
Her Husband Was Net Responsible
FOR the Shooting Until re Proves
conelvsNeiy That He was Ignorant
Of it-Roserts Is Still In a Serious
Condition, With Bullet In His
Liver.
Atlantic City. y. j.. Aug. s9.-Ra-
iasing TO accept the stories 70 tho cf-
feet that Charles b. Roberts. ,he
wealthy club man. OF Baltimore. N.ss
shot hy highwaymen while In company
"ita Mrs. w. :. G. Williams also OF
baltimore. on Wednesday night. the
police OF this city are working upon
the theory that the Baltimorear was
Che victim or a vengeWl man While
n the face OF statements from Balti-
more 70 the effect that Mrs. Williams
husband was al his country home.
they VIII not say that they believe
Mr. Williams was responsible. they
admit that he will not be eliminated
from the case until he has proven
conciusivelN and % their satisfaction
that be not only was not present
in Atlantic City. but that he was en-
t.ciy ignorant OF the shooting ard
che circunl stances which led up a. it.
So determined are they IN this d.re--
uon tlaf Detective Harry Wilson was
sent to Baltimore 90 make a thorough
INVESTIGATION.
lais attitude in the matter was
-ch-n vacn the parties involved d.
e.--i tlat Mt Roberts had been reId
Up oy q highway man on the popular
board walk. Phe authorities accent
suea statements as reelection on tie
manner in watch Boardwalk stroiie-s
are protected and the popular proucn-
ado poicel
Roberts is sun said 70 be in
serious condition The bullet which
penetrated his side is lodged in the
liver. and the physicians have been
unable TO probe for IT, Mrs. Williams
.s sun at the Brighton. and. while the
police VIII not say that she is dc.ai1-
1f witness they lead inquirc-s 20
cpiurcl man VINO was pushing the roll.
ing chair IN which Roberts and M.
Williams were az the time OF the
shooting Is sim locked up. and n he
knows who Mr. Roberts assailaut was
he declines 10 make known his iicn.
uty
Relatives a. Mr. Roberts save ont
q statement in which they said that
Ar. Roberts came here % see J. Olnsv
Norris on business. and that the boar.l-
walk ride was an incident which f.i-
lowed dinner At the Sheibourne With
Mrs Williams ard a party OF friend
C-cr-cs Stewart. a brother-in-iaw of
The injured man. said. WHY. the
whole thing is as simple as can De @
was merely an attempted robbery
From what / can learn Mr. ROBBERS
was asked 10 step out Of the chair
and before he could make a move Do /
was shot down. Al the time In tie
excitement and suffering severely De !
eould only give a brief explanation
ana tlis was verified by Mrs Williams
-As far AS there being ANYTHING |
clanlcstine In the meetings az Mr.
Roberts and Mrs. Williams none az |
Us believe g. Mr. Roberts and Mrs
Williams have known each 9th er
years There was absolutely uo.hine |
IN their going out together. but fley ]
JUST happened 10 be victims OF a high |
wayman."
Mrs. Williams. in describing the |
shootng. corroborates the Gen raj /
latements OF the friends OF Mr Rob |
erts- and is positive that the man who !
did the shooting stopped the chair IN /
which she and Mt. Roberts were. ani. |
demanding that they throw ND her !
hands. demanded money. When Mr. /
Roberts refused TO turn over the |
money the highwayman shot Tie |
robber. she says. was masked.
Policeman Rust who heard the shots |
and ran 10 the scene. thinks that the |
shot was fired at Roberts from the I
back 81 the chair. which is in contra /
election TO the statements that the rob
Der confronted Mr. Roberts and Mrs
Williams. and fired directly lato the
front of the chair.
50 FAR as clearing up the mystery
is concerned little definite proeress
has been made. but the police believe
they they know enough 10 ultimately
slraighten out the tangle
&rs. Roberts. the wife OF The in
ilred man. arrived here She is in
close attendance upon her husband
and refuses TO be seen or have any
thing TO say