The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-09-03
SURPLUS Of CLUES
BOTHERS THE
POLICE
PURSUIT OF MURDERER or DAN
wALsER RESULTS IN MANY nEr
vELoPMENrs-Box CAR STONY
INVESTIGATED.

John Corcoran, an ex-convict,, we'll
known 10 the police, was the first man
to be caught in the drag net that has
been thrown out for suspects IN con-
nection with the murder or Dan Wal
ser in his confectionery store At NO
705 Woodward-ave. at 1880 O'CLOCK
Wednesday night S
Corcoran was hanging around the
city hall steps, where the street news
boys make their headquarters, about
1880 o'clock, Thursday morning, WALL
ing for paper, the officers say. a.
though he were anxious to see some
thing it contained. When Detectives
Palmer and Bodinus accosted aim ne.
began to make all sorts OF excuses
for being there and they decided 20
lock him up. He is detained In CEN
trail station. Corcoran Is 80 years OLD
and gave his address as No. 130 Mich
igan-ave. He has served time on
more than one conviction.
NJ. Beeks, a Wabash switchman. liv-
ing at No. IA Sixteenth-st., called az
police headquarters about z o'clock
with what appeared to be promising
clue. While at work In the yards In
the vicinity Of Twelfth-st. just before
2:30 o'clock, two men, whom he sized
up as tramps, though fairly we'll
dressed. approached him and asked
directions for reaching Adrian by
freight. One OF the men was about
five feet seven inches in height and
was bareheaded, while the other was
three or four inches taller and wore
q soft black hat.
Locked In Box Car.
A train was then being made up and
Beeks pointed out row Of empty box
cars that would take them TO their
destination. Later they jumped into
one OF the cars and Beeks, as IA the
custom, shut the door On them and
locked 1t.
Tranmen take no chances with
hoboes who are allowed to ride with
them and lock them in as precau-
ton against possible hold-ups. A few
minutes later the train pulled out for,
the Oakland yards, where there was
considerable switching to be done be-
fore 1t finally started on its way.
On his return home, after his nights
work, Beeks learned of the tragedy,
and became interested at once over
| the report that one OF the men lost
his hat in the struggle with their VIC
! tim He recalled the bareheaded man
and his companion Instantly, and lost
no time in reporting the incident to
the police. Detective Dick Stenton
was detailed TO accompany him to the
lakewood yards in the hope of appre-
hending the pair before the freight
pulled out.
They found the car but 1t was de-
serted. 1t is thought that the men.
after being locked In, pounded on the
door until some one of the car crew
let them out. AS no one In the yards
had seen any persons OF their descrip-
ton. the officer concluded that they
had been let out by some member of
the night yard crew.
The two men answer In a general
way the description given by Charles
F. Hartman. grocer at No. 751 Wood
ward-ave., OF two men seen running
from the scene OF the tragedy.--
Robbery Plainly the Motive.
That Walser was shot as result
of an attempt to rob him. which he
frustrated. is the theory of the police.
Walser locked up the store shortly
after 10 o'clock and went to the saloon
OF Benz f. Glines, No. 729 Woodward
ave-, where he drank a glass of beer.
About 1890 o'clock he returned to
the store. and. 1t Is believed. was fol-
lowed by the two men. The theory
is that the men asked for a package
OF tobacco and that as Walser turned
to take the package from shelf back
of the counter one of them struck him
| from behind, intending to knock him
senseless and then rob him.
But the blow missed or there was
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