Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-29
WILLIAMS SUSPECTED
Detectives in Baltimore to
Probe His AHbi.
ROBERTS EXPECTED TO DIE
Discrepancies in Statements OF Mrs.
Williams. Police Assert.
STORY TOLD BY CHAIR.PUSHER
Clubman Said to Feminine Compan.
ion Before Attack: You Have
Broken Ny Heart

Broken MY Heart
Special Dispatch TO The Star
ATLANTIC CITY. y. J., August %
There was no improvement this morning
In the condition OF Charles Il. Roberts.
the Baltimore victim of the wheel chair
shooting OF Wednesday night. His death
was still regarded as probable at the At
lantic City Hospital.
His physicians refused to let any of his
relatives see him.
1t was reported that this measure, at
first undertaken at his request, was con-
tinued on account of his weakened condi-
tion
Mrs. Roberts ana other members OF the
family are still here. however.
Detective Wilson. who went from At
lantic City to Baltimore to question w
8. G. Williams. the husband Of Roberts
companion of "wednesday night, reported
that up to this morning he had had no
interview with Williams. but he expected
to have one some time today
Until the investigation in Baltimore ID
complete. the case cannot be cleared up.
No warrant however. has been issued.
Letters Accuse Williams.
The Atlantic City police received two
anonymous communications this morn
ing in women's handwriting One was a
letter from Baltimore. 1t gave what
purported 10 be information regarding
Roberts and Mrs. Williams. Several ad-
dresses i'm Boston and elsewhere were
given.
The second message was merely DOS
tai card. IT came from Camden n. j. Ii
had scrawled across the back the words:
He Is the right man.
In spite of the fight against publicity
made by the assembled members OF the
Roberts and Williams families now gath
cred in Atlantic City, facts that are too
big to be suppressed are coming out hour
ly which give the shooting of Roberts
the air of an attack inspired by personal
hatred.
The written statement made by Mrs.
Belle Williams. the companion of Roberts 3
at the moment when he was shot. has in
particular been impeached on several i'm
portant points. s--
Capt. Whalen Of the detective bureau
gave out a statement this morning to ex-
plain why he at first withheld details Of
the case and drew about II such veil OF
secrecy.
II am not trying to hold back anything
or to protect any one" he said this
morning. My attitude so far has been
assumed for the best interests Of all con-
cerned''
A policeman who questioned Mrs. Will
liams this morning reported that she said.
in answer to repeated questions as to who
did the shooting:
Mr.. Roberts ought to know who shot
him.
When asked to explain this unpremed-
tated remark. she was dumb.
But Mrs. Williams formal statement is
on record to the effect that her COM
panion. summoned out of the wheel
chair by the assailant. advanced toward
him. offering him money. on the suppo
sition that he was a rObber. just ,as he
was shot. This is the part of Mrs. Will
liams statement that least agrees with
other indications so far learned.
Hat in Evidence.
Jesse Jackson. the negro chair-pusher.
the only witness of the shooting besides
the principals told Chief of Police Wood
ruff of Atlantic City that Roberts. instead
Of running moving toward the stranger
before the shot was fired, made no as-
gressive action whatever.
And there is further indication. more
convincing than the word of the negro
that Roberts was shot as he SAT, without
having made the slightest move that
might have provoked robber to shoot
ing.
The straw hat of Roberts is now In the
possession Of Dr. John King. the first to
attend the wounded man after the shoot
ing. The hat is a new one. with Roberts
initials. C. r. r.. inside the crown.
clean-cut .32-caliber bullet hole is I'm the
brim.
The position of this hole is peculiar. Ii
is located as if the hat, set up OH edge.
had been used target. The shot. In
stead of hitting the crown. the bull S-eye.
landed just outside OF 1t. not half an inch
from the ribbon and just at the bow worn
on the left side of the head.
1t made a clean puncture in the straw,
going straight through. with a slight an
e, 14ft
ear. had the hat been on the head. Tho
wound i'm Roberts right breast showed
that the hat must have been interposed.
held I'm the hollow of the left arm. and
covering the upper right side of the podH.
II was the position in which man
might hold His hat when riding IN a wheel
chair with woman. but not the attitude
that a man would take when held np.
either i'm offering the robber money. ad-
vancing upon him to resist him or raising
with his hands.
The hat with its peculiar bullet hole is
almost a certain indication that Roberts
was shot as he sat. before he had time TO
move. The wound OF Roberts SUD-
stantiated these indications.
The bullet entered between the second
and third ribs. near the right breast. IL
took a sharp downward course and was
located by the physicians in Roberts
liver 1t was evidently fired from such
distance above as would indicate that
the victim still sat or crouched In the
low wheel-chair.
Robbery Not Motive.
Despite Mrs Williams formal statement
it therefore appears that Roberts was shot
before he had made any hostile or doubt
full move. 1t appears certain now that
the unknown man shot his victim from
no mere motive of ordinary robbery.
After the failure of his subordinates TO
make any effort to find out the truth
about the shooting Police Chief Woodruff
yesterday took personal charge OF the
case.
This case is too big to be hushed up"
he announced. mean TO get to the
bottom of it and find the man who did
the shooting"
Under direct orders of chief Woodruff.
detectives under Sergeant Wilson are
working in and around Baltimore upon
the alibi furnished by William S. @.
williams. the husband OF the companion
Of Roberts.
The story told by DR.. John King. piy-
sician at Hotel Westmont. the first physi-
clan to treat Roberts. gave careful ac-
count of the appearance and actions OF
the wounded man, which would seem to
further contradict the story of Mrs.
Williams.
DIR. King said he was called from his
room to attend a wounded man. about
1915 O'Clock "Wednesday night some time
later than the hour which Mrs. Williams