Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-30
CHAIR PUsHER'S ACCOUNT
OF BOARDWALK TRAGEDY
Tells of Attack Of Assailant-No
Demand for Money Made.

ATLANTIC CITY, N. j., August %
One of the secret reasons why the police
of this place are not hunting for any
plain highwayman as the assailant OF
Charles B. Roberts Of Baltimore, who was
shot Wednesday night while he was riding
with Mrs. W. S. G.. Williams in a rolling
chair on the Boardwalk. came to light to-
day with the temperance Of Jesse Jack
son, the negro man who had been push
ing the chair when a masked man stopped
and shot Roberts.
According to the chair-pusher, before
the shooting he heard Roberts in earnest
conversation with his companion. In a
loud voice came to him an exclamation
in the mans voice:
you have broken my heart
Almost before Mrs. Williams could re-
ply to this accusation Of her companion
came the rude interruption by the masked
man.
Jackson had been in seclusion until to-
day. following the strong advice Of Capt.
Whalen. as jackson admitted today.
When found on the Boardwalk this morn
ing the negro showed great reluctance to
talk and explained his reticence by say
ing that the police had told him that II
he kept out of sight and held his mouth
take further part In the investigation.
Chair Pusher's Story.
Mr.. Roberts came and hired me out
side Of the Shelbourne Hotel about 9
o'clock Wednesday night" said Jackson.
He and Mrs. Williams and a young girl
Sarah Williams. got in the chair l
pushed them down to the Brighton Hotel,
where the young girl got out. Then Mr..
Roberts ordered me to push them on
down the Boardwalk.
Down around the Royal Palace Hotel
which Is located in a part Of the Board
walk that is never much used at night,
and which was almost entirely deserted
on that night because of the rain, l heard
the man and woman inside of the chair
speaking very earnestly. The man was
talking little loudly. The woman was
also speaking in very earnest voice.
Just as we were passing Rhode Island
avenue. or about that place. I heard Mr.
Roberts say that the woman had broken
reply she made, although I heard her
speak.
Then man walked up past the chair
he was not a large man. He was dressed
In a dark brown suit. which was wrinkled
and wore gray felt hat pulled down
over his eyes. did not see any mask on
his face.
THE man looked in through the WIN
dow of the chair rather strangely and
walked on past me. Then he turned
AROUND g se.. felt his hand on my shoulder.
Stop that chair he said to me-
Il stopped right there. Then he went
to the front and pulled back the curtain
in front of the people inside.
Hands up he said. and then, Come
out Of that you!
AS soon as he called. Mr.. Roberts got
out and then Mrs. Williams. l did not
hear the man ask them for their money
l did not hear anything said about hand
ing over money or valuables. though Mr..
Roberts and Mrs. Williams just got out
and stood there, a few feet from the man
who pointed revolver at Mr.. Roberts.
That was the last thing I saw, be-
cause ran back up the Boardwalk. I
heard the two shots fred as l was rum
ming. l did not come back after that"
Mrs. Williams Remains.
Contrary to a report from Baltimore
that came to Atlantic City late last night
the Brighton Hotel to return to her hus-
band. she was still at the Brighton to-
day. together with Mrs. Roberts, wife of
the wounded man. and a circle Of friends
and relatives Of both families.
Mrs. Williams Is not detained here as a
witness, Chief Woodruff said She Is
free to go whenever she wishes to do
20.
No warrant for the arrest of w. S. G.
Williams. her husband. in Baltimore, had
yet been issued within Woodruff's knowl-
edge.
He said he had received a report from
Harry Wilson. detective. who had been
dispatched from here to Baltimore within
two hours after the shooting. He did not
care to make public the contents Of these
messages.