Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-03
SAYS BIRD IS A BIRD
Detective So CharacterizeS
Man in Arrest.
FINDS LAWYERS "EASY"
Obtains Money by Offering to Sup
ply a Client.
PRISONER SERVES AS OFFICER
Declares He Was Member of the
Galveston, Tex, Force for
Twenty Years.

| Hes a bird, all right was remarked
at police headquarters last evening when
Detective Mullen appeared with William
l.. Bird in custody.
| 1t was explained by the detective that
Bird is to be charged with having OBJ
| tanned money from local attorneys by in
ducing them to believe he had client
for them and that he would assist in get
ting any testimony needed.
Il got the money from them,'' Bird adj
mtted, "but 1 didn't get much. 1 could
have obtained 500 from some of them
just as easy as 1 could S. or s10.'
Bird is fifty eight years of age. he says,
and claims he was member of the
Galveston. Tex. police force nearly
twenty years He was also a conductor
on the Mobile and Ohio railroad, and his
statement is that he is one of the best
known men in Texas.
| Once in Insane Asylum.
| And" he added, Il was also in the in
sane asylum in Texas. I spent four
months there last fall and was dis
charged as cured, but the physicians told
me it would all come back If I drank
booze again. I drank some booze and up
in the air L went
Bird says he came to this city about
one month ago, his object being to see
what quantity of liquor he could drink
| He talked freely about his visits to the
offices of lawyers and told of money he
obtained from them. Why he had not
obtained larger sums he was unable 10
| explain, but, he said. he got enough to
| keep him in whisky and something to
| eat and that was about all he wanted.
Plan Of Operation.
Birds scheme was to call at the office
! of an attorney and tell him that friend.
| giving the name of Edward Banks OF
Nokesville, Va, had been seriously in
| jured at Arnold, W. Va, by falling into
an excavation that had been left by rail-
road workmen. Usually he would say the
| platform at Arnold had been removed and
passengers were permitted to aiight IN
| the dark without being warned. HIS
| story of the alleged happening to his
| friend was such to present good
case against the railroad company Tor
damages, and Bird invariably consented
to go to Arnold and get the proof. AT
| the office of Z. Beverly Slater, 1904 +
street, little detective work was done.
Here's So 20" he was told. and when
you come in Saturday I'll let you have the
balance"
Bird, confident he was going to get
ten-dollar bill, called at the office on time
yesterday afternoon, and was surprised
| to find the detective awaiting him. Resi-
dents of Arnold had been communicated
with, and 1t was learned that no person
had been injured there in the manner
stated by Bird.
Finds Lawyers Easy"
Il could have told you that" said the
prisoner at police headquarters. I'D
Banks was not nurt, but it certainly was
an easy thing to get money from law
yers.''
When searched at headquarters Bird
was found to have several pocketbooks in
his pockets, but his cash amounted to
only about &c. He had numerous letters
of recommendation, a pipe and tobacco
and several Galveston papers
please don't take my money he said
to Detective Mullen. Il want enough in
my pockets to buy tobacco and some
thing to eat while I'm locked up"
But" the detective said, you are
charged with an offense which requires
the holding of your money as evidence"
THAT may be true Bird added, but
you don't know from which lawyers ]
got that money.
Letter of Recommendation.
The prisoner had a letter of recon-
mendation from w. P. Owens. ex-sheriff
of Galveston county, the letter containing
statement that he had been connected
why did you come here?" he was
asked
Just to see If l could drink all the
booze here
rs Galveston dry town."
Not on your life. There's plenty of
booze in other towns down there, but
Gov. Campbell's doing something to the
saloons that was never done before in
that state. He's putting them out of
business on Sunday"
So far the police have been advised,
Bird obtained money from three law
firms. Allen & Munson, Union Trust
Building. gave him IS; J. r. Moriarity,
GIT Louisiana avenue parted with S.. and
he got $50 from 4. Beverly Slater.
Bird had what purported to be a power
of attorney from Banks, and also a letter.
which purports to have been written by
w. B. Hull. who is stated to be a di-
vision claim agent at Wheeling, w. Va.
After Inspector Boardman had discussed
his case with him, the prisoner was locked
up for a hearing in the Police Court
tomorrow morning.