The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1909-03-03
Believes Barnes Story

The police committee of councils again
decided last night that no stone will be
left unturned 10 develop any clue that
may lead to the apprehension of the
murderer or murderers of John Blevins,
and the city will assist the efforts of those
having the matter in charge in every way
possible. Members of the police COM
mittee of city councils were closeted for
nearly two hours with G. FL. Akens
Wednesday evening for the purpose of
discussing the various clues. At the re-
quest of Mr.. Akens, the meeting was a
secret one. No persons we're admitted
other than the police committee and the
attorney. The history of the Blevins
10 years ago, was thoroughly gone over.
Mr.. Akens related the history ofthe mur-
der and of every possible clue to the
perpetrators. The histories and the rec
ords of the various criminals whose
names have been mentioned as knowing
something OF the murder were discussed.
1t was finally determined to send Coun-
Gilman John Rae, OF the Sixth ward, and
Attorney Akens to Franklin and Venan-
60 county some day this week in order to
look up some clues that have not yet
been fully worked out. The sentiment
of the police committee seemed to be that
it is best to look up the clues as furnished
| by A. Ruth. 1t is not believed that Ruth
told nearly all he knows about the Blew
ins murder. The committee feel that
while his story was literally interspersed
with many falsehoods, that there was
some truth in his stories.
1t is believed that Attorney Whitmer
may yet be able to get to the bottom OF
the matter, that he may force Ruth to
disclose some valuable information. 1t
is the sentiment of the police committee
that because so much money has been
spent so far in the attempt to solve the
Blevins murder mystery it is the best
policy to attempt to solve each clue il
possible.-New Castle News.
In addition to the foregoing the Frank.
lin News of Saturday gives the following
"lf Frank Barnes does fail to solve the
Blevins murder mystery, he should have
the credit for sending one of the wors
criminals ever in these parts to the peni
tentiary," said man to-day who has
followed the case of Barnes. 81 refer t
Dan Wilder, who is serving a six-yeal
term in the penitentisry for planning thu
robbery of Miss Copeland at Pithole.
have been at Bradford and Olean, and th,
police there say that they are under last
ing obligations to Barnes for sending thi
man down. for he is unquestionably
: one Of the worst criminals that the au
thorities there eyer had to deal with. Tn,
police in those two towns seem TO thinl
that Barnes has performed a public ser
vice."
In one of Barnes's statements last fal
he told of the destruction by the Oleal
, authorities of house occupied by Wilde
, and other disreputable people. This wa
accomplished by throwing rope arounC
, the house and pulling it off its founda
tions with a locomotive, the house beinJ
! : on the railroads. property. The othe
) day r. d. Ellington, road supervisor o
! the Citizens Traction Company in Oi
: City, was in Franklin and told a frienC
, here that he superintended that job. II,
t corroborates what Barnes said relative Il
;. the reputation of Wi der.
, The Olean Times last week contained
a column and hall relative to the recorC
f of Wilder in that section. The article
showed that he had bad criminal rec
ord and corroborated in many details
2 what Barnes had told OF bis former asso
Ulate.