The Detroit times., 1910-03-17
CASE AGAINST BEST
CROWS STRONGER
SAY POLICE
Eager To Claim He Wasn't East a
Woodward, But Man Says he Saw
Him and Girl, Presumably
Wife, on Atwater-St.
Suspects Father and Brother Seek
To Secure His Release by Habeas
Corpus Proceedings.
Evidence is growing stronger against

Evidence is growing stronger against
Arthur ]. Bast, the Comber, Ont.
young man held by the local police In
connection with the disappearance Of
his wife. Mrs. Alice Best. Saturday
night. Both the police and the rela-
uyes OF the missing woman are con-
vinced that Mrs. Best was the woman
drowned In the river, and they are
equally certain that Best Is not telling
the whole truth as to what occurred
between him and his wife that night.
On the other hand. Best's relatives
are rallying to his defense. asserting
their firm belief In his innocence Of
any wrong-doing. His father. George
Best. OF Harrow, Ont, a sailor who
has been working as carpenter In
Detroit this winter, retained Attorneys
McHugh q Gallagher Thursday morn
Ing to institute habeas corpuG proceed
ings for the release of his son. A pc
tition for such writ was presented
to Judge Rohnert by Attorney Gal
lagher Thursday noon. and was made
returnable Friday morning. j. G. Best,
a merchant Of Harrow. and an uncle
OF the youth under arrest. arrived In
the city Thursday morning and called
at police headquarters to see Arthur.
Before he could see Capt Mcdonnell
however, he learned of the habeas cor
pus proceedings and hurried over to
court to consult with his brother.
Relatives Are Loyal.
While the news that Arthur was
married came as great surprise to
friends and relatives in Harrow. they
are none the less loyal to him because
of that fact
81 know that my boy would not do
OF doing" said Nr. Best, Sr. II am
willing to spend every dollar ] possess
to clear him"
The more young Best talks to the
police the further he seems to get
into the mire. He has contradicted
himself on several points and has
made number of statements and adj
missions which tend to lend color to
the suspicion against him. When first
taken before Chief of Detectives Nc
Donnell Wednesday afternoon he has
tened to volunteer the information. al
most before the captain had started
questioning him. that he did not go q
step east of Woodward last Saturday
night. The police. however, have
found man who says he saw Best
and a woman. presumably his wife. on
Atwater-st., about half block east or
Woodward. on the night In question.
They were near the alley which leadl
down to the river.
Identifies Best.
The witness is Henry Russell, Z
Waterman employed along the docks,
He says he saw a man and q woma1
talking near the entrance to the alley
running back OF II. u. Edwards q Coz
establishment. When Best wa4
brought before him in police headduar-
tiers he recognized the latter's coat
and hat and general outline.
You're the man." he said.
Best insisted that the Waterman
must be mistaken.
Another admission by Best regarded
as important by the police Is that hs
ran upstairs To the upper deck OF the
ferry boat when he heard the frantic
cries OF the drowning woman. A pas
songer on the ferry boat Is said to
have told the police that Best, before
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