The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1911-04-11
Wanted n Missouri With Big
Reward For Capture
CANE 70 DURHAM IN 1905
Convict Sentenced TO Durham Roads
for Five Years Believed to BE
H.
Guilty Of Criminal Assault--vic-
Sim Was Prominent Young Lady
Residing Near St. Louis.

At the instance OF a former detec-
tive, William Bessie Francis, col
ored, was brought In from the Dur
ham county roads this morning and
placed In Jail to await adyices from
st. Louis, Mo-, where Francis Is sup
posed TO be wanted for murder and
rape. with reward Of $4,000 offered
for his capture and delivery.
The officers here are almost GER
tain that they have the right man.
He stoutly denies any knowledge OF
the crime and declared to the officers
that he had lived In New Bern. n. ca
ali OF his life. He declares that he
he's never been out OF North Caro-
lima. To a Sun reporter, however.
he admitted that he had heen In New
York city and other places. When
told BY the reporter that he was
charged with murder he trembled
from head 10 foot and came near
breaking down altogether.
lie Is a coal black negro. weigh
zing perhaps l40 pounds. about
feet 2 10 Q inches tall. slightly stoop-
ed. has a bullet like head. with the
eyes of a snake, and has the end Of
the left thumb severed near the iirs'
joint.
lie was Identified by the detective
while at work on the county roads
The detective formerly had photo
graph and full description Of hin
and declares that the likeness u
striking aud the description perfect
Came 60 Durham Six Years Ago
Francis came 20 Durham about 81
years ago. Just short time after IN
crime In Missouri was committed
He was sentenced 10 the roads FOL
Ave years on the charge OF highws'
robbery. and was given eight month";
OF his time on for good behavior
Before the eight months had explre'
he was again In court on the eharg'
OF larceny and Was sentenced to sey
efai more years. He was sersini
this last sentence when the defective
spotted him.
Conflicting Stories.
The detective communicated hi
and &c Constable AaM and be i'm
mediately opened negotiations viii
the 81. Louis authorities. He wa
advised OF the reward BY the 81
Louis authorities and asked TO hol
Francis until full description coul
be forwarded. Sheriff Harvard an
Constable Hall went out TO the chAi
gang this morning and brought III
prisoner 90 town and placed him I
pail. lie stontly denies any know
edge OF the crime and said that th
only large town he had been in wa
Raleigh. lie FIRST declared that hi
mother was dead and then he sal
that she was living In New Berf
where he was reared He told a Su
rcporter afterwards that he had bee
10 New York. This served 10 q
guilt upon him for the reason tina
his people are located In New for
according TO the circular sent out b
the SO. Louis authorities.
To the guard at the chain gang b
stated that his name was Williai
Bessie. To the reporter he declare
that his name was Franks. The eli
cnlar sent out ~ the ~. Louis a.
thorities gives his name as williaI
Boasie Francis and that Is probabl
his true eognomen.
"Details Of Crime.
Only few Of the details Of n
crime has been leafncd here. II
known that the victim OF the Grim
was a prominent young lady. Twin
near 81. Louis. The crime was CON
mitsed seven years ago and had a.
most been lost sight OF until the al
rest was made. The large papers Q
Missouri wired the Sun for full de-
tails Of the arrest this morning an
the arrest has apparently create
quite q stir In the section In whic
the crime was committed.