Evening star., 1913-10-17
JAMES G. BILLINGS.

JAMES c. BILLINGS.
James G. Billings, alias John Arthur,
alias Boston Jack. who was arrested yes
terday afternoon by Policeman Homer
H. Hartman after he had been chased
by q crowd on suspicion Of having robbed
Charles A. Clements, q clerk in the dis
bursting office Of the patent office. Of q
considerable amount OF money, was put
under a bond Of 5000 by Judge Pugh
today.
Billings was to have been arraigned In
the Police Court on q charge Of robbing
Clements of $937.33 in cash and check
for SIS. but asked the court to continue
the preliminary hearing until next week
in order that he might have an oppor-
tunity to procure an attorney. Judge
Pugh granted his request, but insisted
that he go to Jail in the meantime unless
he could furnish security of 5000 for
his appearance when the case is called.
Policeman Hartman has obtained the
names Of two additional witnesses who
declare that they can give evidence OF
damaging nature against the suspect.
The witnesses are James L. Skidmore and
Thomas Bowler.
Questioned by Detectives.
This morning at O'Clock the prisoner
was taken to police headquarters so that
the detective bureau force might look
him over and question him. When
questioned by the police yesterday after
noon, he maintained his innocence and
even when his photograph. found in the
police gallery, was SHOWN him he denied
1T was his likeness.
!'"Theres no use denying my identity
any longer" he LATER admitted. THE
picture speaks for itself"
As police photograph was taken. the
police say. when he was arrested In
Cleveland, Ohio. June "a. 1910. to answer
a. charge Of attempted burglary, but the
record does not give the disposition OF
the case. 1t Is shown in the record that
he was known as John Arthur, alias
Boston Jack" former aliases being
given as George Henry and Charles Har-
rison. Re was born In Massachusetts.
according to the police record. ana Is
known In New York and Massachusetts,.
Crossing Policeman Hartman captured
the prisoner yesterday afternoon, after
an exciting pursuit through the Depart
ment Of tie Interior building and through
the streets to 9th and atI eets. He was
only in the building on Sightseeing
having made so great an effort to get out
of the building and out of the clutches
of Disbursing Oficei Clements.
Police Seek His Confederate.
An important thing the police are try
ing to accomplish in connection with the
investigation of the affair is to deter
mine the identity Of the alleged confed-
crate Of the man under arrest and TO
capture him before he disposes of the
$1,000 Only a partial description of him
has been obtained. although the police
feel confident they soon viii ascertain his
identity. believing his picture is in some
police gallery.
How the robbers learned that the dis
bu. sing officer had 30 large a sum OF
money in the envelope in his pocket is
not known. Mr.. Clements says he had a
habit of putting his hand to his inside
coat pocket frequently, in order to make
sure the money was still there, and these
frequent moves, 1t is thought. probably
attracted attention to him and suggested
him as victim
Having made collectio at several gov
ernment departments, the d.sDursing Ofil-
Ger returned to the building anu was
robbed. 1T is recalled by others on the
elevators that the man who was SUBJ
sequently rested and another stranger
were passengers on the elevator.
About the tine stop was made at the
second floor the disbursing officer was
jostled. It is charged, by Bill ngs, as the
prisoner gave his name. and he was
pushed against another man in front a
newspaper in the alters hand fiapping
In front of him and preven ing him from
noticing the movement oi TIE hand thai
abst acted the enve.ope from his pocket
You've got my money, the disburs ny
officer shouted, taking hold o. Billings.
and while he was thus engaged the other
man disappeared.
Billings Resents Accusation.
Billings resented the accusation. He
said he did not understand what his
accuser meant by saying he had his
money.
Search me. II you think I have your
money" Billings suggested, throw ng
open his coat.
It was apparent that crowd soon
would gather In the hallway and Billings,
probably fearing arrest. turned from the
disbursinG officer and started on q run
through the building. Although a much
older man, Clements kept close behind
him THROUGH the building and down tae
steps to the street. not stopping until
the crossins policeman had the man un-
der arrest.
When the prisoner reached the first
precinct station ne assumed the attitude
rested. He expressed willins ness to be
searched and the seach soon was COM
pleted. The police found a roll Of SLIT
In his pocket.
sI have Just come from Greensboro,
n. c., said the prisoner. "and was sight
seeing in the department when / was
arrested"
His appearance at that time, the police
say. indicated that he had been travelling
On q railroad train The police were sat
isfied they would find q photograph OF
the prisoner in the gallery. and Ii was
found shortly after his arrest. He was
photographed here yesterday afternoon.
Nal. Sylvester Will have copies Of his
cities. and Inquiries will be made to as
carfain n ha In wanted anywhere else