Evening journal., 1913-10-14

The Police Commissioners made much
progress yesterday afternoon in their
inquiry into the attempt TO capture Ho'
mer c. Wiggins, the bandit who killed
himself in lodging house at Fourth
and Shipley streets.
Il is the intention OF the Police Com
missioners TO summon every police otii-
cor who participated in the famous Bat
lie of Baxter's Corner, 20 give his YER
sion OF the affair. and there are over a
scorc of them. Tho inquiry will con
time every afternoon this week.
-Four witnesses were heard yesterday,
the hearings lasting from Lag o'clock
until i.l5 o'clock but two Of these Wit
ncsses. Chief George Black and Captain
Charles T.. Evans. occupied much more
time than win any OF the witnesses to
follow. they being the two most impor-
taut witnesses. The investigation was
instituted by the commissioners to get
at the bottom OF the alleged msman-
aacmcnt OF the Wiggins' shooting al
ray.
About the most important OF the new
evidence TO develop was Captain Evans
explanation rs TO why he armed him
self and other subordinate officers with
shotguus aud fired upon the stronghold
of the Young man from building
ncross the street.
Captain Evans. in reply to ques-
lions asked by City Solicitor Daniel o.
Hastings. who conducted the ques-
tioning Of the witnesses for the Com
missioners. stated that he had not
fired the shotguns for the purpose Of
killing the young bandit. but that. as
the latter had already wounded a
citizen and officer by shooting from
his window he hoped by firing the
shotguns 10 keep him away from the
window until his ammunition ran out.
The question was asked as 10 how he
expected Virgins ammunition to run
out II he was kept back from the vim
daw. and the captain explained that
he did rot expect the guns to keen
him from shooting. but TO keep him
back from the windows so he could
not take aim al anyone.
There Was conflicting evidence upon
one point Dctveen the chief and thf
capt1iu. Chief Black declared tha
prior 10 Wigeins death be had nS
knoa ledge of bis having a gold tooth
notwithstanding the fact that he has
been credited With stating that h'
know OF it previous to the affair a
raNtcr'4 lodging house. Captain Evans
IN his statements declared that vhel
the body Of Virgins was laid out n
the garage al the police station, Chic
Black stopped down. raised the lip O
Tho young baudit and exclaimed
That's him all right. That's Wig
gins. FOR there is the gold TOOTH
There vns less than half dozen per
sons admitted 20 the hearing outside o
thc commissioners. pre- 5 representative
aud witnesses Among these few spec
fators twrrc President OF City Counc
William r. White, Chairman of the III
nance committee W. r. Stover, both Q
whom arrived long after the investigs
i'on had begun, Councimen John =
lIancy aud Burton Heal.
Evcrvone who was likely to be callo
as n witness In tho case was exclude
from tho room prior TO the beginnin
of The hearings Chief Black was I'll
first man to be sworn in. The chief col
tinued with his narrative of the ident
fcation of Wiggins as the Tractio
COMPANY carbarn bandit. and II
showing of a rogues gallery picture
MllNlN ltNAiN WIN a. A'NAN'h NA't%N q
show it 20 all the policemen.
Thief Blacks Narrative.
The chief stated that he had sine
learned that Virgins slept in th
lodging house at Fourth and ShiI
ley street on the night of Septembe
IS. the very day he Lad told Captai
Evans to keep watch over the hous
for Virgins. The chief stated thi
Virgins had also slept several time
in the house at 227 Orange stree
Mr.. Hastings having asked him
tell what he knew about how ofte
Virgins had been in the city. I
stated that on the day Of the figt
Sunday. September 2S, he had heal
Wiggins was in the city, and he, Il
chief, had a watch placed over d
house where Wiggins' mother live
which was kept up until 9 p. m. I
sat up until late that night hopil
TO hear that they had caught Wi
gins at the house, he having receiv
information that two young meni HI
entered the house about o'clol
that morning. but when late tn