Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-06-30
DECLARES F0RNEY
PROPOSED MURDER
William NJ. Bowers Disc|os-
ures Relating to Attempt on
Life of T. F. Schneider.
ALLEGES OFFER OF BRIBE
BY ACCUSED ATTORNEY
Washingtonian Arrested for Pitts
burgh Authorities Charged With
Participating in Conspiracy.

fdTLlclpatlnS III conspiracy
William Mckinley Bowers. nineteen
years old, the Bill mentioned in the
so-called promissory murder note OF
Thomas G. Forney. alleged assailant OF
| his father-in-law. 7. Franklin Schnef-
| der, in Pittsburgh. was arrested at ms
home. 927 1ngraham street northwest
| this morning by Detectives Armstrohs
and O'Brien. Bowers was at the break
| fast table when the two detectives WIS.,
tied his house, and when he had finish
ed eating he was taken to police head
| quarters.
On his way to headquarters Bowers
! told the detectives 1tartling story OF
an offer he said Forney hid made to
| him to participate in the proposed
| murder of MIR. Schneider. alleging
| 1000 as the amount Forney said he
would pay him.
But l never had participated in such
| thing, nor had | ever been arrested.
! he said, land SO l fatty refused his Of
! fer
After he reached headquarters Bow
ers told a Star reporter he had met
Forney in the latters office. and the
latter had tried to induce him to par
ticipate in the proposed assassination.
He said he told Forney he would not
do such work for $4,000 or any other
sum. Bowers said he really doubted If
Forney meant what he said at the
time, but changed his mind when he
read in the newspapers the account OF
Intended to Surrender.
When I read the copy of the note in
y-'S
made up my mind to give myself up to
the police. if they wanted me. for 1
knew the name Bill in the note was
! intended for me. although it was put
there without my consent"
Bowers explained that he first met
Forney when he was summoned to his
Office to be questioned as a probable
witness in civil suit, the case grow
ing out OF the killing of dog by
motor truck. The case was compro-
missed, however. and he was not used
as a witness.
On the occasion of that visit to For
ney's Office, which was about two
ed to return about week later and
see the lawyer on Other business. The
young man called at the lawyers office
as he had been requested to do, he said,
was if he wanted to make $4,000. Bow
ers said he answered in the affirmative
and asked what he was expected 10 40
for the money.
Il want you to put man out of the
way" Forney told him. he said.
Bowers said he had asked Forney II
expected to inherit money. and the lat
ter. he declared, said it was.
ITS my father-in-law. MIR. Schneider"
Bowers said he was told by the lawyer.
spurns the Offer.
Then it was, Bowers said, that he
spurned the offer.
II refused to have anything to do
with it," he asserted.
Bowers told Star reporter that he
only saw McHenry on one occasion.
That was in Forney's office. He has
never seen Carlisle, ne said. He did
not know the name of McHenry. he
said, the day he saw him in Forney's
Office.
Bowers said he visited Forney's Of
| flee several times, but saw him only
| on three occasions, and 1T was on the
occa sion of the third visit that he was
| told the name of Forney's father-in-
| law.
"When l was there the third time"
| said Bowers, "Forney told me he had
made out note for the money and
| put my name in 1t. He said he had put
| my name in the agreement l told him
| L could not nelp WHAT he ndu done,
| that I had not agreed to do anything,
| and that l would not do it"
Forney, he said, then asked him if he
would say anything about their con-
| versation. and he told him he would
not. On the occasion of the last visit,
he said, Forney asked him if he were
| ready to go to Pittsburgh and do away
| with his father-in-law, Offering him
money, he thought. about ten or fifteen
| dollars. He repeated his declination,
| refused he
and left.
Never Known as Page"
Bowers was shown the dispatch from
the Pittsburgh police asking for his
arrest on a charge of conspiracy to
| commit a felony with Forney and Nc
Henry. 1t mentioned his former place
of employment and gave his names as
Bill Bowers, alias Harry Page.
Where did you get the name Page?"
| the prisoner was asked.
| u never had such a name" he an
swered. Il suppose that's the name
Forney was going to have me use"
Discussing the case with Star re-
porter and detectives, Bowers said he
| was sure Forney was not crazy.
He acted just like any ordinary
at it he's not crazy"
| And another thing he added. Il
! don't think McHenry ever had any
| power over Forney."
What makes you think that"
| only from reading newspapers.
Forney Promises to See Him Later
On the occasion of his third visit to
Forney's office. when he made it plain
| that he would have nothing to do with
the affair. he said. Forney's parting
words were "I'll see you later"
| Bowers said he had never been in
| Pittsburgh nor had he left the city at
any time in connection with the pro-
posed murder Of Mr.. Schneider. John
/ a. Bowers. father of the young man, is
| employed as motorman.
| The prisoner told the detectives that
he is perfectly willing to go to Pitts
! burgh and the authorities of that city
| were SO notified.
| The name PHI Bowers was first
brought into the case by the police when
| Detective Robert Hewlett arrested Nc
| Henry In his room in a roomins house on
| 9Th street Monday morning. slip of
paper found on McHenry. it is stated. con-
tanned the name.
| Paper Causes Inquiry.
! That slip of paper was sent to the Pitts
burgh police, it is stated. and the WASH
ington police started an investigation for
the purpose of locating Bowers.
why my name shgIId have been on
| CONTINUED on 3venth Page)