Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-09-01
knocking him down and breaking hi,

years OF aSe, stole f15 and n gold
watch. and, starting for Liverpool.
plunging into All astounding career OF
crime. Until he was twenty one years
old he managed to keep out OF the
hands Of tho police. Then he served his
first sentence--one Of seven years penal
servtudc.
On his release his versatile brain
wac soon busy plotting fresh vilanies.
He carried out several daring csca-
padcs, but hi3 vanity was longing for
fresh and bigger fields to conquer. The
chance came In 1881. At that time
Lady IIarbcton's mansion In Kensing
ton was guarded with many bur
slar-proof appliance that three 1.-The
most noted cracksmen of the day had.
after weeks OF patient investigation.
pronounced II invulnerable. But TO
"wil,inms' il was simply one Of those
fascinating problems in which he de-
lighted.
lie was always dressed rs though ne
had stepped out of the proverbial band
box. And ono night. clad in irreproach-
able evening dress. he strollcd past
tho rear or the mansion. In an In
slant he had slipped into some half
built premises from which he had
traced a risky climb to the roof OF
the house he wanted to enter.
In few seconds the master cracks
man stood In "A small chamber and saw
round him the batteries which operated
the alarmB throughout the mansion.
Proceeding from battery to battery
he removed the carbops. making them
useless.
But suddenly q peril which all the
Hcheming or his cunning brain could
not have forcsecn. arose. Ono of the
maids was returning home late. a
half-born suspicion at seeing
stranger leaving the house in evening
dress flashed into her mind Hut Will
lian,s proved equal to tho occasion.
And cooly pulling his cigar he passed
~You are late" he called out cheer
fully. they are just going to bed"
The maid soon recovered her tenn
porary lost wits and gave the alarm.
:, desperate dash for liberty followed.
Williams never worked unless he had
a loaded revolver in his pocket. and
he throw on policeman who had
heard tho furious blasts OF police
whistle. who tried TO grapple with him.
and wa. then confronted by post
man. Out came the revolver. and the
Dostnan fell badly. but not fatally.
wounded Williams shot and wounded
TWO other people in that mad dash for
freedom. and eventually escaped.
But his liberty was short-lived. He
was captured next month. and was
sentenced to twenty years penal SER
Nitude. And he served every day OF
mat terrible term.
Will ii" was serving his frs, term
~ seven years. Williams" was occu-
pied one morning In painting the Gov
ern"rs house The authenticated 1T
tie daushi- Of the head Of the prison
persuaded Williams to carve her some
thin: out Of bone--a business Mt which
he very clever. In return she
CAV" him q special meal.
But the matter came Ia the ears OF
q ript
on forty-,wo days bread and water
IN his release. Williams. by way OF
revenge decided 10 burglariZe the Gov
'rmpr's house Taking revolver with
him. lie arrived at his destination. and
carefully timed the sentry's march
! an entrance. and went straight Ia tn"
. GauSht"r'S bedroom, where he resisted
IN" temptation :" appropriate the
sleeping chill" jewelry, and procetl-,
I I" IN. Governor< room. determined T..
+ shoot him II he offered any resistance.
/ EUt on entering tn. bed chamhe
z Williams found the Governor lyinG
u dead, The great reaper had fore.
! stalled MIN. The cause was heart
/ disease
/ fhss Cabime, cinister criminal was
: mar OF superb nerves. and he did not.
! even III tho presence Of death, forget
! III" object of his visit. He took sum
. "t tli and the dead mans gold watch
( and chain from = table by his bed
/ sid" anu made hi. exit through the
window Hand over hand he crept
i"wu the ivy. but when he was still
good distance from tine ground he
lei! with . crash 10 the earth
The noise attracted the attention Of
me guard. who was opposite To him
~ the moment The guard promptly
shot At Williams" who returned the
lire. In 4 short time other warden.
t,Ilr Inn
refuge in the woods. and eventually
got clear away.
purin one OF his brief periods Of
.i"sriy Scotland Yard was completely
oah'ed b! a clever gang OF counter
i"it yoiners. \ tremendous amount Of
Sn!dc was put in circulation and il
was beautifully made. Williams" had
nothing 10 do with the business. but
hf was the one man in London out
side the gang who knew the place
where the false coin was made and
! the men who made 1t. This fac, CANA
{ 10 the knowledge Of a famous dotec-
/ i've INSPECTOR. since dead. who had
/ charge OF jhc case
! one day he wen, "a Williams" and
! iangled 81 golden sovereigns In bas
/ IN front VI him. The gold was thu
nr , OF betrayins the gang. And
| Williams" Yielded
The coin was manufactured in a eel.
lar on the river side in the east end
| y Dig sewer led from the cellar to
| inc Thames. and along this the conn
/ terieit money used 10 be taken, handed
B TO man in boat. and carried miles
down stream. where IL was judicious1y
I distributed to the "snide pitchers" or
/ utterers OF base coin. In case of a
raid The coiners intended to utilize the
! alsuseo sewer AS means OF escape.
i Alter Williams" had given away tbs
secret strong force OF police raided
! Among the captured men was ono
VINO was subsequently given seven
years penal servltudr. He lived with
woman who was passionatelv devoted
| 10 NM This woman knew that the
cabinet minister criminal had be-
! traEed the gang. and she determined
10 exact a bitter vengeance on behalf
OF her man.
one made violent love to Williams
WI" icll 4 victim 10 her undoubte ii
( charms. For Il time he was completely
under her spell! but the woman never
1851 sight OF her object. She arranged
I" meet Williams one day in FAeet
! street al noon. but meanwhile she had
oeeh 10 detective and told him that
she knew Williams possessed some OF
the property stolen in n recent burg
iafH al The premises OF a firm OF Jewel
ers whose name is a household world.