Evening star., 1921-04-20

Leslie w Shilby. twenty years old.
former Shipping Board employe, was
arrested in his room at 1915 ! street
early today in connection with the in
vestigation of the murder of Frederick
Schnurr, barber, in front of 1907 1st
street the night of January % He is
said by the police to have admitted
being member of the party in the
murder car
Both John Walter Niffin. the Canadian
boy, arrested yesterday, and Shilby are
said to have told substantially the same
stories of the killing of the barber. tell
ing how DIR. p. T. Withers, druggist, at
Cd and i streets. had been selected as
their intended victim and of how he
managed to reach home and elude them.
Then. they stated, the remark: Let $
get the barber was made, and they
got him.
Two other young men mentioned in
Niffins reported confession as being
members of the party il is stated.
probably will be in custody late this
afternoon. Police of the second and
eighth precincts received word today Y
that the young men. Who are absent
from the city are on their way here
to answer any charge that might be
lodged against them The police have
learned nothing of the whereabouts
OF a fifth man mentioned in the con-
feSSions.
In addition to alleged participation
In the attack upon the barber. accord
ing to the police. Niffin and Shilby ad-
mitfed they took part in the rob-
berries of Hing Lee, Chinese laundry
Goldberg. grocer at 236 E street
northeast, the night of January 20
two nights before Schnurr was mur-
dered.
story Of Robbed Grocer.
Louis Goldberg was alone in his
store when two members of the auto
mobile party entered. one of them dis
playing pistol and commanding the
grocer to throw up your hands"
Niffin. according to his reported con-
iesslon. rs the one who took the
money from the grocer. and Shilby,
ne Is reported to have stated called
MIN to account for missing $50 that
was in the cash register.
A ilttle more than an hour after
place OF business by two men, one of
tnem displaying revolver and
threafening to use it. Hing made no
eHort to defend his cash. he explained
rearing the armed man would shoot
him, and said nothing about the TAX
ing of $40 from him until some time
after their departure. Money taken
from the grocer and Chinese was dis
tfiouted among the men, according to
the reported confessions, and two
DAYS later they planned the robbery
of DR.. Withers.
II was believed by members of the
noid-up gang that DR.. Withers car
ried large sums of money home from
Inc store every might. and they were
disappointed when they failed to get
MN Nlffin repeated his statement
tndt tne weapon was accidentally dis
tndrseo. and that he had no thought
"t shooting any one.
Women Closely Questioned.
IL developed that the several men
aiieseo TO nave been involved in the
plot to hold up the druggist had been
associating with a number of younr
women IN this city, and two of the
latter were closely questioned al the
second precinct police station YES
leroay shortly after Policemen Brem-
norman and Frayne arrested Niffin
Miss Hazel O'NeiH, Milford anart-
ments, is given credit by the police
1or the Information which led to the
arrest of Niffin. 1t is said that she
and Niffin quarreled and that She
subsequently told the police enough
10 warrant the arrest of the young
man. 'ois
Niffin. although only seventeen YEAR.
old. said he had served two enIis,.
ments IN the Canadian army. He sid
ne came to this city last fall.
charge of murder was forms,,v
preferred against Niftin. while SbiIhI
- - oooked Held for investigation. II
is proba BILE that there will be a grand
jury investigation Of the AFFAIR in W.
near future. although there NAV he
Police Court preliminary hear;np
W "etefrn1he future proceedings