Evening star., 1922-07-14
.DBUTLER ADMITS
hitting MRS. GRAEF
Declares Motive in Entering
Home Was to Steal
Liquor.

Arrested late last night by Detec-
|, tives Lynn and Cox. William Irving
Hosley. colored, twenty-five. former
butler for Mrs. H. Campbell Graef. to-
day confessed to having broken into
the residence OF Mrs. Graef. 1t Ssth
street and Volta place, early ys0esr-
day morning and to having struek her
when she discovered him. Charges OF
housebreaking and assault are being
placed against him, Acting Chief OF
Detectives Plemmons said today
Rosley was arrested at 1901 eth
street when he reached there late
last night. Detectives had waited for
him to put in an appearance through
out the day. Brought to police head
quarters, he gave his occupation as
butler and admitted that he had been
employed at the Graef residence until
last week,
He said that he knew good liquor
was kept in Mrs. Graef's bedroom and
that to steal some of this liquor was
his reason for entering. He thought
the house vacant, he said, and on
reaching Mrs. Graefs room was sur
prised to find her abed.
Forced Window Bars.
Entry to the house, according 10
his story, was obtained by forcing
the bars of the rear window with an
iron pipe worked from a leverage on
two bricks. He opened the back door
to provide an exit. Discovering Mrs.
Graef in bed. he returned to the first
floor to decide what to do next. De-
Gliding to return. he obtained two
hand neckties to use as bind
ers, and went back to the room. he
removed the lamp to the bathroom,
he said. and got possession of re-
volver for fear she would use IL II she
discovered him there.
Four times he approached the bed
to tie her up. he said. but his heart
broke" and needed the liquor to sell.
he declared, he decided to take
chance His idea was to gag Mrs.
Graef. tie her hands and feet. steal
the liquor and sell it.
He tried to gag her. She fought him
off. After a prolonged battle, during
which he said lie struck her with his
fist, he decided he could not get away
with what he attempted and fed from
the house, through the back door, which
he had left open.
FIees I'm Boat.
He made his way from the Graef
residence to the river, threw the gun
away, appropriated a rowboat and
made for the Virginia shore. Reach
ing shoal water. he tied the boat to
a tug and tried to wade ashore
through the marshes. Every step he
took. he said. he sunk further into
the mud. AS day was dawning he re-
turned the boat to the Washington
side. walked up Canal road, and when
he found a store open bought a hat
for 25 cents.
Then he walked to Rockville. He
came back last night on the electric
cars and returned to his boarding
place, at 1901 eth street. He said that
the night clerk there warned him OF
impending arrest, but that he felt SO
tired, wet and worn out that he
wanted to change his soaked shoes
and trousers. He took the chance and
the detectives took him in custody.
The arrest of this man. Maj.
Sullivan said today. "ts indicative
of effort in keeping with the highest
tradition of the police department
here"
Detectives had nothing to work on
except a cap which had been left in
the room. They followed up this
clue until they identified the owner
of the cap. Then they went TO the
residence OF the owner, believing he
would show up sooner or later, and
finally got their man.
Part of Story Doubted.
| The preliminary investigation. in
which Detectives Cox. Lynn, Vernlil-
lion, Bradley, Jackson and Jones par
ticipated. was largely responsible
| for the location of the owner Of, the
! cap.
| Several points in the story of Hos
ley, the police say. leave room for
doubt. For instance, at the Graef
! residence today it was said that
| large amount of liquor! had been
stolen some months ago, and that
Hosley knew there was none in the
| house. Denial of this portion of his
story, il is pointed out, would cast
doubt on his motive for entering the
| house. Detectives said also that in
| previous conversation he said he had
entered for another season.
He went up to the canal today. to
! show Detectives Bradley and Vermil-
| lion where he said he threw the re-
| yolver. He volunteered to take them
1 TO the exact spot along the canal
! prbara he nut the weaDOn