The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-07-18
MYSTERY SHROUDS IDENTITY OF THIEF
 KILLED BY WRIGHT
Unidentified FeIon Wore Clothes Stolen From East Lake Man, Which May
 Connect Other Jobs

Mystery which had not at late hour last night been solved, despite efforts of Coroner J. D. Russum, De- tectives H. c. Jones and R. J. Walton, still surrounds the identity of the white burglar, shot and killed Mon day morning by J. M. Wright. in the act of leaving the latter's residence, 4424 Seventeenth avenue, North Bir- mingham, after having thoroughly ransacked 1t.
 Although shot through his right shoulder many times by the charge of buckshot from the gun of Wright, the burglar ran for 8 distance of ap- proximately 75 yards, before drop ping dead, face down on the ground. He was found by Call Officers Smith and Jones, directly in front of the of- flee of the Vanderbilt furnace.
 Coroner Russum was unable to complete his inquest over the killing of the burglar yesterday. but will probably render his decision this morning.
 In his investigation conducted at the scene, Coroner Russum learned from Wright that the man had en- tered his house and had ransacked practically every room but his. The white man had piled a large amount of clothing at each of the windows, which, owing to his unusual height he could reach over, while standing on the ground. He had gone through trunks and scattered contents over the floor in his thorough search for valuables. All other occupants of the house stated that the first they knew of the burglar having been in the home was when they heard the shot l, b.rI foht
 Detectives learned that the dead man was the same burglar who en- tered stores in the Woodlawn and East Lake vicinity Saturday night. The coat which the burglar wore at the time he was killed bore the marks of local clothing establishment and the name, Willie Boatright." on the inside pocket This led to the belief that the dead man was Boatright, al- though the error was cleared up by Detectives Jones and Walton when they found that Willie Boatright was a clerk in the store of Mrs. B. G.. Turner, 8306 First avenue, East Lake. and that the coat, with other articles of clothing were stolen from the store Saturday night.
 Young Boatright was a native of Ashville, Ala, and relatives arrived in Birmingham from that place yes- terday morning to ascertain if it was their kinsman and son who had been killed. only to learn of the mistake which had been made in the identity of the clothes.
 Detective Jones stated that the dead man is also responsible for burglary of the store of Baggett & Johnson, S301 First avenue, Saturday night
 Two razors found in the possession of the dead man have been identified as those stolen from the Wauhoma Drug company, 6510 First avenue. A money sack, also found in the pos session of the victim. was also iden- tified by proprietors of the drug store. The unidentified man is also believed to be responsible for the burglary of the McLendon Bros. com pany on First avenue.
 Considerable speculation is evident around police headquarters concern ing the identity of the dead man, the officers being divided in their opin- ions. One faction is of the opinion that his name is Bob Riley, although this has not been verified. Robert Lee Spencer, famous burglar who escaped prison a short time back, was thought to be the dead man, although this was dispelled by Officer Watson, who arrested Spencer.
 w. L.. Brannon, chief of the identl- fication bureau, police department finger printed the dead man and for warded them to the Lavenworth clearing house in the hope of identi- flying him.
 Officer. Jones, in his search of the dead man. found s42 sewed in the lining of the coat sleeve. A valuable gbld ring was also found in his pos session.