The Washington times., 1923-07-18
CERTAIN
PRISONERS
COPELAND
Alleged Slayer of Three Denies
Identity, But Is Held in
Jail for Trial.

by detectives and a searching physl-
cal examination by District jail
physicians, Washington police today
were convinced that the manacled
giant negro in their custory is
Herbert Copeland, alleged triple
murderer. The prisoner steadfastly
denied he was the man sought by
authorities for more than four
years.
Physicians stripped the negro and
identified the scars and markings
on his body as those observed on
Copeland when he was a prisoner
in the District Jail.
After the investigation at police
headquarters, Copeland was photo
graphed and his finger prints were
recorded process which was
omitted when he last was in the
hands Of the police.
Returned to Jail.
Heavily manacled, he was then
taken to the Jail from which he
esca ped and was placed in close
confinement. Copeland will be
tried as son as the District Attor-
ney's office can prepare it's case.
An indictmentn charging the pris-
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John Conrad has already been re-
turned.
First precinct police reserves
were called to dispense the curious
hundreds who attempted to attend
the inquiry in progress in Inspector
Clifford L. Grants office.
More than 200 persons at Union
Station today at $50 o'clock saw
Copeland brought back to Washing
ton, manacled to two of the city's
strongest detectives with Iron"
enough to sink a battleship.
Arrives at Headquarters.
Headquarters Detectives Kelly
and Sweeney brought their prisoner
into the office of Inspector Clifford
L. Grant at $3.50 a. m, completing
their overnight journey back from
Akron, Ohio, where the man al
legged to be Copeland was working
In steel plant under thu name OF
Golden. Ten minutes later dense
crowd had collected on the West
font of the District building and
remained until the prisoner was lei
forth after a long interrogation.
Denies He Is Copeland.
The colored man, light of hue,
nearly bald. and of sulIen appear
ance, stoutly denied he was Cope
and when brought before ques-
tioners. Because after his capture
n May, 1918, he was so badly
as to be confined to a hos
oital for weeks, he had never been
photographed or subjected to the
Bertillon measurements.
Positive identification, however.
should not be difficult. Copeland
bore numerous unmistakable scars
Ind his physiognomy once seen
would hardly be forgotten.
Inspector Grant is sure he can
positively announce that the prisoner
8 Copeland by noon.
Inspector Grant and Detective
who was one of the head
quarters men originally working
On the case, have positively identi-
fed the man as Copeland" Big
Tom Sweeney declared after having
deposited the negro in the front
office Of the detective bureau.
Trip UneventfuI.
The two sIeuths with their
quarry arrived over the Baltimore
and Ohio lines early this morning
Their trip back from Akron was
With handouts link
ing him to both officers, the man
called Copeland never had a chance
to make a break, had he so wished.
Indictments charging Copeland
with three murders, two of Washing
ton policemen, have long been gath
ering dust in the District Attorneys
office. In all probability the trial
will take place in the near future.
NJ Meanwhile, the man brought back
today will be confined in the Dis
.rict Jail in such a fashion that es-
cape will be out Of the question.
Copeland gained his freedom on
April FL, 1919, while awaiting trial.
by saving the bars from a cell
window and squeezing through an
incredibly small space. He is said
% have had assistance from the out
side.
The crimes that placed Copeland
n the tolls were the shootings of
Private Conrad and Deputy Sheriff
of Prince Georges
county, as they attempted to serve
/ witness summons on him in his
home, and a few hours later the
<illing of Lieut.. DUNCAN while
Copeland stood at bay in house to
Wnlcn ne mad lied.
Crime Occurred In 1918.
The triple slayings occurred the
night of May 81, 1918, and Copeland
was wounded three times by the Of
ficers' fire as he stood siege.
Copeland is regarded as one of
the most dangerous men with
whom the local department ever
had had to deal He committed
one murder in Galveston, Texas,
before coming to Washington and
was noted as a gunman who would
shoot to kill on the slightest provo
cation.
There were various alarms of his
temperance in the Capital fol-
lowing his escape, but the first in
timation of likely suspect came TO
Inspector Grant few days ago
from inf@ NH1LaSo y