Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-01-08

COVERED BY THE TRACKS HE
MADE GOING HOME FROM THE
SCENE OF HIS CRIME.
Philadelphia, January I'll. Wurs-
ter, the night telegraph operator for
the Philadelphia & Reading Railway
Company at Bingen, small town near
Bethlehem, was murdered at an early
hour to-day by robbers. The murder
is thought to have occurred between
one and three o'clock.
When the local freight reached
Bingen the conductor looked in at the
window of the telegraph Office. Lean
ing against the wall, sitting upright in
his accustomed place, with his feet on
the desk, was the body of Wurster.
His head had been crushed, and there
were apparently two bullet holes in the
side of his head. The body was yet
warm, indicating that he had been
murdered but a short time after hav-
ing reported his last train at 12:45 a..
m.
The Office floor was covered with
blood, indicating that there had been
a terrible struggle. All the drawers had
been ritied and the lifeles form had
been placed in the chair after the muir
der. There is no clue to the murderers.
Wurster was q years of age and mar
ried.
Coroner Keim, of Bethlehem, went
to Bingen this morning and reviewed
the remains of Harvey Wurster, the
operator who was SO brutality murdered
during the night He empanelled a.
jury and postponed the inquest until
next Tuesday.
Detective Doran, of South Bethle-
hem, who arrived at Bingen early this
morning, was the first to notice the
footprints of a man in the snow lead
ing from Wurster's office. The detect
i've followed the marks for about a
mile. They led direct to the home of
Llewellyn Stout, at Spring Valley, Le-
high county. The detective entered
the house and arrested Stout. The
prisoner is II years of age, and shift
less. He admits having been at Bin
gen last night and also visiting Wurs-
ter. He claims to have been a warm
friend of the dead man, and declares
that he often went to the station and
played cards with the operator. Stout
says he was drunk last night, but the
hotel keeper at Bingen declares the
fellow obtained nothing at his place,
though he was in the house. Stout
says he left Wurster at 10 o'clock last
night. He denies having committed
the murder. A coupling pin, bespat-
tered with blood and matted hair, was
found under the station platform.
Wurster'S watch and SELL of the rail-
road company's money was taken.
Stout was taken to the Easton Jail
late this afternoon and shortly after
his arrival here made complete con-
fession to Detective Johnson. For a
time after his incarceration in the Jail
he stoutly maintained his innocence
and so impressed the authorities that
they at one time released the prisoner,
but Detective Johnson was not satisfied
that Stout was not Wurster's murderer
and arrested the suspected man again.
Stout broke down and confessed.
He told how he had left his home at
Spring Valley, after having drunk a
pint of whisky. He went to the hotel
at Bingen and from there to Wurster's
office. Stout said that Wurster was
angry because he had not brought him
any whisky, a quarrel ensued and
Wurster struck him on the shoulder.
Stout says that he then went outside
of the ovce and procured a coupling
pin. He re-entered the Office and
when, as he says, Wurster was about
to arise to strike him, Stout hit the
operator a tremendous blow on the
forehead, knocking Wurster back into
the chair. The latter again attempted
to rise and was hit a second time, after
which he became unconscious. Stout
to make certain his victim would not
again attempt to modest him, dealt him
third blow. He says that he then
walked out of the station and threw
the bloody coupling pin, with which
the murder had been committed, under
the platform. He returned to the office
a few minutes later and while Wurster
was still breathing he placed the lat
ter's feet upon the table. He then
rifled the money drawer. He says that
he then went to his home. tied the
money in handkerchief, which was
saturated with Wurster's blood, and
secreted it in an outhose.
Stout declares that he had no inten-
ton of numbering Wurster when he
left his home last night, but he admits
that he needed money to take a con-
templated trip west.
When asked tonight if he had no
faar of rho awful Ouuichmapt 5hat