The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-04-25
ENDED. IN
her DEATH.
Pretty Mil Girl Took Fatal
Ride With Stranger.
SECRECY UNTIL THE INQUEST.
Poisoned Girl Made Confession 10 Ply
sIcIan AMI Arrests Are Sure
10 Follow

New York, Apru -o.--lhe soluuon 10 the
mystery OF the death of Marietta odell
the pretty mill girl OF Wanaque. y. j.,
who was poisoned and died in great
agony. is now believed 70 be held by Mrs.
Maggie Conklin with whom the dead girl
boarded and BY Or. Shippey, who was
called in 10 attend her the night she
died The girl is said 10 have made a
confession TO them just before she died.
Both Mrs. Conklin and DR.. Shippey
have been ordered by the county detec-
tives who are working on the case TO hold
their tongues. The detectives have an
idea, they declare who il responsible for
the girls death. but they plan coup at
the inquest, 10 be held either Saturday or
early next week. when, il is said, I'm
arrest will be made.
Mrs Lizzie Hazen, a sister OF Mrs
Odell, Mariettas mother said yesterday
TO a reporter;
The day Marietta died | went to see
Mrs. Conkin. Marietta was my favorite
niece and / was nearly wild with grief.
CONFESSED BEFORE DEATH.
After Mrs Conklin had told me the
circumstances OF Marietta's death she
told me Of the statement in which Eta
was made TO say she had met a stranger
near Laura's roadhouse, who had induced
her 10 take q drink which made her sick.
and which she thought was drugged.
Mrs. Conklin seemed mysterious about
this and. knowing | was Etta's aunt,
she appeared TO wish 10 tell me some
thing more.
''At last Mrs. Conklln said I wish l
could tell you more. Mrs Hazen, but I'm
afraid. as / have been told 10 keep still
II you can keep a secret, ! will tell you.
Eta made a full confession 60 me and
DIR. Shippey just before she died
Just here" continued Mrs. Hazen,
.some strangers came TO the house ana
Mrs. Conkin could not proceed. The next
time | saw her she would not tell me what
Eta had said, but she showed plainly that
II was not the confession as made public
by Dr. Shippey.
Mrs. Conklin does not deny that the
confession DIR. Shippey gave out was not
the one the girl made, but she IL afraid 10
disclose the true statement. az the de-
tectives, who will not make an arrest.
have told her Etta's slayer may never be
brought TO justice If he learns he Is sus-
pected. DIR. Shippey also refuses 10 talk.
The only confirmation OF the stranger"
theory which has yet appeared was In
statement made yesterday by Alexander
Douglas n painter of Midvale. He
said that about o'clock Friday evening
last he saw Eta pass him. She was on
her wheel and called out. Good night"
and rode on. With her. Douglas said,
was wel-dressed young man, smooth
faced and of medium height. whom he
did not know. The pair We're riding in the
direction of Laura's road house.
Despite Douglas statement. no one now
believes the girl was with a stranger IL
was nearly. IL not quite dark. and Douglas
could easily have been mistaken
SWEETHEART SUSPECTED.
Young Charles Finner. Eta Odelrs
sweetheart. is again attracting consld-
erable attention in the case County De-
tective Shane declares he has discovered
that Finner was with Eta half an hour
later than Finner said he was. Finner.
however, sticks TO the story he first told,
and the statements of many friends cor
roborate him.
Stephen Odell. Etta's father. is almost
prostrated. A reported drove yes
terday to his little farm I'm Macopin. nine
miles from Wanaque. Odell believes
thoroughly that his daughter was muir
dered and IS convinced he knows her
murderer.
81 know him" ne said. when I saw
Ettas body the day she was killed he
was there, and he was afraid 10 face me.
He was nervous and he could not look at
Ettas face without shuddering. I've
been told that the best thing I can do Is
20 keep still till the case against the
guilty man is completed But its hard.
hard 10 do II. DIR. Shippley told me she
was murdered and / know she was"
Charles Finner George Decker and
Katie Harty went 10 a dance Tuesday
evening at Pompton Plains. Their merry
making so soon after the death OF their
intimate friend and the eve of her funeral
day has aroused much adverse comment
The Harty girl was Etta's chum, while
Decker and Finner knew her we'll. None
OF the men attended her funeral.